Montana Government Employee Resources

Learn About Montana VEBA HRA 

Government employees looking to learn more about participation in the Montana VEBA HRA are encouraged to do the following:

1. Watch the Montana VEBA HRA overview presentation

2. Print and review the Education Packet 

   • Summary of Benefits

   • Eligible Expenses List

   • Montana Public Entity Employee Question/Answer Document

   • Montana VEBA HRA Enrollment Packet

   • Montana Plan Summary

3. Contact your human resources department to discuss Montana VEBA HRA group options

4. Contact the VEBA Coordinator at Health Care & Benefits Division (HCBD) to arrange for a group education session

What is a VEBA HRA Group?

A VEBA HRA group is an association of employees employed by the same employer under an existing organizational structure. Groups may also be formed from smaller sub-units, such as a recognized organizational division of the employer. Sub-units may be determined by geographical location of a work unit, job positions, or another reasonable classification of employees. A group must have at least 5 eligible employees.  

Groups may be all union members, all non-union members, or a combination of union and non-union members. Employers should contact the union during the group formation stage if the employees elect to form a combined union/non-union member group, and work with the union to execute a memorandum of understanding (MOU). Once the group vote is complete, employers can advise the union of the results.

1. Employees who are eligible to retire, or
2. All employees in the work unit. 

Employees for both group formation options must be eligible to receive leave benefits and group health benefits. The first group is limited to employees eligible to receive retirement benefits from an MPERA administered program, which include PERS, Game Wardens, Sheriff, Police, Fire, Judges, and Correctional Officers. The second group includes all employees in the work unit.

Employees vote on the contribution sources. Those sources are usually one of the following two options: 25% of accrued sick-leave, or 25% of accrued sick-leave and 100% of accrued annual-leave. The employer pays the contribution source as a tax-free contribution to the MT VEBA HRA participant account at the time the employee separates from service.

1. When the employee is hired into a Montana VEBA HRA eligible job position in an existing group; or

2.  When the employee becomes eligible to retire (meets criteria for public retirement program based on years of service and age) while in a Montana VEBA HRA eligible job position during the time the group is in effect.

1. Termination of employment may be voluntary or involuntary.

2. If the employee transfers to another state agency within state government or to another Montana governmental employer (i.e., a city or county) the employee’s eligibility for the Montana VEBA HRA is based on the new position and if the position is a Montana VEBA HRA eligible position.

3. If the employee takes a new job position that is not a Montana VEBA HRA eligible position or the employee does not meet the individual eligibility criteria to become a group member of an existing group, the employee will not be a Montana VEBA HRA group member in the new job position.

4. If the employee takes a new job position that is a Montana VEBA HRA eligible position and the employee does meet the individual eligibility criteria to become a group member of that existing group, the employee is a Montana VEBA HRA group member in that new job position. The employee can participate in the upcoming annual vote for that group.

Key Montana VEBA HRA Forms

Enrollment & Claims

• Enrollment Form - Must be signed and turned in to your Payroll/Benefits office before separation/retirement

• Claim Form -To receive reimbursement for qualified premiums & expenses

• Participant Status Change Form- Only used by dependent when there is a death of a VEBA member after an account has been established. 

Reimbursement 

• Direct Deposit Form - Fill out to have your reimbursements go directly to your checking account or savings account

• Systematic Premium Reimbursement Form - Set up monthly premium reimbursement

Tax Related 

• Declaration of Tax Status of Domestic Partner- Fill in and mail as instructed on form

• Premium Tax Credit and Montana VEBA HRA Plan - Facts about the Premium Tax Credit with Marketplace coverage and process works when you have a Montana VEBA HRA Plan

• Limited Scope VEBA HRA Coverage Election Form - Allows election of "Limited distribution of Dental, Vision, and Long-term Care policy premium reimbursements" from your Montana VEBA HRA Account if you choose any of the following coverage options:     
  • Participation in the Healthcare Exchange program and you elect to accept the offered Government Subsidy
  • You obtain coverage with your working spouse’s plan
  • You return to work and participate in the healthcare benefits plan offered by the employer OR
  • You participate in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) and a Health Savings Account (HSA) is utilized for contributions. This allows you to limit your VEBA account reimbursements to only the allowable expenses (Dental, Orthodontia, and Vision expenses). This limitation on the VEBA account will continue until such time as you are no longer on the HDHP and there are funds being contributed to the HSA account. All eligible members of the family will need to limit their reimbursement from the VEBA plan to the same dental and vision expenses until the HDHP coverage is no longer in place.

Miscellaneous 

• COBRA Qualifying Event Notice - If applicable, fill in and mail as instructed on form

investment fund information

• Introduction and Key Investment Information - You may choose to have your VEBA funds invested in up to ten different funds

• Fund Stock Tickers - Details on the ten investment funds

• Investment Fund Overview 
  • 2024 Quarter 1
  • 2023 Quarter 4
  • 2023 Quarter 3
  • 2023 Quarter 2

• Account Change Fund Allocation Form - Allows you to change your fund allocations (up to monthly) for the 10 Investment Fund Options