More Florida Organizations Join Federal Early Retirement Program

Fifty-one more Florida organizations -- ranging from the city of Miami to Pinellas County to the sprawling State Department of Management Services -- have joined the federal Early Retiree Reinsurance Program.

Nationally, nearly 3,000 large and small businesses, state and local governments, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, and unions have been accepted into the program and will begin to receive reimbursements for their early retirees medical claims this fall.

Created by the Affordable Care Act as another bridge to the new health insurance Exchanges in 2014, the Early Retiree Reinsurance Program provides $5 billion in financial assistance to employers and unions to help them maintain coverage for early retirees aged 55 and older who are not yet eligible for Medicare.

Florida's latest additions join 69 public- and private-sector groups previously announced.

Baker County School Board
Board of County Commissioners Nassau County
Brevard Community College
Carlton Fields, P.A.
Charlotte County Board of Commissioners
Citrus County School Board
City of Maitland
City of Miami
City of Mount Dora
City of Naples
City of Ocala
City of Venice
Clay County Board of County Commissioners
County of Monroe Board of Public Instruction
County of Pinellas Board of County Commissioners
Dade County Fire Fighters Insurance Trust Fund
District School Board of Clay County
Edison State College
Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church
Florida Firefighters Insurance Trust Fund
Florida Keys Community College
G.M.P. - Employers Retiree Trust
Gerdau Ameristeel US Inc.
Gulf Coast Community College
Halifax Staffing, Inc.
Hernando County Board of County Commissioners
Indian River State College
JEA
Lake Sumter Community College
Miami Beach Fraternal Order of Police Health Trust Fund
NGM Insurance Company
Palm Beach Community College
Palm Beach County Firefighters Employee Benefits Fund
Pensacola Junior College
PGA Tour, Inc.
Pinellas County Public School District
Polk County School Board
Ryder System Inc.
St. Lucie County School District
Santa Fe College
School District of Hillsborough County
School District of Indian River County
Seminole County Public Schools
Shands Teaching Hospital and Clinics, Inc.
St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners
St. Johns River Water Management District
State of Florida Department of Management Services
Sumter County Board of County Commissioners
Tallahassee Community College
The Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church
West Orange Healthcare District