VEBA
About VEBA
UFA values its employees and is committed to providing education, resources, and support to help them maximize their benefits and prepare for a successful retirement.
In alignment with this commitment, and with the support of Local 1696, the Benefits and Compensation Committee considered a proposal to enhance the funds available for employees to use toward post-employment medical expenses through their VEBA plan. As part of this effort, an increase in employee wages associated with the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) was redirected into employees’ VEBA accounts
Beginning January 1, 2022, full-time merit employees – both Firefighter and non-Firefighter – began receiving a 2% VEBA Contribution.
The Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association (VEBA) plan is a tax-exempt trust designed to reimburse qualifying medical expenses for employees and their eligible dependents after retirement or separation from UFA.
Eligible medical expenses include, but are not limited to:
- Health insurance premiums
- Medicare Part B and supplemental plans
- Out-of-pocket medical, dental, prescription, and vision expenses
Note: Cosmetic procedures are excluded.
The IRS defines eligible medical expenses under IRS Code – Section 213(d). The plan is funded through UFA contributions on behalf of employees, as outlined in this policy.
For more information, please visit IRS VEBA – 501(c)(9).
Access Employee Account
Employees can access and manage their Unified Fire Authority VEBA account through the APA Benefits portal. Employees can do the following:
- File a claim online
- Track expenses
- View balances
- View account activity, claim history and payment (reimbursement history)
- Update personal profile information
- Download plan information, view financial reports, etc.
To log into the APA Benefits Portal, employees will need the following:
For first-time users, go to the APA Benefits Portal. Select the “New User” option on the login screen. The employee will be asked to answer a series of security questions to verify their identity. Once they have successfully answered the questions, they will be granted access to create a unique username and password.
For users who have logged in once before, go to the APA Benefits Portal. Select “Existing User” and enter your username and password. If the employee has forgotten their login details, use the on-screen prompts to recover them.
If employees haven’t logged in within the past year, they will need to reset their password by contacting APA Benefits at info@apabenefits.com or 1-888-311-7478.
