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AHRP Home Page > Retirement Plan Description > Summary Plan Description

Summary Plan Description

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This is a Summary Plan Description of the Adventist HealthCare Retirement Plan. Designed as an overview of the AHRP, it is not as definitive as the AHRP Plan Documents. If this Summary and the Plan Documents ever differ, the Plan Documents shall govern.

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Participating in the AHRP

If you are an employee of any healthcare facility or other employer that participates in this Plan, you may be eligible to participate, provided you are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement that restricts your participation.

If you are in an eligible position or job, your employer will open an AHRP account for you. This account will be used to accumulate the retirement contributions you may be entitled to receive from your employer as well as the tax deferred contribution that you may choose to make from your own earnings.

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Questions and Answers

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When can I begin receiving employer basic contributions?

In a given year, you may receive employer basic contributions to your AHRP account if you:

  • are in an eligible position;
  • have at least 1,000 hours of service; and
  • will be at least age 18 by the end of that year.

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When can I begin making AHRP-TSA contributions?

You simply need to be employed by an AHRP Participating Employer. You do not need to meet the three eligibility conditions for receiving basic contributions.

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When can I receive employer matching contributions?

First, you must make your own AHRP-TSA contributions. You must also meet the same eligibility conditions as for basic contributions.

Your employer will calculate both contributions after the year-end. The amount will show on your first quarter participant statement.

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How do I enroll in the AHRP, make changes and other transactions?

First, it is essential that you complete and return the Signature Authorization section of the Signature Authorization/Enrollment form and Beneficiary Designation Form that will generally be presented to you during orientation. If you are a first time participant you may complete an Enrollment Form in which you indicate your biweekly contribution to the AHRP TSA Plan and make your investment elections. Shortly after you begin work, your employer will open an account for you in the AHRP recordkeeping system. Once a record has been opened, you may choose either of two portals of entry into the AHRP recordkeeping system:

  • AHRP Internet Web site
    The preferred method of interacting with the AHRP is through the AHRP Web site: http://www.AHRP.com. From this site you may click on the button titled "Your Account" which will connect you to the "Greeting" page of the AHRP recordkeeping system. By selecting a password and proceeding into the site you will be able to enroll in the AHRP (this enrollment is not necessary if you previously completed and turned in an Enrollment Form) and make most of the elections and other transactions you will need to manage your account.
  • Automated Telephone System
    If you do not have access to the Internet, but have access to a touch-tone telephone, you may also interact with the AHRP recordkeeping system by dialing 1-(800) 730-AHRP (2477). This will connect you to AHRP's Automated Telephone System. By following the prompts you may be able to accomplish what you wish without any additional assistance. If you would like to speak to a "live" person, dial "*" followed by "0" at any time and you will be connected directly to a retirement center representative (8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday, Central Time).

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How do I become vested?

"Vesting" refers to the dollars in the AHRP that belong to you. "Vesting service" means the amount of time for which you are paid by your employer.

Your AHRP-TSA contributions to the Plan always belong to you--so you are always 100% vested in the money you contribute to the Plan. Your employer basic and matching contributions become yours once you've been employed by an AHRP employer for at least five vesting service years.

Employer Basic & Matching Contributions

Years of Vesting Service
_____________________
Amount You're Vested
_____________________
Fewer than 5 0%
5 or more 100%

If you leave your employer before you are 100% vested, you will not receive the funds your employer has set aside for you. Those funds will be forfeited and returned to your employer.

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How do I receive vesting service?

The criteria for receiving one year of vesting service is the same as that required to receive employer basic contributions. You will receive vesting if you:

  • are in an eligible position;
  • have at least 1,000 hours of service; and
  • will be at least age 18 by the end of that year.

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What are hours of service?

Your hours of service include:

  • Paid hours you actually work;
  • Certain other hours paid to you by payroll as paid time off-such as paid vacation, sick days, and holidays; and
  • Hours you're scheduled to work but do not work because of the workload (if your employer has such a Plan for benefit hours).

Hours apply to the calendar year in which paychecks are actually paid.

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Do I receive vesting service for any time before I begin participating?

In some cases, you may be credited with vesting service for time you worked with a Seventh-day Adventist-related employer before you began participating in the AHRP. Information supplied by your previous employer determines this. if you disagree with how you've been credited, contact your human resources department. In order for the AHRP to change your vesting service records, the AHRP must receive written notice from your employer.

Generally, you may receive credit under the AHRP for your vesting service under:

  • The Seventh-day Adventist Hospital Retirement Plan;
  • The Seventh-day Adventist Retirement Plan of the North American Division; and
  • Another tax-qualified plan maintained by a healthcare employer that is in the North American Division of the General Conference and is, or is eligible to be, listed in the Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook.

If you were employed by any Seventh-day Adventist-related employer and wish to be credited with any eligible vesting service, please notify your human resources department.

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What happens if I transfer?

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Ben E. FitzCheck the vesting years on your quarterly statement.

If you transfer from one AHRP Participating Employer to another, special rules apply.

If you transfer from an AHRP Participating Employer to certain Seventh-day Adventist employers not participating in the AHRP, you may continue to receive AHRP vesting service you have under those employers' tax-qualified plans. This is provided you are later employed by an AHRP Participating Employer. Please see your human resources department if you're transferring.

If you transfer to another AHRP participating employer, you must file a new Signature Authorization Form. This would also be a good time to review your beneficiary designation.

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What happens if my employment ends?

You stop earning vesting service when your employment ends, unless you transfer to another AHRP Participating Employer (or certain Seventh-day Adventist-related employers). If you are later employed by an AHRP Participating Employer, you may receive credit for your prior vesting service, unless the number of consecutive "break-in-service" years you had since your employment ended is greater than your prior years of vesting service.

A "break-in-service year" is a calendar year in which you have fewer than 501 hours of service. You also may have a break-in-service year if you are a part-time employee with fewer than 501 hours of service. Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) hours can prevent a break-in-service. If you have between 501 and 1,000 hours of service in a year, you may not have a break-in-service but may not receive vesting service for that year.

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What if I become disabled?

If you become totally and permanently disabled, you become 100% vested and may receive the entire balance of your account from the Plan. You no longer will receive employer basic or matching contributions. You are considered totally disabled if you are eligible for Social Security disability benefits. 

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What if I die?

Your designated beneficiary is eligible to receive the entire vested amount of your account from the Plan. Your employer may make a prorated basic and matching contribution to your account, even if you do not reach 1,000 hours of pay during that year.

If your designated beneficiary is living, he or she may elect to receive your vested account balance from the Plan as soon as possible. Your beneficiary may choose to leave your vested account balance in the Plan for some time. However the IRS requires that your beneficiary receive your vested account balance by December 31st of the year containing the fifth anniversary of your death. If your designated beneficiary is not living, the vested amount of your account may be paid to your estate.

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Where can I get more information about vesting service?

This Summary Plan Description does not cover all details about how you receive vesting credit for the AHRP If you have any questions, contact your human resources department. The AHRP relies on information from your employer for this vesting amount and does not assure you the amount shown is accurate. It is subject to correction by your employer.

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