Estimating Your Out-Of-Pocket Monthly Costs

Healthcare can be a significant retirement expense. We’ve designed a retirement medical calculator to help you estimate your monthly medical cost (pre-Medicare). Click here to get started.

Understanding and Using Your IAFF MERP Benefit

This is also a good time to start thinking about your options for disbursement of your IAFF Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan (MERP) benefit.

If you haven’t already done so, make sure you’re registered on the IAFF MERP Member Portal. Only use a personal email, not a work email. If you need to reset your email, please contact the Trust Office.

Note: Effective July 1, 2025, BPA is the new Trust Administrator. To access your account, you must be registered on the new Member Portal. The SIMON portal has been discontinued, and your former SIMON login credentials will no longer work.

6-12 Months from Retirement

• Brush up on IAFF MERP by reviewing the available content on this website, and contact the Trust Office with any questions or concerns about how things will work when you retire.
• Use the benefit calculator on the IAFF MERP Member Portal to estimate what your various benefit options will look like.
  • Level vs. Accelerated Benefit Options
  • Will you have a Lump Sum Transfer to convert?
  • What are your Survivor Benefit options?
  • Do you plan to commence benefits before age 53? If so, how will that impact your Monthly Benefit Level?

1-6 Months from Retirement

Visit the IAFF MERP Member Portal again:

• Review your estimated benefit options using the Benefit Calculator in the Member Portal.
• Be sure your mailing address, spouse, and IRS-eligible dependent details are up to date. Submit a Participant Data Form or contact the Trust Office to update your information.
• Ensure a personal email (not a work email) is being used to access the Member Portal. If you need to reset your email, please contact the Trust Office.

If you have questions about using your unused sick leave to increase your lifetime MERP benefit, the MERP’s COBRA benefit, or purchasing additional Active Service Units (ASUs), contact the Trust Office.

Visit the IAFF MERP website to learn more about the plan and how to access your benefits. Below are links to pages that answer common questions.

• Information for newly eligible retirees
• IAFF MERP Separation Flyer for new retirees
• Accessing Your Benefit