Retired Medical Insurance Coverage

Active Medical Coverage - UNDER Age 65

If an employee who was enrolled in the University medical plan at the time of their retirement elects to retire under one of the University’s Early Retirement Plans, they will receive University medical insurance benefits until the age of 65, on the same basis as if they had continued service as an active employee. The retiree will then have the option to change medical plans each year during the annual enrollment period.

When an employee who has elected to retire early under either Plan reaches the age of 65, they will cease participation in the medical plan for active employees. The medical plan will end the month prior to turning 65.

The medical insurance benefit will be administered in accordance with applicable medical plan documents.

Spouse/Dependent child(ren)

  • If the employee's spouse and/or dependent children are covered under the University medical plan at the time the employee retires and the retiree is under 65 and remains on the active plan or is over 65 and eligible for the Medicare Advantage Plan, the retired employee has the option to continue coverage for eligible dependents in a University active medical plan for their:
    • Spouse until they become eligible for Medicare
    • Children until the end of the calendar year in which the child turns 26 or when the retiree is no longer eligible for the active plan
  • Should the retiree predecease their dependent(s), the eligible spouse and child(ren) will be offered COBRA for up to thirty-six (36) months.
  • The retired employee will be responsible for paying the employee cost for dependent coverage.
    • If the retired employee is on the active plan, the cost will be the same as if the employee was an active employee.
    • If the retired employee is on the Medicare Advantage plan and the spouse is on the active plan, see rates below.
    • If the retired employee is not eligible for the Medicare Advantage plan at age 65 or at retirement, whichever is later, the dependents will come off the University plan and be offered COBRA.
  • If, after the employee retires, the retiree’s spouse/dependent child(ren) terminate their coverage (including non-payment), they will no longer be eligible to re-enroll in a University medical plan.

Post-Retirement Health Insurance (Medicare Advantage Plan) - OVER AGE 65

The extent of an employee's coverage under this benefit is a condition of the employee reaching the age of 65, their date of hire, and length of continuous service.

Eligibility

In addition to meeting the following requirements, you must also enroll in Medicare Part A & B:

  • Staff: Full-time staff hired on or before July 1, 1992 who have been continuously employed since their hire date and retire after turning age 65 or under the Early Retirement Plan for Staff.
  • Faculty: Continuously employed in a full-time permanent position prior to August 31, 2003 and retire after turning age 65 or under the Early Retirement Plan for Tenured Faculty.

If, after the employee retires, the retiree terminates the Medicare Advantage Plan (including non-payment), they will no longer be eligible to re-enroll.

Cost for Eligible Retirees

This section pertains to retirees who are eligible for Medicare. If taking an early retirement, then refer to the Active section.

The University places a cost cap on the employer contribution to this benefit for the employee. Once the cost cap is reached, the employee is responsible for any co-payment and the resulting balance.

  • Employees with 20 years of continuous service at retirement: Full payment of the monthly premium for the employee is paid by the University until the cost cap ($2,400/year) is reached.
  • Employees with 15 years of continuous service at retirement: 66% of the monthly premium for the employee is paid by the University until the cost cap ($1,600/year) is reached.

Eligibility for Full Retirement Benefits for Social Security

Beginning with persons born in 1938, the full retirement age will gradually increase from the age of 65, eventually reaching the age of 67 for persons born in 1960 and later.

For information regarding full retirement age eligibility requirements, please visit the Social Security website.

Enrollment

Effective Date

  • Pre-65 retirees: Enrollment in the Medicare Advantage Plan will be effective the first of the month that the employee turns 65.
  • Post-65 retirees: Enrollment in the Medicare Advantage Plan will be the first of the month following the retirement date.

If the employee did not participate in the University medical plan for active employees at the time of retirement or chooses to drop the active plan after retirement and wishes to enroll in the University Medicare Advantage Plan at age 65, the retiree is responsible for notifying Human Resources at least three months prior to their 65th birthday. Failure to do so will eliminate the retiree from eligibility for the Medicare Advantage.

Coverage for Spouse

In order to enroll a spouse in the Medicare Advantage plan:

  • the retiree must be eligible to enroll;
  • the spouse had to have been covered under the University’s medical plan at the time the employee retired; AND
  • the spouse must be 65 or over.
  • If the spouse is not 65 or over, the spouse must remain on a University medical plan until age 65.

If the retiree is on the Medicare Advantage Plan, but the spouse is not yet 65, the spouse may remain on the active plan until age 65 as long as the retiree is living. When the spouse turns 65, they may enroll in the University’s Medicare Advantage plan as long as the retiree is living.

The retiree will pay the rates shown here for the spouse to remain on the active plan.

Once the spouse is on the Medicare Advantage plan:

  • The employee is responsible for the full cost of the Medicare Advantage plan premium for the spouse.
  • Should the retired employee predecease their spouse, the spouse may continue their Medicare Advantage Plan at full cost.
    • In the event that the spouse does not want to continue the Medicare Advantage Plan, termination of spousal coverage following the employee's death will be effective on the last day of the month following the month in which the employee's death occurred.
      This condition only applies if the spouse is on the Medicare Advantage Plan. If the spouse is on an active medical plan, then they will be offered COBRA for up to thirty-six (36) months.

If the retiree’s spouse terminates University medical plan coverage (including non-payment), the spouse will no longer be eligible to re-enroll in a University medical plan.

2023 Retiree Insurance Rates 

Cigna HDHP $4000

Retiree Monthly Spouse as Subscriber Monthly
Subcriber $46.77 $267.17
Subcriber w/surcharges   $367.17
Subscriber+Spouse $186.02  
Subscriber+Spouse w/ surcharge $286.02  
Subscriber+Child $112.68 $333.08
Subscriber+ Child w/surcharges   $433.08
Subscriber+Children $209.41 $429.81
Subscriber+Children w/surcharges   $529.81
Subscriber+Family $385.87  
Subscriber+Family w/ surcharge $485.87  

Cigna HDHP $1750

Retiree Monthly Spouse as Subscriber Monthly
Subscriber $89.29 $335.44
Subscriber w/surcharges   $435.44
Subscriber+Spouse $262.56  
Subscriber+Spouse w/ surcharge $362.56  
Subscriber+Child $171.14 $417.29
Subscriber+Child w/surcharges   $517.29
Subscriber+Children $290.20 $536.35
Subscriber+Children w/surcharges   $636.35
Subscriber+Family $490.04  
Subscriber+Family w/ surcharge $590.04  

Cigna Traditional

 

Retiree Monthly Spouse as Subscriber Monthly
Subscriber $97.80 $400.76
Subscriber w/surcharges   $500.76
Subscriber+Spouse $357.17  
Subscriber+Spouse w/ surcharge $457.17  
Subscriber+Child $215.79 $518.75
Subscriber+Child w/surcharges   $618.75
Subscriber+Children $374.18 $677.14
Subscriber+Children w/surcharges   $777.14
Subscriber+Family $563.39  
Subscriber+Family w/ surcharge $663.39