Fact Sheet for Retirees PERA Medicare eligible

When do I need to enroll?

You have 31 days from your official retirement date (your termination date in HCM system, as entered by your department).  If you fail to enroll or waive your coverage within the deadline, the following defaults will apply:

• Medical and Dental:  Not applicable. Medicare-eligible PERA retirees are not eligible for CU medical and/or dental benefits. 
• Basic Life Insurance:  Your basic life insurance will be waived and you forfeit your rights to enrollment from that point forward. 
  If you enroll in basic life, you may cancel coverage at any time by contacting Employee Services’ Benefits Administration office. Once you cancel coverage, you will not be able to re-enroll.
• Optional Life Insurance:  Your optional life insurance will be waived and you will forfeit your rights to enrollment from that point forward.
  If you enroll in optional life, you may decrease or cancel coverage at any time by contacting Employee Services’ Benefits Administration.  Once you decrease or cancel coverage, you will not be able to increase coverage or re-enroll.

When is the plan year?

The plan year is from July 1-June 30.  Your enrollment as a new retiree will be effective for the remainder of the plan year.  You will be allowed to make changes during regular Open Enrollment or if you experience a qualifying life event.

When will my coverage begin?

Your retiree life insurance coverage will begin the first day of the month following the termination of your active benefits.

When two members of a household are employed and/or retired with the university and/or university affiliates:

You may be insured as both a retiree and a spouse of an active employee up to a maximum combined optional life insurance benefit of $500,000.

When you or your covered dependent turns 65 or becomes Medicare eligible

Anyone who is Medicare eligible is NOT eligible for CU retiree medical and dental benefits.

When you become Medicare eligible (typically when turning 65), your retiree medical and dental coverage for all covered persons will end the last day of the month before you turn 65. Life Insurance coverage will continue. You must contact PERA for health care coverage options.

If your dependent becomes Medicare eligible (typically when turning 65) before you, your dependent’s coverage will end the last day of the month before he/she turns 65. Coverage for you, the retiree, will continue.

How and when do I pay for my premiums?

The university will bill you each month for your retiree benefits. You will receive your benefits bill around the second week of the month to pay for the coverage received the prior month. For example, you will receive a bill in February to pay for your January coverage. Payment is due by the end of the month in which you receive your bill.

If you elect to have your benefit premiums deducted from your checking or savings account each month, you will be debited from your account around the 20th of each month for the total amount due. This option also pays in arrears; the debit taken in February pays for your January coverage. Sign up for automatic withdrawal by submitting the Banking Authorization Form.