Stay Insured During Retirement
By Scott Culver
Communications Specialist
WEA Trust
April 2004
Public education employees nearing retirement must make decisions about
a number of issues, including health insurance, before they can enjoy
life beyond the classroom.
Continuing health insurance after retirement depends, in part, on
your current insurer. If you’re covered by a WEA Trust health
plan, you can keep Trust coverage when you retire.
Unlike some other employer-based health plans, the Trust allows health
plan members who are age 55 or older when they retire to continue coverage
even after they become eligible for Medicare. In fact, they can retain
their group coverage with the Trust as long as premiums are paid on
time and their former employer maintains its Trust health plan.
If you have a Trust plan and retire before age 55, you can continue
in your district’s group health plan for 18 months provided you
or the district make the premium payments.
If you’re not covered by a Trust health plan, check with your
school district to find out how long you can continue your health coverage
when you retire. By law, employers must offer retiring employees the
right to continue group health insurance coverage for at least 18 months.
A cost-saving alternative
Whether you’re covered by a Trust health plan or another group
plan, you may have a cost-saving alternative. School district retirees
should consider WEA-MedPlus – a Trust health plan designed specifically
for Medicare-eligible retirees.
WEA-MedPlus is a good option for people who want the Trust’s
quality group coverage and the possibility of lower monthly premiums.
WEA-MedPlus also includes prescription drug coverage, which Medicare
does not currently offer.
To be eligible for WEA-MedPlus, you must:
- Be 65 or older and retired from all active employment.
- Be enrolled in both Medicare Parts A and B.
- Be currently covered under an employer-sponsored group health plan.
- Have no dependent children for whom you want coverage.
If you are not currently covered by a Trust group health plan, you
must also:
- Be 65, but not yet 66.
- Maintain a membership in WEAC-Retired.
Please keep in mind that once you leave your group plan (to enroll
in WEA-MedPlus or any other plan), you will not be able to rejoin your
group plan. That’s why it’s critical to compare plans and
weigh your options carefully.
To learn more about WEA-MedPlus, please call a Trust eligibility specialist
at (800) 279-4000.
Posted March 19, 2004