Health and Dental/Vision Insurance

Insurance carriers.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (Group 59000) is the primary carrier for health insurance, Delta Dental (DD Group 3250) administers the dental plan, and Vision Services Plan (VSP) administers vision coverage. Depending on where you live, you may be able to enroll in one of the  health maintenance organizations (HMOs): Health Alliance Plan (for non-Medicare retirees in select southeastern Michigan counties) or Priority Health (select counties in the lower peninsula). Refer to HMO Pilot Option for more information on HMOs.  

The insurance carrier is your best bet for answers about an insurance claim or if you want to know if a particular service is covered.

Check out the Insurance Information (R0058C) document for information enrollment, coverage, and eligibility for retirees. If you have questions or a problem with the insurance enrollment, contact ORS .

Insurance premium subsidies.

Whether or not the state helps cover insurance premium costs depends on when membership with the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System began as well as other factors. SeePremium Subsidies for details.

When your coverage begins.

Coverage always begins on the first day of a calendar month. Your insurance coverage as a retiree can begin on your retirement effective date if you submit your completed retirement application and group insurance application, with all required proofs, before your retirement effective date. It takes 45 days after your pension eligibility determination for your insurance enrollment to be processed, so be sure to apply well ahead of time.

If we receive your applications after your retirement effective date, your coverage begins on the first day of the month after the completed applications are received. However your enrollment will not be processed by that date because we must determine your pension eligibility first, and then allow the insurance carrier another 45 days to process. To avoid unpaid health care bills, we urge you to file your application three months in advance as recommended.

You can also choose to delay your insurance coverage up to 90 days past your retirement effective date. We suggest you check with your school employer to find out when your present insurance(s) will terminate. That way there won't be any break in your coverage and you won't be duplicating coverage. Determining the correct effective date is very important because we can't refund any premiums that were withheld from your pension.

Note: If you purchase service credit on or after July 1, 2008, the effective date of your insurance eligibility follows the rules described above. However, the date you are eligible for a premium subsidy may be delayed. See Premium Subsidies for details. 

There could be a waiting period if you enroll later.

If you decide not to enroll in the insurance plans at retirement, you can enroll later. Your coverage will begin on the first day of the sixth month after ORS receives all required forms and proofs of eligibility. For example, if we receive your Group Insurance Application (R0365C) form and / or HMO Enrollment form with the necessary proofs on February 10, your coverage would begin August 1.

We can waive the waiting period if you or a dependent has an involuntary loss of other group coverage or a change in your family status. If we receive your Group Insurance Application form or HMO Enrollment form along with proof of your loss of coverage within 30 days of the qualifying event, there will be no gap in your coverage. 

If you have other health insurance.

The health, dental, and vision plans contain a coordination of benefits (COB) provision, which says you can't be reimbursed for more than the allowed cost of your care or service. If you or your dependents are covered under another group plan, the plans coordinate their reimbursement so that their combined payments don't exceed the allowed costs. Be sure to keep ORS informed if anyone on your insurance is covered under another insurance.

If you and your spouse are Michigan public school retirees, you will be covered together under one contract.

Sign up for Medicare.

As soon as you or any of your covered dependents become eligible for Medicare, you must enroll in both Part A and Part B. If that happens before the age of 65, send ORS a copy of the Medicare card. (For most people, Medicare begins at age 65 or after 24 months of social security disability eligibility.)

Your health plan coordinates with Medicare. If you don't enroll in Medicare Part B, you will be personally responsible for any medical expenses that would be covered by Medicare. Your retirement system health plan will continue to pay for any of the plan's covered benefits that are not covered by Medicare.

When your Medicare coverage begins, you will likely see a decrease in the amount of your health insurance premiums. 

Medicare D is a prescription drug program introduced by the federal government in 2006. Your insurance carrier (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan or your HMO) will automatically enroll you in Medicare Part D. Be sure your carrier knows your Medicare number.

Your medical records are private.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and related rules require group health plans to protect the privacy of its members' health information. If you are concerned that your privacy rights have been compromised, or you need further information, please contact ORS  or write to:

ATTN: Privacy Officer
Office of Retirement Services
P.O. Box 30171
Lansing, MI 48909-7671