Benefits Human Resources

Health care coverage at group rates is available through the University for University Retirees.  Retirees pay the full cost of their health coverage.  Retirees and their family members who are not yet eligible for Medicare may enroll in the University's Retiree Health Care Plan or find coverage at healthcare.gov.

Retirees and their enrolled family members may maintain dental coverage through the University for the first 18 months following retirement.  At the end of the 18-month period or during a subsequent Open Enrollment Period, retirees may enroll in group dental coverage through Regence BlueCross BlueShield.

Retirees and their covered dependents who are eligible for Medicare must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. The University's Retiree Health Care Plan pays benefits as a secondary health plan for those eligible for Medicare, whether or not the individual is actually enrolled in Medicare.

Retirees and their family members who are eligible for Medicare may choose from the following options:

• Enroll in the University’s Retiree Health Care Plan by completing the Retiree Health Care Plan Enrollment Form
• Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan through Regence BlueCross BlueShield, University of Utah Health Plans, or UnitedHealthcare
• Enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan through Regence BlueCross BlueShield or UnitedHealthcare
• Enroll in other individual coverage

For information on the University’s plans, as well as monthly premium rates, see the following:

• Summary Comparison - Medicare Advantage Plans
• Summary Comparison - University of Utah Plan
• Regence Retiree Dental SBC

Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage is available through the University with Regence Life & Health ("RLH") Medicare Script™ for those eligible for Medicare. It is available to Retirees enrolled in the University’s Retiree Health Care Plan and to those who choose other Medicare Supplement coverage.

For detailed information on the Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement plan options being offered, contact the provider directly.

Retirees and their enrolled dependents who become eligible for Medicare after enrolling in the Retiree Health Care Plan should contact the Benefits Department prior to the date they become eligible for Medicare in order to avoid a loss of prescription drug coverage and possible Medicare late enrollment penalties.

Retirees on the Utah Health Plan may pay for health care coverage monthly or sign up for automatic withdrawal.

If you or your family members are eligible for Medicare when you retire, you must enroll in both Medicare Parts A and B.  You should begin the enrollment process at least two months before your retirement date.  See Planning for Retirement for additional information on Medicare.  If your retiree health coverage includes prescription drug coverage (most Medicare Advantage Plans include this), you don’t need to enroll in a Medicare Part D Plan.  However, if you enroll in a plan that doesn’t include prescription drug coverage, you will need to enroll in a Part D Plan, as well.

If you and/or your family members are not eligible for Medicare when you retire, you will need to enroll when you reach age 65.

Eligible retirees have other retiree benefits through the University.  These benefits are subject to change in accordance with University Policy 5-112.

• Summary of Current Retiree Benefits
• Summary of Current Emeritus Retiree Benefits

For information your University employee benefits at retirement and conversion opportunities, please see the University Benefits at Retirement notice.

If you have any questions on retiree benefits, please contact the HR Solutions Center at (801) 581-7447.

You may begin withdrawing from your University retirement plans after you have been retired for 32 or more days.  To begin taking withdrawals from your retirement accounts, contact the appropriate provider's customer service department. Withdrawals from some accounts may be subject to a 10% IRS early withdrawal penalty if you are under age 59½ at the time of the withdrawal. Check with the investment provider for forms and specific information.

Retiree Open Enrollment is held in November each year for coverage beginning January 1^st of the following year.

Review the Open Enrollment Newsletter and Summary Comparisons for specific information and changes to the University’s available plans.

• Newsletter
• Summary Comparison - Medicare Advantage Plans
• 2022 Regence MedAdvantage
  • RX Primary PPO Plan
  • RX Classic Custom PPO Plan
• Summary Comparison - UofU Plan
• Open Enrollment Form