Benefits Human Resources

Retirees and their family members who are not eligible for Medicare may find coverage at healthcare.gov.

Retirees and their covered dependents who are eligible for Medicare must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. Retirees and their family members may choose from the following options:

• Enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan through Regence BlueCross BlueShield or UnitedHealthcare
• Enroll in a Medicare Supplement plan through Regence BlueCross BlueShield or UnitedHealthcare
• Enroll in other individual coverage

Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage is available through Regence Life & Health ("RLH") Medicare Script™ for those eligible for Medicare. It is available to Retirees who choose other Medicare Supplement coverage.

Retirees and their enrolled family members may maintain dental coverage through the University for the first 18 months following retirement.

• Retiree Dental Enrollment Form
• Summary Plan Description (SPD)

Voluntary Dental Plan

At the end of the 18-month period only or during a subsequent Open Enrollment Period, you may enroll in the Voluntary Dental Plan with the University of Utah (Regence Expressions).  To obtain additional information, please contact Regence BlueCross BlueShield at (888) 370-6159.

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.

• Current Retiree Benefits
• Current Emeriti 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.

Important message for all Retirees regarding Tuition Reduction Benefits:  Effective Spring Semester 2024, HR will stop accepting applications on the day before the semester begins.  No applications will be accepted once the semester has begun – except for continuing education classes.  If you will be taking a regular semester course, be sure to submit your application prior to the first day of the semester.

A retired employee, their spouse or domestic partner and unmarried, dependent children under the age of 26 are eligible for tuition reduction.

• The retired employee must meet the University’s eligibility requirements for retirement (see Planning for Retirement).
• Apply for the benefit using the Application for Reduced Tuition.

Retiree Open Enrollment is held in November each year for coverage beginning January 1^st of the following year. Please meet with an Independent Broker that may assist you with enrollment in one of the group Medicare Advantage Plans or in a Medicare Supplement Plan.

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

• Summary Comparison - Medicare Advantage Plans
• 2025 Regence MedAdvantage Plans
  • Regence MedAdvantage Rx Primary (PPO)
  • Regence MedAdvantage Rx Classic (PPO)
  • Enrollment Form
  • Recorded Webinar for Regence MedAdvantage Plans and Medical Savings Account
• New - Medicare Medical Savings Account
  • Enroll on EMI's Website
  • For information, contact Tina Perini at (385) 489-1313 or tina@retireehealthsolutions.org
  • Information about these plans is available on Medicare’s website
  • Research Medicare-covered services on their website
• United HealthCare Group Medicare Advantage Plan - contact directly at (877) 714-0178
• PEHP Medicare Supplement Plan (only available if enrolled in URS retirement) - contact directly at (801) 366-7499.

Independent Brokers can assist with Medicare plans, Marketplace plans and individual plans.  University employees and retirees have received great customer service from the following:

• • • Tina Perini at Retiree Health Solutions – contact her at (385) 489-1313 or tina@retireehealthsolutions.org.
    • Steve Bithell – contact him at (801) 792-3268 or steve.bithell@utah.edu.
    • Jason Neal at Neal Benefits – contact him at (801) 265-1783 or jason@nealbenefits.com