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 continue dental coverage through the University for the first 18 months following retirement.

• Retiree Dental Enrollment Form – use this form to enroll during the first 18 months of retirement
• Summary Plan Description (SPD) - University Plan

Voluntary Dental Plan

Retirees may enroll in the Regence Expressions plan at the end of the 18-month period or during a subsequent Open Enrollment Period.  To obtain additional information, please contact Regence BlueCross BlueShield at (888) 370-6159.

• Regence Expressions Enrollment Form – use this form to enroll following the first 18 months of retirement
• Regence Expressions Summary Plan Description
• Regence Expressions Summary of Benefits and Coverage

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 and Medical Savings Account
• 2026 Regence MedAdvantage Plans
  • Regence MedAdvantage Rx Primary (PPO)
  • Regence MedAdvantage Rx Classic (PPO)
  • Enrollment Form
  • Recorded Webinar for Regence MedAdvantage
  • Recorded Webinar for Medical Savings Account
• Medicare Medical Savings Account
  • Enroll on EMI's Website
  • Information about these plans is available on Medicare’s website
  • Research Medicare-covered services on their website
  • For information, contact Tina Perini at (385) 489-1313 or tina@retireehealthsolutions.org
• 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
    • Jason Neal at Neal Benefits – contact him at (801) 265-1783 or jason@nealbenefits.com
    • Steve Bithell – contact him at (801) 792-3268 or steve.bithell@utah.edu

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.

Upon retirement you will lose access to the University CIS page, University E-mail, paystubs and W-2’s. You should verify and update if necessary, your mailing address, phone number and personal e-mail address in CIS before your last day or employment. The contact information in CIS will be used for any future University correspondence. If you need any information from these resources (ex: copies of previous paystubs, W-2’s or personal e-mails) it is suggested you retrieve them before your last day of employment.

* Note: The W-2 for your current year of employment will be mailed to the address on file in the University system.

If you are or were enrolled in the Utah Retirement Systems (URS) Retirement Savings Plan, contact URS at (801) 366-7700 and make an appointment to discuss your options prior to retirement.

If you are enrolled in the 401(a) Defined Contribution Retirement Savings Plan, you may retain your retirement account with the current administrator. If you wish to take distributions or rollover your account you may do so after a 32-day waiting period from the date of retirement. For additional information, contact the Solutions Center at (801) 581-7447.

If you are enrolled in the University’s 403(b) and/or 457(b) Supplemental Retirement Savings Plans, you may retain your account with the current administrator. If you wish to cash out or roll-over your account, contact the administrator for forms and information. There is a 32-day waiting period from your date of separation.

Learn more about managing your account

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: Applications for Tuition Reduction are due on or before the last day to withdraw from semester-length classes.  Check the Registrar’s website for specific dates.  Applications will not be accepted after that date. Applications for Continuing Education/Lifelong Learning classes must be submitted before the class begins.

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).

For more information, visit the Tuition Reduction Page

Faculty and Staff who commence full retirement from the University of Utah are eligible for the following benefits:

• University of Utah retiree ID card (available from the UCard Office)
• Enrollment in one of the University’s Group Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement plan options once eligible for Medicare.
• Enrollment in the University’s Group Retiree Dental plan for up to 18 months following retirement. Enrollment is available to the retiree and eligible family members who were previously enrolled in the Employee Healthcare plan.
• University of Utah Campus Store discount.
• Access to George S. Eccles Student Life Center and other University physical fitness and recreation facilities, classes, and programs with payment of membership or course fees.
• Use of Union Building facilities: Some activities may require a University ID card such as: movies, bowling, billiards, lectures, etc.
• Discounts on University athletic season tickets.
• Parking with purchase of appropriate pass.
• Borrowing privileges at University library facilities. Retirees may not have the same privileges as active employees.
• Reduced tuition on University courses as governed by Policy 5-305 and Rule 5-305A. Applications for reduced tuition must be submitted before the first day of the semester.

Additional Benefits for Emeriti: https://emeriti.utah.edu/emeriti-benefits/

These benefits are subject to change in accordance with University Policy 5-112. If you have any questions on retiree benefits, please contact the HR Solutions Center at (801) 581-7447.