When you are covered by Long-Term Disability and are eligible for Medicare coverage, your University medical insurance plan becomes the secondary (or complementary) payer. This means that Medicare pays first on most of your medical insurance claims and your UM medical insurance plan pays second. This ensures you the same level of coverage you had before you became eligible for Medicare.

If you live outside the U.S., Medicare does not apply.

Your UM medical plans are designed to work with Medicare benefits, and it is important that you and your dependents enroll in Medicare when you first become eligible.

Medicare Plans
Medicare is a federal medical insurance program which is generally available to persons age 65 or older. It might also be available before age 65 for certain disabled individuals, or persons with end-stage renal disease (chronic kidney failure).

Original Medicare Plan is the traditional pay-per-visit arrangement. You can go to any doctor, hospital or other medical care provider who accepts Medicare. You must pay the deductible, then Medicare pays its share and you pay your share. The Original Medicare Plan has two parts: Part A - Hospital Insurance, and Part B - Medical Insurance. If you enroll in Health Alliance Plan you keep your original Medicare coverage.

Important Information About Medicare for You and Your Dependents
To ensure that you receive the highest level of benefits from your UM medical plan, you and your dependents must sign up for Medicare Parts A and B when you first become eligible. If you do not sign up for Medicare, your UM plan will not pay for anything which Medicare would have paid. To avoid gaps in your coverage, it is best to enroll for Medicare benefits as soon as you or your dependents qualify.