Critical Deadline
You and your spouse must enroll in Medicare during the Special Enrollment Period. If you do not, you will pay a higher premium rate, and coverage will be delayed for several months. Special enrollment periods are:

• If you have not started income payments from Social Security by the time you retire, you should apply for Medicare 90 days before you turn age 65.
• If you plan to retire after age 65, you must apply within 30 days of your retirement.

Medical Insurance

• Only the person(s) covered under your medical insurance at the time of your retirement can remain on the insurance.
• No one can be added to the coverage after you retire.
• Each year at Open Enrollment, you may change your medical insurance plan.
• Plan costs may vary each year.

Dental

• If you are enrolled in the Dental Plan, Option I, coverage for you and your eligible dependents will continue into retirement at no cost to you.
• If you are enrolled in Option II or Option III, you can continue that coverage into retirement through COBRA for 18 months. If you do, you must pay the entire cost of the coverage, plus a 2% administration fee. After 18 months of COBRA, you will be automatically enrolled in Option I.
• If you do not elect to continue Option II or Option III into retirement under COBRA, you will be automatically re-enrolled in Option I at the time you retire, at no cost to you.
• No dependents can be added to your coverage after you retire.

Life Insurance

• The amount of coverage will be the lesser amount in effect on your date of retirement or the retiree amount applicable to your age and years of service.
• The amount of coverage in retirement will gradually decrease to $2,000 at age 66 and remain at that level. Further details will be available at your personal pre-retirement counseling appointment. Call the HR/Payroll Service Center at 734-615-2000 or 866-647-7657 (toll free for long distance calls within the U.S.) for an appointment.
• Dependent group life insurance coverage ends at your retirement. As this is term insurance, no funds are returned to you from this account.

The amount of University and retiree contributions toward retiree benefits will vary based on hire date, age, retirement date, eligibility for medicare, coverage level, and medical plan selected.

Under specific conditions, these benefits, except group life insurance, can continue for a surviving spouse and eligible dependents.

The University reserves the right to change these benefit plans or discontinue its contribution to these programs at any time.

Retirement Illustrations
To estimate your monthly annuity income from your retirement accumulation with TIAA-CREF, you can request a retirement illustration. Contact TIAA-CREF directly, Monday - Friday, 8:00am to 11:00pm, at 800-842-2776.

Other Plans After Retirement

• Participation in the Legal plan terminates at retirement.
• Participation in the Long-Term Disability plan terminates at retirement.
• Participation in the Vision plan terminates at retirement. You may elect to continue this plan for 18 months through COBRA.
• Participation in Dependent Group Life Insurance for your spouse or other qualified adult and dependents terminates at retirement.
• If you are enrolled in Long-Term Care, contact MetLife directly at 800-638-5433.

Medicare

• If you or anyone on your medical insurance will be 65 at the time of your retirement, you must make arrangements with Social Security to begin Medicare coverage within 30 days of retirement.
• Forms will be given to you at retirement counseling to take to Social Security.

University Coverage and Medicare Enrollment
Most individuals when they turn age 65 (and certain disabled individuals) are eligible to participate in the federal Medicare Health Insurance Program administered by the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA).

If you have already applied for Social Security income payments, HCFA generally will notify you several months before you turn age 65 that you have been automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Medicare Part B (medical insurance). Part A is free. Part B requires a monthly premium payment which will be deducted from your Social Security check.

UM Medical Insurance
After you are retired and eligible for Medicare, all of your UM medical care coverage will be changed to coverage that fills in the gaps that Medicare does not pay. Medicare provides coverage in most cases, but not all, that is similar to the coverage you had as a UM faculty or staff member. You will have minimal coverage if you fail to enroll in Medicare at the appropriate time. No medical insurance will pay for benefits Medicare would cover. If you plan to live in a foreign country longer than six months or to continue working after you retire, you should advise your retirement counselor.