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Retiree Insurance Benefit Overview

As a retiree, you're eligible to continue to participate in most of the same insurance programs as active employees. Sometimes your coverage may be somewhat different. For example, some coverage limits may be lower.

Eligibility

Your eligibility for retiree coverage is based on legislation passed by the 78th Legislative Session and an informal opinion letter issued by the Office of the Attorney General.

Service credit is creditable service time as defined by the Teacher Retirement System (TRS), Optional Retirement Program (ORP), Employees Retirement System (ERS) or an acceptable combination thereof.

Category A: Individuals employed on August 31, 2003:

  • Must meet one of the following criteria:
    • Age 55 with at least five years of service credit
    • A combination of age and years of service credit totaling 80 ("rule of 80")
  • Must have three years of service credit with the university
  • The University of Texas System must be your last qualifying state employer
  • Must retire through TRS, ERS or ORP

Faculty members who were first appointed on September 1, 2003 may qualify under Category A with documentation that teaching began prior to August 31, 2003.

Former employees who met these criteria as of August 31, 2003, may also be eligible for retiree insurance coverage.

Category B: Individuals employed on or after September 1, 2003:

  • Age 65 with at least 10 years of service credit or the "rule of 80" with at least 10 years of university service credit
  • Ten years of service credit with The University of Texas System
  • The University of Texas System must be your last qualifying state employer
  • Must retire through TRS, ERS or ORP

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Coverage

The University of Texas at Austin and the State of Texas provide 100% of your premium for retiree basic coverage. The university and the state provide up to 50% of the premium for your dependent’s medical coverage, and you are responsible for paying the remaining premium for dependent medical coverage and all premiums for optional coverage.

Basic
Coverage:
Optional
Coverage:

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Enrollment

Retiree Insurance Enrollment

You must enroll in the retiree insurance within 31 days of your retirement date. Your employee insurance does not automatically continue when you retire. You must submit a Retiree Insurance Enrollment/Change Application [PDF] to the Human Resource Service Center within your 31-day enrollment period. If you do not submit the form within this 31-day enrollment period, your next opportunity to enroll is during annual enrollment (each July), and then evidence of insurability may be required.

If you retire from TRS or ERS, you must also provide documentation of retirement, such as a copy of the TRS 30 (Application for Service Retirement) form for TRS retirees. If you retire from ORP, you must submit an ORP Declaration of Retirement form.

Annual Enrollment

Annual enrollment occurs each July. During this time, you may make changes to your insurance using the online enrollment system, My UT Benefits. In June, a Coverage Option Notice is sent to each benefits-eligible retiree via e-mail or U.S. mail (if no e-mail address is on file). The Coverage Option Notice lists current coverage selections and coverage options for the upcoming academic year. Elections made during annual enrollment will become effective on the following September 1 or upon approval of evidence of insurability, if required.

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Change in Insurance Status

Changes to your insurance coverage are not allowed during the year except in the case of a qualified status change. You have 31 days from the date of a qualifying status change to notify the HRSC and change your benefit selections. If you do not make your changes during the 31-day status change period, your changes cannot be made until the next annual enrollment period in July to be effective the following September 1 or upon approval of evidence of insurability, if required.

The list below includes common examples of status changes:

  • Marriage, divorce, annulment, legal separation or spouse's death
  • Birth, adoption, medical child support order or dependent's death
  • Change in residence if the change affects your or your dependents' current plan eligibility
  • Change in dependent eligibility (e.g. marriage or reaching age 25)
  • Change in coverage or cost of other benefit plans available to you and your family

Your benefit changes must be consistent with your status change. For questions regarding status changes, please contact the Human Resource Service Center or refer to the "Common Status Changes and Documentation Required" table below. Evidence of insurability may be required for some benefit changes.

Common Status Changes and Documentation Required

Situation Documentation
Retiree or dependent gained insurance elsewhere within the past 31 days
Retiree or dependent change due to loss of insurance elsewhere within the past 31 days
Marriage within the past 31 days               
Divorce within the past 31 days
Newborn within the past 31 days

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