Accordingly, if you are either an employee of a charter school, or you are not employed by a school district, as soon as you start thinking about retiring, investigate your eligibility for retiree health coverage, as your districts rules may affect your retirement decisions. The State of Illinois offers health care benefits to more than 150,000 retirees. Any deductible paid to your current medical plan will not count toward your MAPD plan year deductible. Not sure if you needed a bio, but if you want to use one, here it is: Danielle K Roberts is a Medicare insurance expert and co-founder at Boomer Benefits, a licensed insurance agency that helps baby boomers with Medicare supplemental coverage. The system was established in 1939 and is the largest public retirement system in the state. All members and enrolled dependents have the same dental benefits available through Delta Dentalregardless of the health plan selected. Yes, as an active TRS member, you are required to contribute 9.0 percent of your gross earnings toward retirement each year. Employees are currently divided into either Tier I or Tier II based on their hire dates. The State of Illinois offers retirees, annuitants, and survivors (of the State Employees Group Insurance Program (SEGIP), The Teachers' Retirement Insurance Program (TRIP) and the College Insurance Program (CIP)) a healthcare program called Total Retiree Advantage Illinois (TRAIL). Combining school districts knowledge of what is important to their teachers with UnitedHealthcares experience helps to make informed decisions and create tailored plans. However, you receive enhanced benefits and lower costs by obtaining care from in-network providers. They can reached at 1-855-223-4807 (TTY: 711), Monday-Friday, 8 AM-8 PM CT. When you enroll in a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan, you are no longer in Original Medicare, but still have the same covered services and the same rights and protections as people with Original Medicare. For more complete benefit information regarding TRAIL and the health plan benefits with your new Aetna MAPD PPO plan, please review your: 2023 TRIP TRAIL Initial Enrollment Guide(for Newly-Eligible for TRAIL Members). Our clients loved it, and for good reason! $170 allowance for featured brands 20% savings on the amount over your allowance Lenses covered every 12 months. Its no secret the state of Illinois is in financial trouble and has been for decades. However, here in Decatur, there are fewer options, and you may discover your favorite doctor is not in your network. 2021 RetirementTalk.net | To qualify, you must have held an eligible public safety position and reached full retirement age when you: For additional details, including what positions meet the IRS definition of a public safety position, see IRS publication 575, Pension and Annuity Income, at www.irs.gov or talk with your tax advisor. TRIP is a comprehensive program of quality health care coverage for retired teachers and their eligible dependents. You must provide proof of Medicare ineligibility from the SSA. If you do meet with a Sams/Hockaday, we will ask for more information on the benefits offered to you for a fair comparison of your options. However, we would suggest that you contact your benefits coordinator in order to find out what your costs will be when you retire. TRS pays two death benefits: a refund of your accumulated contributions and survivor benefits. State Illinois hasnt had a balanced budget since 2001. We suspect the TRIP program got rid of its top-notch coverage and found significant cost savings by switching to a private Medicare Advantage program. This type of Medicare Advantage plan, also known as an MAPD plan, is aMedicare-approved planthat combines the different parts of Medicare - Part A, Part B and Part D into one plan. Teachers deserve better, and we want to make sure youre doing whats best for you in retirement. This is essentially a few Medicare Advantage plans you can choose from. If you or your dependent is actively working and eligible for Medicare, or you have additional questions about this requirement, contact the CMS Group Insurance Division, Medicare Coordination of Benefits (COB) Unit at (800) 442-1300 or (217) 782-7007. Elect to re-enroll in coverage. Members who receive a retirement or disability benefit are eligible for TRIP insurance coverage. Employees can choose a medical insurance plan from BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois: a Preferred Provider Organization plan or a High Deductible Health plan with a Health Savings Account . * You must enroll in both Medicare Parts A and B to qualify for the lower premiums. All active members, employers and investment income fund the benefit payments of retired employees. If you enroll in Medicare, you may want to obtain Medigap insurance to supplement Medicares coverage. The TRAIL Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period for the 2023 plan year was November 1 - November 30. Some are HMO-based plans while others have a PPO network. Advantage Illinois (TRAIL). 2024 Summary of Benefits and Coverage. When we calculate the first increase percentage, we determine the number of years that have elapsed since your TRS retirement annuity began and the effective date of your initial increase, and then multiply that amount by 3 percent. c. 32B, 18. A Medicare Advantage plan is a Medicare-approved plan that incorporates your Part A, B, and D into one health plan. To obtain additional coverage you may enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan for prescription drug coverage, re-enroll in the TRIP-Sponsored TRAIL plan throughout the plan year with coverage effective the first of the month following your enrollment request, or enroll during your next annual TRAIL MAPD Enrollment Period. You dont need any pre-approvals with a Medicare Supplement. Retired teachers were confused and didnt understand was this a positive change, or were the benefits they grew to know and love in jeopardy? HMO Policy. If your TRIP medical and prescription coverage is terminated, you will have only Original Medicare for your medical coverage. If I predecease my spouse and he or she is covered at the time of my death, can he or she continue coverage as a survivor? They had a Medicare Supplement. Since the administration of local health care coverage is negotiated on the local level, costs will vary from town to town. * See chart below: The monthly dependent contribution is in addition to the member health plan contribution, if applicable. If your school district is not listed in the Retired Municipal Teachers Program , your health care coverage after retirement will be administered by your local employer. No need to enroll, unless you have a change, or wish to opt-out of the plan. Please make an appointment so that we are prepared for your counseling session. Until then, the program always resembled a Medicare Supplement Plan F, which represents no deductibles, no copays, and no coinsurance for all Medicare-approved charges.. business-member-directory-association-of-california.jpeg, Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist Crps, Jp Morgan Chase Retirement Plan Administration, Health Insurance Continuation Through Employer Premium Deduction Authorization, teacher education/certification programs in Illinois, State Teachers Retirement System Of Ohio Annual Report, What Type Of Retirement Plan Is Tiaa Cref, Public Employees Retirement System Sacramento. Due to your Medicare-eligibility, you cannot keep your current State of Illinois health plan. Illinois Retired Teachers Association (IRTA) knows Retired Educators like you. Elect to re-enroll in coverage. Sign into the Member Account Access website. When it is time to enroll for coverage with your local community, you should ask your benefits coordinator several questions about the coverage of your spouse. We know of many teachers who spend their own money on classroom supplies and decorations because they arent given enough to make it happen. This means if youre a retired teacher enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, you can choose a Medicare Advantage plan the state offers, which includes drug coverage (Illinois.gov). We know of many teachers who spend their own money on classroom supplies and decorations because they arent given enough to make it happen. Once you have established coverage with the Medicare program, the MTRS will withhold the monthly premium for your Medigap coverage. Jerry Birkeys wife, one of our clients, was diagnosed with cancer in June of 2016. These "bundled" plans include Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), and in the case of your TRIP-Sponsored TRAIL plan, Medicare prescription drug (Part D) is also included. While you do have to purchase a separate drug plan, you have the advantage of choosing one that fits your needs. If, prior to enrolling in Medicare, you were covered under: If you enroll in an IMRF-endorsed plan after retirement, or participate in the Sav-Rx Prescription Drug Discount Card Program, Delta Dental plan, or the United Healthcare Vision Care plan, you can choose to have your insurance premiums deducted directly from your monthly benefit payments. only), Print an Insurance Premium Confirmation Letter, Confidential Information Release Authorization Form, Post-Retirement Days Worked Form (for July 1, 2015 June 30, 2016), Post-Retirement Days Worked Form (for July 1, 2013 June 30, 2014), Post-Retirement Days Worked Form (for July 1, 2014 June 30, 2015), Post-Retirement Days Worked Form (for July 1, 2016 June 30, 2017), Post-Retirement Days Worked Form (for July 1, 2017 June 30, 2018), Post-Retirement Days Worked Form (for July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019), Post-Retirement Days Worked Form (for July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020), CURRENT - Teachers' Retirement Insurance Program (TRIP) Summary: July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023, CURRENT: Effective Jan. 1, 2023 - Dec. 31, 2023 - Total Retiree Advantage Illinois (TRAIL) Summary, Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Financial Report Summary, Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Financial Report Summary, Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Financial Report Summary, Fiscal Year 2023 Benefit Choice booklet (May 1 - May 31, 2022), Information Bulletin 79: Retiree Return to Work Program. You must stay enrolled in Part B the entire time that you are enrolled in the plan because your Part B premiums help to subsidize the cost of this plan. Ill never forget a patient that was told a bunch of misleading things, and when the time came for surgery, their MA plan basically said they hadnt suffered enough and had to do several more weeks of therapy, Dr. Sams explains. There is a charge for Medicare Part B. In 2008 and 2009, Illinois faced spikes in pension contributions, and Gov. Your annual PPO deductible will start again for the TRAIL MAPD Plan Year. Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or by visiting www.medicare.gov to ask questions about Medicare Parts A and B. To better prepare for your Medicare Enrollment, click here to review this Medicare Checklist: Open Enrollment (OE): an annual enrollment period held in the fall of each year. The state of Illinois offers annuitants and survivors a healthcare program called Total Retiree Advantage Illinois (TRAIL). Add or drop dependent coverage. Automatic premium deduction is available on all Doyle Rowe plans except for: Medicare Part D premiums cannot be deducted from your IMRF benefit payment, but you can elect to have them deducted from your Social Security payment. Springfield, Illinois 62702. The period allowed benefit recipients to change health plans and/or add eligible dependent coverage. If your residential or mailing address changes, you must notifybothyour retirement system and the Social Security Administration in writing as quickly as possible. TRS members with at least five years of service with a qualified state of Illinois agency may be eligible for benefit options under the State of Illinois Group Insurance Plan. As a TRIP member who is eligible for Medicare, the Teachers' Retirement Insurance Program (TRIP) offers you a retiree healthcare program called Total Retiree Advantage Illinois (TRAIL). You get the treatment you need when you need it, and the plan pays. Any Required and supporting documentation you may have, may be uploaded online, or faxed (toll-free) 844-676-1725. Original Medicare is Fee-For-Service, and your supplement fits right alongside that. Illinois contains one of the largest teacher employee benefit programs in the country, providing the nearly 130,000 teachers in the state with not only a state pension retirement system, but extensive health insurance benefits as well. By 2010, Illinois had the worst credit rating out of any state in our country. endstream endobj 1014 0 obj <>/Metadata 65 0 R/Outlines 94 0 R/Pages 1011 0 R/StructTreeRoot 95 0 R/Type/Catalog/ViewerPreferences<>>> endobj 1015 0 obj <. For members who are newly eligible for Medicare,you will havetwo opportunities for enrollment: Initial Enrollment (IE): which isoffered to all Medicare-eligible retirees and their Medicare-eligibledependents within 60-days of the 65th birthday (of the youngest enrollee). 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