Important Information for Active Employees Eligible for Medicare

If you are an active state employee eligible for Medicare, your state group insurance plan is your primary insurance coverage. You qualify for a Special Enrollment Period with Medicare, which means you can delay enrollment in Medicare Part B without penalty. You can enroll in Medicare Part B without penalty for eight months after you stop working.

To delay enrollment in Medicare Part B contact Medicare. The state plan will pay the primary portion of your coverage and Medicare Part A will pay second. When you retire, you have eight months to elect your Medicare Part B coverage without penalty. When you retire, Medicare will become the primary payer for your health care services.

Please note if you choose to continue your state health insurance coverage when you retire, you must elect your Medicare Part B coverage. If you do not, you will have to pay the first 80 percent of your health care expenses.

If you become eligible for Medicare before age 65, please send a copy of your Medicare card to People First (include your People First ID Number).