Health and Dental Insurance
Employees who are retiring and will be receiving an income from a retirement program of the State of Arizona are eligible to participate in the Arizona Department of Administration Retirees' Health and Dental insurance group plans.
Members of the Arizona State Retirement System with between 5.0 and 10 or more years of service are eligible for the premium benefit amount (subsidy). The amount of the subsidy for the member and his/her dependents is determined by the member's years of credited service. Members of the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) are also eligible to receive a subsidy amount.
Note: Optional Retirement Plan participants are not eligible for the subsidy.
Premiums are deducted from the retirement income check and are authorized by the retiree by completing a Benefits Election Enrollment Form. Should the insurance premium exceed the retirement income, or if the retiree is receiving an income from one of the optional retirement programs, the retiree will be billed directly by the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA). Premiums are due the first of each month and are mailed directly to ADOA.
Enrollment in the health and/or dental insurance plans must be made within 30 days of the effective date of retirement. If an election is not made within the 30-day grace period, the option to enroll will be forfeited permanently and irrevocably.
Retirees may cancel their health and/or dental insurance (or remove a dependent) at any time. A written request to do so must be submitted at least one month prior to the first of the month of the desired change.
Any questions regarding enrollment, coverage, premiums, claims or changes in health and dental insurance coverage after retirement should be directed to
The Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA)
100 N. 15th Avenue, Suite 103
Phoenix, AZ 85007
1-800-304-3687
http://www.hr.state.az.us/benefits/
If an insured retiree dies before the insured surviving spouse, the surviving spouse is entitled to extend coverage at the group rates. The surviving spouse may be entitled to the subsidy amount from ASRS if the retiree elects a pension option that continues to provide the subsidy benefit in the event of the death of the retiree.
Retirement
If you are planning to retire, you must contact the applicable retirement plan or tax sheltered annuity plan approximately 6 months prior to your retirement date.
Important: You must complete and submit your retirement application form in order to retire. The beginning date of your retirement cannot be any earlier than the first day following the conclusion of your active payroll status.
Retirement plan contacts are:
Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)
The ASRS website has several useful tools. You many select a retirement workshop or seminar to attend, or estimate your retirement income using the Retirement Benefit Estimator.
Optional Retirement Plans
Contact your specific plan representative to discuss your investment portfolio, including your accounts, funds selected, accumulated balances, and projected retirement income and distribution options.
ORP and Voluntary 403(b) vendors
Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System
Application to retire should be made approximately 6 months prior to your anticipated retirement date. The application may be obtained by contacting the secretary of the local PSPRS Board at 621-7538.
Social Security Retirement
Your benefit amount will depend upon when you decide to retire and begin receiving your Social Security benefits. The Social Security Administration can provide you with personal information.
Normal retirement benefit - If you were born in or before 1937, the retirement age for full or normal Social Security benefits is 65 years. If you were born in 1938 or later, the normal retirement age for receiving full benefits is increased beyond age 65. For further details, contact the Social Security Administration.
Early retirement - You may be eligible for an early retirement Social Security benefit at age 62. However, the benefit amount is reduced based upon your age when you start receiving benefits. The early retirement benefit is less than your full retirement amount would have been if income had commenced at your full retirement age.
Contact the local Social Security Administration Office to determine the date your Social Security benefit can begin. The regional office telephone number is: 1-800-772-1213. Additional information may be obtained at http://www.ssa.gov/.
Medicare
Medicare is a two-part medical insurance program primarily for individuals who are age 65 or older. Part A is the Hospital insurance and Part B is the Medical reimbursement plan. Most people do not have to pay a monthly premium for Part A because they (or their spouse) paid Medicare taxes while they were working. Part B does require a premium. This premium amount normally changes every January 1st.
Part A - After a deductible amount and the applicable co-insurance have been paid, Part A helps pay for care in hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and hospice. It also covers some home health care services.
Part B also has a deductible amount and co-insurance. Part B helps pay for doctors' services, outpatient hospital care and some other medical services that Part A does not cover, as long as these expenses are medically necessary.
For more information on Medicare, visit http://www.medicare.gov/. There you will find information regarding eligibility, enrollment procedures, premium costs and frequently asked questions.
If you (or your eligible dependents) are Medicare eligible and are enrolling in an ADOA retiree group health insurance plan, it is mandatory that you and/or your dependent enroll in both Medicare Part A and Part B.
Life Insurance Plans
You may retain your University of Arizona group life insurance coverage that was in effect at the time of retirement if written application to do so is made within 30 days of termination of your group coverage.
Your basic $15,000 coverage and/or any supplemental life insurance that you were enrolled in at the time of retirement may be retained by converting any or all amounts to an individual policy. A request for conversion must be submitted to Hartford Life directly.
The converted coverage will be issued without a medical examination and at a premium rate applicable to the class of risk to which you belong and to your present attained age at time of application.
You may elect to retain an amount of insurance up to one time your annual salary as determined by your salary as of your last day worked, not to exceed the maximum allowed. The election must be made within 30 days of your retirement date. The new amount is effective on the first day of the month following the date of retirement. You may convert any balance of your current coverage to whole life insurance. Contact Human Resources for a conversion form.
At the time of retirement, you have two options to continue your existing coverage(s). Either option requires that you contact Reliastar directly at: 1-800-955-7736 Ext. 3766
You may continue your existing coverage as term insurance for yourself, your spouse and/or children by contacting Reliastar directly and requesting continuation of coverage on a direct billing basis. Coverage will continue to renew every three years, with a corresponding increase in premiums, to age 72.
You may convert existing coverage for yourself, your spouse and/or your children coverage to a whole life policy.
Other Fringe Benefits
Employees who are granted Official University Retirement Status by the University are eligible for certain fringe benefits after retirement.
Your current CatCard will continue to serve you into your retirement. Your CatCard will provide the following discounts and services:
Lost cards may be replaced for a fee.
Contact the CatCard Office at: 626-9162 or at http://www.catcard.arizona.edu/ for location and hours of operation.
Other benefits extended after retirement:
Retirees with Official University Retirement Status are also eligible for:
Qualified Tuition Reduction Program (QTR)
Retired employees, their spouses and eligible dependents who were eligible for the Qualified Tuition Reduction at the time of their retirement may continue to be eligible for this benefit under the same terms and fee schedule as an active eligible employee. Retirees must also meet admission requirements. A retired employee is defined as a former employee who is receiving a retirement benefit immediately following the date of separation from an Arizona university sponsored retirement program. For further detail on the Qualified Tuition Reduction Program, visit http://www.hr.arizona.edu/qualified_tuition_reduction
Retiree Accumulated Sick Leave Program (RASL)
Retirees are eligible to receive payment for their accumulated sick leave balance of 500 hours or more at the time of retirement. The maximum amount of hours to be paid is 1,500 to a maximum benefit of $30,000. Payment will be made over a 3-year period of time and is calculated by multiplying the state hourly rate of pay at the time of retirement by the eligibility percentage:
This benefit is considered taxable income and subject to federal and state taxes as well as social security (FICA) withholding.
Important: Retiring employees are responsible for making application for this benefit within 6 months from their retirement date. However, the date of retirement cannot be more than 14 days from the date of separation of service from the University or this benefit will be forfeited.
