Connecticut State Employees Retirement System Hazardous Duty General Eligibility Requirements for Health and Dental Insurance
Office of the State Comptroller
Retirement Services Division
Hazardous Duty - Retirement Basics
Insurance: Health, Dental, and Life
General Eligibility Requirements for Health and Dental Insurance
Open Enrollment
Available Health Insurance Plans - In-State Retirees
Available Health Insurance Plans - Out-of-Area Retirees
Medicare's Impact on Retiree Health Insurance
Available Dental Plans
Group Life Insurance 
Medicare's Impact on Retiree Health Insurance
Available Dental Plans
Group Life Insurance

General Eligibility Requirements for Health and Dental Insurance:

  • Generally, hazardous duty members who qualify for health and dental insurance as an active employee will qualify for health and dental insurance in retirement.
     
  • The eligibility extends to the retiree and any of the retiree's qualifying dependents.

Open Enrollment

  • When you retire you will have your own open enrollment period during which you can choose among any of the available plans and add or drop dependents.
     
  • Thereafter, each year there will be an annual open enrollment during which you can switch between plans and add or drop dependents.
     
  • However, you may make changes to your insurance coverage at any point if there is a qualifying event, such as getting married, having a child, or moving outside the geographic coverage area of your existing plan.

Available Health Insurance Plans - In-State Retirees

  • In-state retirees choose among the same health insurance plans they had access to as active employees. In most cases these plans will be offered at a lower cost (possibly at no cost) in retirement.
     
  • Anthem and UnitedHealthcare Oxford offer three levels of coverage:
    • Point of Service (POS)
    • Point of Enrollment (POE)
    • Point of Enrolment Gatekeeper (POE-G)
       
  • Currently, in-state retirees must pay for any of the POS plans, while the POE plans are offered at no cost for in-state retirees and their dependents.
    • Current Year POS retiree premium shares are available by  following this link:
       
    • Current health insurance plan options with no retiree premium share include:
       
    Point of Enrollment - Gatekeeper Plans Point of Enrollment Plans Out-of-Area Plans
    UnitedHealthcare
    • Anthem State BlueCare POE Plus
    • UnitedHealthcare Oxford HMO
    • Anthem State BlueCare POE
    • UnitedHealthcare Oxford HMO Select
    • Oxford USA Out of Area plan
    • Anthem Out-of-Area plan

     

  • For specific information regarding the plans currently offered, please refer to the retiree's health insurance planner:

Available Health Insurance Plans - Out-of-Area Retirees:

  • As a general rule, retirees who are not Connecticut residents may choose from the following Out-of-Area plans:
    • Anthem Out of Area
    • United Healthcare OxfordUSA Out of Area
       
  • Currently, there is no premium charge for those enrolled in an Out-of-Area plan.

Health Enhancement Program (HEP)

  • The SEBAC 2011 agreement introduced a new program to enhance your ability to make the most informed decisions regarding your health
  • Your participation in this program is voluntary. Your election as to whether to participate is made on the HEP Enrollment Form.
  • Retirees not participating in the HEP are subject to an additional $100 monthly insurance premium and an annual deductible of $350 per person for the first four family members they insure.
  • Your agency Human Resource area or the Healthcare Policy and Benefit Services Division can answer specific questions regarding this program.

Medicare's Impact on Retiree Health Insurance:

  • As a state retiree, once you become eligible for Medicare (which typically occurs at the age of 65 but may occur earlier under certain circumstances), your Medicare must serve as your primary health insurance coverage. From that point forward, your state-sponsored medical insurance will supplement your Medicare coverage.
     
  • In order to maintain full health insurance coverage as a Medicare eligible retiree, you will need to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B.
     
  • The State currently reimburses 100% of the normal cost of Medicare Part B for the retiree and eligible dependents.
     
  • Currently, you only need to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. There is no need for you to enroll in Medicare's prescription drug plan (Part D). Your state plan will continue to cover your prescriptions.
     
  • As a state retiree, the State requires you to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B regardless of whether you have actually commenced collecting Social Security benefits.

Available Dental Plans

  • Unlike retiree health insurance, your residency will not dictate the dental plans available to you in retirement.
     
  • All retirees have access to the exact same dental plans offered to active employees.
     
  • Currently, the following dental plans are offered to active employees and retirees alike:
    • United Basic
    • United Enhanced
    • CIGNA DHMO
       
  • Your dental coverage is subject to a retiree premium share in retirement. The Retiree Healthcare Options Planner illustrates the current cost at the following link:

Group Life Insurance

  • Assuming you transition directly into retirement, if you participate in the state-sponsored basic group life insurance plan as an active employee you will qualify for a paid-up policy in retirement.
     
  • This benefit only applies to the basic group life insurance policies. It does not extend to other supplemental life insurance plans offered through the state.
     
  • If you have 25 years or more actual state service:
    • You will receive a paid-up policy reduced to one-half of your basic coverage
       
  • If you have less than 25 years actual state service:
    • You will receive a prorated paid-up policy, based on your years of completed service.
       
  • You may convert the remaining portion at your own expense without evidence of insurability if you act within 30 days of retiring
 

Back to State Employees and Retirees Benefits Information
Back to Comptroller's Home Page