Medical in retirement

[Hopeful 4 CHP]

Sorry guys if there is a prior thread going, I didn't spot one when I did a search. I was just wondering how do the medical and dental benefits work after you retire? Are you still covered or SOL? Also, I tried contacting CALPERs (not very successful) and was wondering where I might be able to get more info on medical and dental benefits for current guys on the job (like co-pay, choice of doctor etc.) Any guidance you guys can give is greatly appreciated, thanks!

[HIPCHIP]

You can choose to keep your medical and dental benefits if you wish. It is handled by the Public Employees Retirement System (Cal PERS), so I would say to contact them for further info.

[PapaBear]

Prior to retirement I carried Blue Cross of So Cal, Delta Dental and OptiCal. I opted to carry on with the same plans - except for the OptiCal. Retirees have some other optical plan that slips my mind at the moment. Now that I am on MediCare, my Blue Cross is my secondary insurance. Still have the dental and optical.

Here is a PDF on the CalPERS Health Programs

https://www.calpers.ca.gov/mss-publication/pdf/xShEa96a9zNF5_health-program-guide1.pdf

Here is the CalPERS site:

http://www.calpers.ca.gov/

[retchp]

Your plan continues into retirement if you opt to continue it. If you don't, you may switch to another plan. This is both medical and dental. Premiums will continue to be deducted from your retirement warrant just as they were from your regular warrant.

Once you reach age 65, you will be required to go onto Medicare. The premium for that is currently just under a hundred dollars a month, which you will be required to pay no matter what you do. At that time your medical insurance will move into "second place". Which means that whatever Medicare does not pay for an incident, the CAHP plan will pick up. If there is any residual bill left after both plans have paid, you pick that up.

Example: I recently had about 2K of medical bills. Blue Cross picked up about 90 percent and I picked up the other 200 dollars.

Were I on Medicare (which I am not), then medicare and Blue Cross would have done whatever they did and I would be on the hook for the rest.

We have a WONDERFUL PLAN compared to most people.

[Eagl5]

RetCHP, can you stay on the plan after 65? Or do you have to go onto medicare?

[retchp]

Actually, both. All persons are required to sign up for Medicare at age 65. Our insurance then assumes a secondary or back up position as far as bill paying goes and the individual assumes the third position.

You still pay premiums on your healthcare plan, you also pay the Medicare premium.

The good news is that since we (to this point) have excellent coverage, between Medicare and Blue Cross or whatever your plan is, you are GENERALLY hit less hard out of pocket if you utilize medical services.

[Hopeful 4 CHP]

Thanks everyone for the info, it is greatly appreciated!:biggrin: