The University offers a number of medical coverage options: one traditional fee-for-service plan (BCBS), two health maintenance organizations (BCN and HAP), one preferred provider plan (DMC Care) and two Medicare Advantage plans (Aetna Medicare Open – a private fee-for-service plan and HAP Senior Plus – an HMO). The options differ in the benefit levels they provide, the doctors and hospitals you can use, and the cost.  Please see comparison details on pages 12-17 of the 2008 Retiree Medical Insurance Handbook.

Please note - HAP Senior Plus is a new lower-cost offering effective January 1, 2008.  It is available to those with Medicare A&B who reside in Genesee, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Washtenaw or Wayne Counties. 

If You are Retiring
To retire from WSU, you must have attained age 55 and have 10 years of service with the university or 5 years of university contribution in the retirement program.  If you are retiring, you may choose to continue coverage with your current medical insurance plan by completing the Retiree Benefit Continuation Form found at http://www.hr.wayne.edu/tcw/form/index.php under the heading “Retiring from University Service”. This form should be returned to Total Compensation & Wellness via mail or faxed to 313-577-0637 at least two weeks prior to your retirement date.

Retiree medical insurance rates apply beginning the first of the month following your date of retirement.  (Please note, if you are 9-month faculty retiring at the end of the Winter Semester in May, the retiree rate will apply beginning September 1.)  You will be billed monthly for your premium.

If you are age 65 or over, please apply for Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) at your nearest Social Security Office two to three months before your date of retirement.  The Social Security Office may give you a form to be completed by your employer to verify your retirement and your medical insurance status.  Please mail or fax this form to Total Compensation & Wellness.  If we have a copy of your letter of retirement at the time we receive your form, we will be happy to complete the form for you and return it to you for delivery to your nearest Social Security Office.  Please remember to send or fax us a copy of your Medicare card showing Hospital Insurance and Medical Insurance when you receive it.  We need a copy of your Medicare card to properly invoice you.

Once you have Medicare, please remember that Medicare will be your primary insurance and your coverage through Wayne State University will be secondary.  For services the first month after your date of retirement, you will want to show both your Medicare and your medical insurance card to your health care providers.  It will make a difference in how they submit your claims.

If You are Already Retired
If you are already retired and turning age 65, we provide you with an opportunity to re-evaluate your university medical insurance coverage.  You may change to any of the other university medical insurance plans.  If you choose to enroll in Blue Cross Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Health Alliance Plan or DMC Care, please complete the enrollment form found on page 27 of the 2008 Retiree Medical Insurance Handbook (or click here).  If you choose to enroll in HAP  Senior Plus, please complete the HAP Senior Plus enrollment form on page 41 of the handbook.  Once completed, your enrollment form must be returned  to our office. Your new coverage will become effective on the first of the month of your 65th birthday.  Please be sure to also provide us with a copy of your Medicare card. 

If you wish to enroll in Aetna Medicare Open, please complete the enrollment form on page 31 of the 2008 Retiree Medical Insurance Handbook (or click here) and send the form directly to Aetna at P.O. Box 963, Blue Bell, PA 19422-9921. 

If you and your spouse are enrolling in either HAP Senior Plus or Aetna Medicare Open, you must both be Medicare eligible and each person must complete a separate enrollment form.  The 2008 Retiree Medical Insurance Handbook provides two enrollment forms for these plans.  Please remember if you cover your spouse on your university medical insurance plan and he/she is under age 65, neither HAP Senior Plus nor Aetna Medicare Open will be available to you until you are both Medicare eligible. 

If you are enrolling in Aetna Medicare Open, you will receive your monthly invoice directly from Aetna.

Disenrollment
If you decide to terminate your BCBS, BCN, HAP, HAP Senior Plus or DMC Care medical insurance coverage through Wayne State University, you must send a letter to Total Compensation & Wellness, Wayne State University, 5700  Cass Avenue, Suite 3638, Detroit, MI 48202  or complete the Medical Plan Termination Form on page 28 of the 2008 Retiree Medical Insurance Handbook. Your insurance will be canceled at the end of the month in which we receive your note. To terminate Aetna Medicare Open coverage, you must communicate your intentions directly to Aetna.

Re-enrollment
If you no longer have medical insurance coverage through Wayne State University and you are a retiree, you can re-enroll in any of the plans following normal enrollment rules.

Questions?
If you have any questions, or we can provide any assistance, please contact Mary Ann Wilson in our office at 313-577-6351.