Health Care Benefits in Retirement

Retaining FCPS Health Coverage

Maintenance of Health Care Coverage in Retirement

At the end of your career, FCPS provides eligible retirees a valuable benefit in the ability to retain health coverage at retirement. Your ability to retain coverage can vary based on your date of employment or retirement.

 

Eligibility

In order to retain FCPS health coverage as a retiree, you must first meet the following enrollment/tenure requirements:

Date of Hire/Retirement* Enrollment or Tenure Requirement
Actively employed as of 12/31/18  Covered for 60 or more continuous months immediately prior to retirement
-or-
Employed with FCPS for 15 or more years in a benefits eligible position
Hired on or after 1/1/19 Employed with FCPS for 15 or more years in a benefits eligible position

*Individuals who were retired and covered by an FCPS medical or dental plan (or the DHO plan) on 12/31/18 meet the enrollment/tenure requirement. 

 

In addition to the above criteria, a retiree must: 

  • Be covered by the FCPS health and/or dental plan immediately prior to retirement
    • For example, if you are retiring on July 1, 2019, you must be covered under the FCPS medical and dental plan on June 30, 2019, to retain coverage as a retiree.
  • Elect Medicare Parts A and B when first eligible. For most retirees that occurs at age 65, but may occur earlier due to disability.  
  • Meet the definition of ‘retiree’ (transition from active status to immediately drawing a pension check from one of the FCPS sponsored pension plans).

 

FCPS Subsidies

If you are a retiree age 55 or older (or if you retire due to disability), FCPS provides a subsidy toward the cost of your medical coverage, thereby reducing the amount you must pay.
            
The subsidy schedules for VRS/ERFC and FCERS members can be found on page 7 in the Retiree Benefits Handbook. The subsidy is not available for dental coverage, nor is it available to surviving spouses/dependents of deceased retirees.  

For more information, view the FCPS Medical Plan Subsidies website.

 

Health and Dental Coverage in Retirement

If you are eligible, you and your dependents may continue your participation in FCPS medical and dental plans. Visit the Insurance Benefits for Retirees website for more information about plan options that will best fit your unique situation. 

 

Enrolling in Medicare

FCPS requires retirees and spouses who are eligible for Medicare to elect and maintain Medicare Parts A and B in order to maintain health coverage under an FCPS medical plan. This applies to retirees and spouses who will be turning age 65 as well as retirees or covered dependents who are eligible for Medicare due to disability. To learn more about Medicare and your FCPS health benefits, please read Becoming Eligible for Medicare.

 

Cancelling or Re-entering the FCPS Plan After Retirement

If you are eligible to retain coverage as a retiree, you may be eligible to drop coverage and re-enter the plan at a later date, provided that you are Medicare eligible and meet the established criteria. See the Re-entry Rights for Retirees website for more information on retiree re-entry rights.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Retiree Health Eligibility