October 25, 2019
Retiree health insurance 2020 open enrollment season is here!
If you are a PSPRS, CORP or EORP retiree/survivor insured through Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS):
- Open enrollment begins November 1, 2019 and ends November 30, 2019 with elections effective on January 1, 2020. Any changes to your elections will reflect on the January 1, 2020 benefit payment paid at the end of January.
- Medical ID cards are expected to arrive in the mail by December 31, 2019 if the enrollment form is received by November 30, 2019.
- If you do not wish to make any changes under ASRS medical and/or dental plans, you do not need to complete a new enrollment form. However, the medical non-Medicare plans have changed, so it’s very important and highly recommended that you review these changes.
- There will be a decrease in premiums for non-Medicare only plans with one or no dependents, Medicare only plans, and combination plans with only one non-Medicare dependent. There will be an increase in premiums for all plans with two or more dependents.
Highlighted Non-Medicare changes:
- ASRS UnitedHealthcare now offers three non-Medicare plans: Choice Premier, Choice Value and Choice Plus PPO (out-of-state plan). These are offered rather than the seven plans that were offered in previous years. You will automatically be enrolled in the new non-Medicare plan that most closely aligns with your existing plan so coverage continues uninterrupted.
If you are currently enrolled in Choice 1, Navigate 1 or Choice 2 you will automatically be enrolled in Choice Premier.
If you are currently enrolled in Navigate 2, Choice 3 or Navigate 3 you will automatically be enrolled in Choice Value.For the 2020 changes, see page 6 of the ASRS Health Insurance Enrollment Guide for non-Medicare. If you wish to change your plan, you must complete a new enrollment form prior to November 30, 2019.
Highlighted Medicare changes:
- There are no significant changes, except if you have two or more dependents. If that is the case, there will be a monthly premium increase.
- If you are enrolling or making changes to your plan, it is required that you include a copy of all Medicare card(s) showing Part B, or a letter from Medicare approving Part B, along with your enrollment form.
- For the 2020 changes, see page 6 of the ASRS Health Insurance Enrollment Guide for Medicare. If you wish to change your plan, you must complete a new enrollment form prior to November 30, 2019.
If you are insured through Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA):
If you do not wish to make any changes under the ADOA medical and dental plans, you do not need to complete a new enrollment form. However, for plan updates, please visit the ADOA website at https://benefitoptions.az.gov/, call (602) 542-5008, toll-free at (800) 304-3687, or email [email protected] for additional information. Open enrollment for ADOA ends November 8, 2019 at 5pm (Mountain Standard time); any changes to your elections will reflect on the January 1, 2020 benefit payment paid at the end of January.
If you are not certain if your coverage is through the ASRS, ADOA or another PSPRS employer plan:
Please contact PSPRS at (602) 255-5575 for assistance.
ASRS Open enrollment FAQs
What do I do with the packet I received?
If you are enrolling or making changes to the ASRS plans, you must complete and return the ASRS Medical and/or Dental Enrollment Form via mail (3010 E. Camelback Rd. Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ, 85016), fax (602-296-2369), or email ([email protected]) by November 30, 2019.
What if I did not receive a packet?
ASRS open enrollment mailing began on October 21, 2019; please allow several days for the packets to arrive. Retirees may obtain enrollment packets at any of the ASRS open enrollment meetings or from the PSPRS website under your retirement plan (Public Safety Personnel, Corrections Officer or Elected Officials). Under your plan click on “Retiree” and then click on “Health Insurance."
May I attend an open enrollment meeting?
Yes, you may attend an ASRS open enrollment meeting. Please check the ASRS Health Insurance Guide for the meeting schedule and locations or click here for the non-Medicare plan meetings and click here for the Medicare plan meetings. Please note that only ASRS members may attend the online webinars hosted by ASRS.
May I visit PSPRS to talk about how the changes will affect my pension?
Yes, you may visit PSPRS, but we do not have a UHC representative on site this year, so it is highly recommended that you attend an ASRS open enrollment meeting where licensed UHC representatives will be available to answer your plan-specific questions. PSPRS takes walk-ins from 8am until 4pm, Monday through Friday (except for Federal holidays), but please note that PSPRS staff can only advise on subsidy and assist with filling out the enrollment forms.
I would like to terminate my ASRS coverage, what do I need to do?
If you would like to terminate your ASRS medical and/or dental coverage, please mail (3010 E. Camelback Rd. Suite 200, Phoenix, AZ, 85016), fax (602-296-2369) or email ([email protected]) a letter requesting to terminate your medical and/or dental coverage. Please be specific with which coverage you would like to terminate, indicate the date in which you would like your coverage to end and be sure to include your signature on your written request. If your spouse is on your Medicare supplement plan, their signature is required on the termination letter.
