Medicare Information for Active Benefits Eligible Employees
Office hours: Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Dec. 19 & 20 (Thur.& Fri.), HR will work remotely and can be reached via phone, MS Teams, and email
Winter Break – UTD campus will be closed from Dec. 23, 2024 to January 2, 2025
Medicare Information for UTD Employees Approaching Your 65th Birthday.
Medicare Part A (Hospitalization Coverage)
If you are planning to continue your employment along with your enrollment in a UTD medical plan, you only need to sign up for Medicare Part A. Medicare Part A is free and you should sign up within 2-3 months before you turn 65. For some people, Part A is an automatic enrollment. As for whether you will be automatically enrolled, that is something you can confirm with the Social Security Administration office. You also have an option to enroll online.
Medicare Part B (Medical Coverage)
You do not have to sign up for Medicare Part B as long as you are an active employee and covered under the UT medical plan. Your coverage under the UT Dallas plan will protect you from the penalty imposed on those who do not enroll in Part B. If you plan to continue working at UT Dallas and covered under your employer’s medical plan, you can decline Medicare Part B. You would enroll in Part B once you retire.
Medicare Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage)
As long as you have UT System insurance, you do not need to enroll in Medicare Part D. This applies even after you retire from UT Dallas and if you are eligible for the lifetime retiree benefits.
Primary vs. Secondary
In most cases, if you are eligible for Medicare and are working at least 20 hours/week, and participating in a UTD Medical Plan, your UT medical plan will be primary for you and your covered dependent(s), regardless of age, and Medicare will be secondary. Medicare may be primary for some Medicare-eligible active employees with certain medical conditions such as end stage renal disease (ESRD). Consult with your local Social Security administration office to learn what illnesses qualify for Medicare coverage prior to turning age 65.
Life Insurance
The premiums for voluntary life insurance are calculated based on your age at the time the new plan year starts every September 1. Once you celebrate your 65th birthday, you will be placed in the next age bracket (65-69), and thus your premiums will increase per $1,000 of coverage based on the life insurance premiums chart. If your age at the start of a new plan year is 64, and your turn 65 mid-year, you can expect your new insurance premium to take effect at the start of subsequent plan year.
Summary
Medicare Eligible Active Employees with UTD Medical Coverage
Once you turn 65, if you are still working and covered under UTD’s medical plan, you would enroll in Medicare Part A (Hospitalization), and decline both Part B (Medical Insurance) and Part D (Prescription Drug Coverage)
Medicare Eligible UTD Retirees Eligible for the UT System Retiree Lifetime Benefits
Once you retire from UTD, and if you are eligible for the lifetime retiree medical benefits and continue with your current coverage, you would continue with Medicare Part A, and then would now also enroll in Part B, but continue to decline Part D. Medicare then becomes Primary, and UTD coverage becomes secondary.
Please note our office does not have access to the SSA system. For assistance with your enrollment in Medicare Part A, please contact 1-800-633-4227.