Enrolling in Medicare
If you’ll turn 65 in the next calendar year, it's time to make some decisions. If you'll be enrolled in UC retiree benefits when you become eligible for Medicare, review your Medicare medical plan options during Open Enrollment. The Medicare version of your current plan may have different benefits, doctors, service areas and behavioral health providers than the non-Medicare version. If you’d prefer a different Medicare plan than the one that corresponds to your current medical plan, Open Enrollment is the time to make the change. By moving into a different non-Medicare plan during Open Enrollment, you can easily transfer to that plan’s corresponding Medicare plan when you turn 65.
Some of UC’s retiree medical plans have Medicare versions (Kaiser Permanente CA) and some have a corresponding partner plan (UC Care, CORE, UC Blue & Gold). If your existing retiree plan has a Medicare version or partner plan, you’ll be transferred into that plan when you turn 65, once Medicare has approved your enrollment form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tools:
- UC Medical Plan Availability 2023 (.xlsx)
- UC Retiree Premium Estimator 2023 (.xlsx)
Watch our archived Medicare 101 videos:
Resources
- Medicare.gov
- Medicare Coordinator Program - Via Benefits
- Medicare Counseling (HICAP)
- Medicare Glossary
- Social Security Administration
- What is Medicare Part A
- What is Medicare Part B
- What is Medicare Part C (commonly called Advantage)
- What is Medicare Part D