Retiree Insurance
Manatee County Government and participating agency employees who are enrolled in the YourChoice Health Plan on their last day of work may be eligible to continue their medical, dental, and/or vision coverage.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the continuation of insurance benefits as a retiree, you must meet the "normal retirement" qualifications of the Florida Retirement System (FRS) Pension Plan as follows:
- If you are retiring under the FRS Pension Plan or DROP, you must immediately start your retirement benefit by completing an application. Your retirement can be on or after your normal retirement date, or it can be an early retirement (with early retirement penalties as applicable).
- If you are retiring under the FRS Investment Plan and you first joined the FRS prior to July 1, 2011, you must be at least age 62 or have 30 years of FRS service, whichever comes first. You must have a minimum of 6 years of FRS service.
- If you are retiring under the FRS Investment Plan and you first joined the FRS on or after July 1, 2011, you must be at least age 65 or have 33 years of FRS service, whichever comes first. You must have a minimum of 8 years of FRS service.
- Different requirements apply for individuals retiring under the FRS Special Risk Class. If you have any questions about eligibility, please contact Employee Health Benefits at benefits@mymanatee.org.
For Retirees Under Age 65
Your Options:
- Continue the YourChoice Medical Plan you had on your last day of employment.
- Continue the YourChoice Dental and/or Vision Plans.
Coverage Highlights/Notes:
- Dependents already enrolled on your last day of employment can remain on the plan.
- Additional dependents may be added later if a qualified life event occurs.
Important:
- To continue benefits in retirement with YourChoice, you must enroll in your retiree benefits prior to retirement. Benefits will not continue if you do not complete the enrollment process with Employee Health Benefits.
- A dependent not enrolled in the County's plan at the time of the retiree's retirement is not eligible to continue coverage after the retiree's retirement date.
For Retirees Age 65 and Older (Medicare-Eligible)
Your Options:
- Transamerica Medicare Supplement (does not include prescription-drug coverage - must pick up a separate prescription plan)
- Continue the YourChoice Medical Plan as a supplement to Medicare (includes prescription coverage)
- Regardless of your medical plan choice, you may continue the YourChoice Dental and/or Vision Plans
Coverage Highlights:
- You can keep the YourChoice Medical Plan you had on your last day of employment.
- If you choose Transamerica, dependents on the YourChoice Medical Plan can remain on that plan.
- For medical, Medicare is your primary insurance; YourChoice or Transamerica is secondary, helping cover costs Medicare does not cover. These plans "wrap around" Medicare and pay for eligible services according to plan rules.
Important:
- To continue benefits in retirement with YourChoice, you must enroll in your retiree benefits prior to retirement. Benefits will not continue if you do not complete the enrollment process with Employee Health Benefits.
- A dependent not enrolled in the County's plan at the time of the retiree's retirement is not eligible to continue coverage after the retiree's retirement date.
- If the retiree or any dependents are eligible for Medicare Parts A and B based on age (65+), they must be enrolled in those Medicare plans to participate in any retiree medical insurance (YourChoice or Transamerica). Additionally, a retiree or that is eligible for Medicare as a result of disability must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B to participate in any retiree medical insurance. The retiree's County medical insurance or any other Medicare Supplement is SECONDARY to Medicare unless the retiree or their spouse is actively at work and enrolled in an employer-sponsored group medical plan. A copy of their Medicare card showing Parts A and B must be supplied to Employee Health Benefits.
Retiree Insurance - Additional Notes
- Manatee County provides Medicare-eligible retirees the option of a Medicare Supplement Plan through Transamerica Insurance. This plan provides a different level of benefit for medical coverage and is at a premium cost lower than the YourChoice Medical Plan. Please see the Transamerica Insurance Company information listed below.
- With the implementation of healthcare reform measures, some retirees, depending on their age and health status, may have access to individual medical and/or dental plans that are more affordable and better aligned with their needs. Baacke Insurance and Financial Services offers free consultations to help employees and members review available plan options and find coverage that best fits your needs. To schedule an appointment, please call (941) 907-4300. Please note that Employee Health Benefits staff members cannot recommend particular health insurance plans.
- One-time opportunity to switch retiree medical plans: A retiree has one opportunity during their time as a retiree to re-enroll in the County's YourChoice Medical Plan if their selection of the Transamerica Medicare Supplement Plan is no longer desired.
Medical Insurance for Medicare-Eligible Participants - Transamerica Insurance Company
- Transamerica offers a Medicare Supplement Plan that helps cover eligible expenses not paid by Medicare Parts A & B.
- Premium rates for Transamerica are, in most instances, significantly less than those for the YourChoice Medical Plan.
- Retirees and dependents selecting the Transamerica Medicare Supplement Plan will need to choose a separate Medicare Part D prescription plan. Prescription-drug coverage is not automatically included in the Transamerica plan.
- Transamerica was set up to provide similar coverage to the YourChoice Medical Plan, but the coverage is not exactly the same. Please review the benefits and coverage information for the medical plans and, to the greatest extent possible, compare the drugs you are currently taking with the prescription formulary coverage for both plans. The County's Transamerica representatives will work with you on determining the best medical and prescription-drug plans. Please contact Baacke Insurance Services at (941) 907-4300 for more information. It is strongly recommended that retirees and dependents over age 65 work with these representatives to ensure that they have all the necessary information about their medical options.
Premium Assistance for Medical Insurance
There are two opportunities for retirees who meet the criteria to receive a subsidy for their retiree benefits:
- Florida Retirement System (FRS) Health Insurance Subsidy - The Florida Retirement System (FRS) subsidizes each eligible retiree $7.50 per month for every year of service up to 30 years (not including years in DROP), upon providing proof of medical insurance. For example: A retiree with 10 years would receive $75 per month toward the medical or other insurance premiums.
- Manatee County Premium Assistance Program - An employee electing to formally retire from employment (thus meeting the retiree-eligibility requirements listed above) and has at least ten (10) years of service with Manatee County Government or a participating constitutional agency is eligible to receive premium assistance at the effective date of retirement. The Board of County Commissioners annually reviews the Premium Assistance Program. At any time, by providing 30 days written notice to participating retirees, the Board of County Commissioners may change the Premium Assistance Program.
Retiree Automatic Deduction
A retiree may authorize the FRS to automatically deduct retiree insurance premiums from their monthly Pension Plan retirement benefits payment. For more information contact Marcia Polese at marcia.polese@mymanatee.org.
Retiree Dental/Vision Insurance
Retirees and/or participating dependents may elect to participate in the the YourChoice Dental and/or Vision Plans if they are enrolled as an active employee. If they are not enrolled at the time of retirement, they will not be able to enroll in the future. These plans are self-insured, and the enrolled retirees pay 100% of the cost of the premiums.
Retiree Group Term Life Insurance
Retirees who enroll in any retiree insurance plan (Medical, Dental, and/or Vision) receive a $1,000 Term Life Insurance policy at no cost.
YourChoice Wellbeing Programs
Retirees and their eligible dependents enrolled in the YourChoice Medical Plan may continue to participate in some of the wellbeing programs offered by Manatee YourChoice, including gym memberships. Please note that participants in the Transamerica Medical Plan are not eligible for continuation of wellbeing programs.
Need Retirement-Planning Help?
Baacke Insurance and Financial Services offers free consultations to help your review plan options and find medical and/or prescription-drug coverage that fits your needs. To schedule an appointment, call (941) 907-4300.
Contact Marcia Polese at marcia.polese@mymanatee.org in Employee Health Benefits for further information.
