Key transition information |
Coverage details |
Eligibility |
Cost |
Announcements and updates |
FAQs
Key transition information
The Board of Pensions is grateful for the opportunity to serve Benefits Plan members throughout retirement, and we are committed to providing the best post-retirement medical coverage possible.
In July, we announced that Post-Retirement Medical Plan benefits for 2027 will include:
- medical coverage through the UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage (PPO) plan (a passive PPO plan, which gives you flexibility to see any provider in- or out-of-network)
- Part D prescription drug coverage through Express Scripts Medicare (PDP)
The Humana Group Medicare Advantage PPO plan and the Humana Group Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) will no longer be offered as of Jan. 1, 2027.
As we make this transition, please know that you will not navigate it alone. We are committed to providing you with the support you need to make coverage decisions for 2027, including plan information, education resources, transition support, and guidance on next steps.
Supporting retired members through the transition
Hear from Board of Pensions President and CEO Krysten Carter Holloway about the upcoming changes to post-retirement medical coverage for 2027 and the resources available to help retired members and their families navigate this transition with confidence.
Attend a webinar to learn more
The Board will host a 90-minute webinar, Understanding Your Post-Retirement Medical Benefits for 2027, on the following dates and times:
Thursday, Sept. 24
2-3:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Sept. 29
7-8:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, Oct. 1
2-3:30 p.m. ET
During the webinar, you’ll learn more about the transition to UnitedHealthcare and Express Scripts and the coverage available to you for 2027. Each session will cover the same topics.
Once you register, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your webinar access link and instructions for joining the session. If you are unable to attend live, a recording will be available on this webpage after the final webinar.
Contact Benistar for support
You will have access to personalized support through Benistar Admin. Services, an industry leader in group retiree health benefits administration and member support. Benistar representatives can explain the details of the United Healthcare and Express Scripts Medicare plans and answer any questions.
If the coverage through the Post-Retirement Medical Plan is not right for you, Benistar can connect you with skilled advisers who can help you understand the choices available to you. These choices include whether another Medicare Advantage plan or a supplemental (Medigap) plan may better meet your needs. Because coverage with Humana is ending, you have a unique opportunity to pursue a Medigap plan with no medical underwriting.
Call 800-236-4782, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m. ET, to talk to a Benistar representative.
Key dates
| Key Dates for 2027 Post-Retirement Medical Plan Transition | |
|---|---|
| July | 2027 plan update announced |
| Sept. 1 | Webinar registration opens |
| Mid-September | UnitedHealthcare plan guides and Express Scripts benefits overviews available online |
| Sept. 24, Sept. 29, Oct. 1 | Webinars held |
| Oct. 15 | Medicare Open Enrollment begins |
| Early October | Enrollment packages arrive in homes |
| November | Letters sent to homes notifying members they are being disenrolled from the Humana coverage that ends Dec. 31, 2026 |
| Dec. 7 | Medicare Open Enrollment ends |
| December | Welcome kits with medical ID cards and prescription drug ID cards arrive in homes |
| Dec. 31 | Humana coverage ends |
| Jan. 1, 2027 | UnitedHealthcare and Express Scripts coverage begins |
Enrollment
Enrollment resources
Explore additional resources from UnitedHealthcare and Express Scripts to help you make your enrollment decision, such as websites, plan guides, summary of benefits, and provider access information.
To make the transition as easy and seamless as possible, at the end of 2026, retired members, spouses, and eligible children enrolled in the existing Humana plans will automatically transition to the new UnitedHealthcare and Express Scripts plans — unless they decide to opt out and pursue other coverage.
If you choose to opt out of this coverage for 2027, you must do so during Medicare Open Enrollment, Oct. 15-Dec. 7, 2026. You will not be able to reenroll in the Post-Retirement Medical Plan in the future unless the Board holds an open enrollment period.
Coverage details
The new coverage through UnitedHealthcare is comparable to the current coverage through Humana. Approximately 94% of Humana plan network providers are also UnitedHealthcare network providers.
Medical benefits
The UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage (PPO) plan is a Medicare Advantage plan that delivers all the benefits of Original Medicare (Parts A and B) and offers additional benefits and features, such as dental, vision, and hearing benefits, as well as Renew Active, a Medicare fitness program. This plan is designed exclusively for the Board of Pensions and should not be confused with individual UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans that might be available in your area.
- You pay $0 for primary care physician office visits and a $10 copay for specialist office visits.
- For inpatient hospital care, the plan pays 100% after you pay a $320 copay per admission.
- The annual deductible is $0 so you pay nothing before the plan begins to pay benefits for covered services.
- Out-of-pocket costs for all medical expenses are capped at $2,590 per year; a separate out-of-pocket maximum of $1,500 applies for prescription drugs.
Prescription drug benefits
The plan covers medication in four tiers:
- Tier 1 Generic Drugs
- Tier 2 Preferred Brand Drugs
- Tier 3 Non-Preferred Drugs
- Tier 4 Specialty Tier Drugs
When filling prescriptions for Tier 1 Generic Drugs at retail pharmacies, you pay just a $5 copayment for up to a 31-day supply of medication.
Out-of-pocket prescription expenses are capped at $1,500 annually. After you reach this maximum each year, the plan pays 100% of your total drug costs for the remainder of the year.
Eligibility
Coverage for 2027 will be available to:
- retired members and spouses currently enrolled in the Humana Group Medicare Advantage PPO plan and the Humana Group Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP)
- eligible active members who retire in 2027 and choose to enroll in the Post-Retirement Medical Plan upon retirement
Cost
Members enrolled in the Post-Retirement Medical Plan will continue to pay a $0 monthly premium for coverage in 2027. This maintains the four-year commitment made in 2024 when the Humana plan was introduced.
While the actual premium cost of coverage is $284 per member per month, the premium will continue to be fully subsidized for 2027.
Next summer, the Board will determine and share member costs and any potential subsidy for 2028.