Pre-Medicare Health Plans

For retirees and survivors and their covered dependents who are not eligible for Medicare, eligible retirees and survivors health plan options are the same as active employees.

Services will be provided by:

Special Notes for Retirees/Survivors Considering Consumer Directed Health Plan:

  • The university will not contribute to the Health Savings Account
  • If you are nearing age 65 and retiring
  • If you contribute to the Health Savings Account, and are nearing age 65 and enroll in Medicare Part A, please read and take action as needed regarding a conflict between IRS regulations and Medicare requirements.
    • The issue: Anyone nearing age 65 who is enrolled in a qualified high-deductible health plan (Consumer Directed Health Plan) with a Health Savings Account (HSA), who enrolls in Medicare Part A, will experience a Medicare-required “look-back period” of 6 months. That “look-back period” overlaps with the timeframe during which you may have had either or both employer and employee contributions made to your HSA. IRS regulations state that an individual cannot receive or contribute to a HSA if covered by Medicare or any other health care insurance. If the individual were to be audited by the IRS, taxes and penalties could apply to the amount contributed to the HSA.
    • The proposed solution: In order to avoid potential tax issues, you want to STOP YOUR HSA CONTRIBUTIONS so that you have 6 months of NO contributions before you FILE FOR MEDICARE.

Health Plan Profiles and Coverage Comparison Charts

View the 2024 Health Plan Coverage Comparison chart. 

View the plan profiles in the chart below. 

Pre-Medicare Health Plan Profiles
Plan Feature Michigan Care U-M Premier Care BCBCM Community Blue PPO Comprehensive Major Medical BCBSM Consumer-Directed Health 
Service Area Limited to those who live in a specific geographical area in southeast Michigan. Access the eligibility tool. Must live in Michigan, or within Fulton, Lucas, Williams or Wood counties in Ohio. All providers, facilities and services are rendered in Michigan. Nationwide/Worldwide.  Nationwide/Worldwide. Nationwide/Worldwide. 
PCP Selection Required Yes. Yes. No.  No. No.
Preventive Care No out-of-pocket cost for preventive care. No out-of-pocket cost for preventive care. No out-of-pocket cost for preventive care. No out-of-pocket cost for preventive care. No out-of-pocket cost for preventive care.
Deductible No annual deductible.

Network 1 providers: No annual deductible

Network 2 providers: $2,000 individual, $4,000 family

 No annual deductible. $500 individual, $1,000 family $1,600 individual, $3,200 family (combined medical and Rx)
Out-of-Pocket Maximum $3,000 individual, $6,000 family $3,000 individual, $6,000 family

In-network: $3,000 individual, $6,000 family

Out-of-network: $5,000 individual, $10,000 family

 $3,000 individual, $6,000 family $5,500 individual, $9,450 family
Health Savings Account No. No. No. No. Yes.