Find answers to Medicare questions for:

• Active faculty and staff
• Retirees
• Professors emeritus
• Long-term disability (LTD) participants

For Active Faculty and Staff

I’m an active Faculty or Staff member who is eligible for Medicare.  Should I enroll?

If you become Medicare-eligible while you are actively working at the University of Michigan, you do not need to enroll in Medicare A and B until you retire or go on long-term disability.  You can enroll in Medicare Part A at no cost to you.  If you enroll in Medicare Part A while you are actively working, your University of Michigan health plan will pay hospitalization claims before Medicare Part A would pay. NOTE: If you enroll in Medicare Part A and are enrolled in the Consumer-Directed Health Plan (CDHP),  you are not eligible to make contributions to the Health Savings Account (HSA), per federal regulations.

How will I know when I am eligible for Medicare?

About 3 months before you turn 65, you will receive a letter from the Benefits Office explaining your options and how your U-M health coverage will be affected.

Once you have signed up to receive Social Security benefits, you can only delay your Part B coverage; you cannot delay your Part A coverage. To delay Part B, you must refuse Part B before your Medicare coverage has started.

I’m an active employee and my spouse/OQA (Other Qualified Dependent) who is a dependent on my health coverage is eligible for Medicare.  Do they need to enroll in Medicare A and B?

Your spouse does not need to enroll in Medicare until you retire (or are on long-term disability) from the university.

Your OQA must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B as soon as they are eligible for Medicare, regardless of your employment status.  

What happens to my U-M health plan coverage when I become Medicare-eligible?

If you are an active employee, you do not need to enroll in Medicare; U-M health plan coverage will remain your primary insurer.  If you decide to enroll in Medicare, it would pay secondary to your U-M coverage.

If you have ESRD-End Stage Renal Disease, there is a 30-month coordination of benefits period in which your U-M coverage would pay primary.  Coverage would then change to Medicare Primary after the coordination of benefits period ends.

Who do I call for questions about Medicare eligibility or enrollment?

For questions on Medicare enrollment, call the U.S. Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE.

For questions on how your U-M benefits will be affected, call the U-M Shared Services Center at 734-615-2000 or 866-647-7657, toll-free.

I’m an active Faculty or Staff member retiring soon and I’m already 65 (or my spouse is already 65). How and when should I/we enroll in Medicare? 

If you retire on the first of the month, apply for Medicare the month before you retire so Medicare will begin on the date of your retirement.  If you retire on the second of the month or later, apply for Medicare the month you retire so Medicare will begin the first of the following month.

Request a retirement packet from the U-M Shared Services Center by calling 734-615-2000 or 866-647-7657, toll-free.  A “Request for Employment Information" form will be completed for you and included in the packet.  This form informs Medicare that you are retired from U-M and they are the primary payer the first of the month following retirement. Take the form with you to the Social Security office when you apply.

For Retirees

I am a U-M retiree. When should I enroll in Medicare?

If you are age 65 or older when you retire, apply for Medicare the month before you retire so Medicare will begin on the date of your retirement.  If you retire on the second of the month or later, apply for Medicare the month you retire so Medicare will begin the first of the following month.. 

If you turn 65 after you retire, you must enroll during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which is 3 months prior to turning 65 through the 3rd month following turning 65. To avoid a delay in enrollment, you should enroll within the 3 months prior to turning 65 .

If you become eligible due to a disability under age 65, you must enroll when you are first eligible and notify the Benefits Office.

In all situations, in order to maintain your U-M health plan coverage, you must provide Medicare enrollment information (e.g. Medicare Beneficiary Identification Number (MBI), Part A Effective Date, and Part B Effective Date) for all Medicare-eligible members covered under your contract. You can submit via self-service. You will continue to pay a higher U-M monthly premium until proof is received.

I am a retiree and my spouse/OQA or dependent child who I’m covering on my U-M health coverage is eligible for Medicare.  Do they need to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B?

Yes, as soon as they are eligible, for any reason.

I have a spouse/OQA or dependent child who is eligible for Medicare Parts A and B.  What happens to their coverage?

They must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B if they are eligible.

You will need to provide us with their Medicare information. You will continue to pay a higher U-M monthly premium until proof is received. Failure to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B when first eligible will result in disenrollment from your U-M retiree health plan.

I am a U-M retiree age 65 or older, actively working elsewhere with benefits through my active employment.  Do I still need to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B?

U-M requires all retirees and their eligible dependents to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B when first eligible. If you are actively working elsewhere, you can elect to waive your university health and prescription drug coverage while you are enrolled in the other group health plan. You will be able to re-enroll in the university plan by demonstrating continuous comparable coverage and proof of enrollment in Medicare Part A and Part B. Comparable medical coverage is health coverage that is at least as comprehensive as the university sponsored BCBSM CMM plan. The health plan must offer the same scope of benefits as CMM, but benefits do not have to be exactly the same . 

What happens when I or my covered spouse/OQA turn 65?

About 3 months before you or a spouse/OQA turn 65, you will receive a letter from the Benefits Office explaining your options and how your U-M health coverage will be affected.

If you are collecting Social Security, you may receive a Medicare card in the mail about 3 months before turning 65.  If you keep the card and place it in your wallet, you will be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B.  If you return the card, you are denying Medicare.  Please note:  To remain in the university health and prescription drug coverage, Medicare Part A and Part B enrollment is required.

Who do I call for questions about Medicare eligibility or enrollment?

For questions on Medicare enrollment, call the U.S. Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 or Medicare at 1800-MEDICARE.

For questions on how your U-M benefits will be affected, call the U-M Shared Services Center at 734-615-2000 or 866-647-7657, toll-free.

For Professors Emeritus

I am a Professor Emeritus/Emerita returning to work at the university. Do I need to be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B?

Yes. As a professor emeritus/Emerita, you will remain eligible for retiree benefits even upon returning to work at the university, and you will not be eligible for benefits as an active employee. As such, your U-M health plan will not pay for claims unless you are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B. 

I am a Professor Emeritus/Emerita returning to work at the university. Do my Medicare-eligible dependents need to be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B?

Yes, anyone covered under your U-M health plan must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B if they are eligible due to age or disability.

I am a U-M Professor Emeritus/Emerita, but I am actively working elsewhere. Do I need to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B? Do my dependents?

U-M requires all retirees and their eligible dependents to enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B when first eligible. If you are actively working elsewhere, you can elect to waive your university enrollment while you are eligible for the other group health plan. You will be able to re-enroll in the university plan by demonstrating continuous, comparable coverage in the university’s Comprehensive Major Medical (CMM) plan and proof of enrollment in Medicare Part A and Part B.

For Long-Term Disability (LTD) Participants

I’m an LTD participant who is eligible for Medicare.  Should I enroll?

Yes. If you are on LTD, you must enroll in Medicare when first eligible.

What happens to my U-M health coverage when I become Medicare-eligible?

If you’re on LTD, you need to enroll in Medicare as soon as you are eligible.  Medicare will pay primary on claims, and your U-M health plan coverage will pay secondary.

I’m on LTD. What happens if my spouse/OQA or dependent child(ren) become eligible for Medicare?

They must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B when they first become eligible for any reason.

Medicare will become their primary payer to your U-M coverage. Please notify the U-M Shared Services Center at 734-615-2000 or 866-647-7657, toll-free.