Planning for health coverage during retirement

Thinking now about your long-term health care is particularly important for life after retirement. When you begin drawing a retirement pension and your county-paid medical, dental and vision coverage ends, you and your covered dependents may purchase continued coverage under the county's retiree medical plan. Many former employees use this plan to help bridge the gap between leaving county employment and reaching the qualifying age for Medicare.

If you qualify for retiree medical benefits, your options include medical and vision coverage, plus a dental plan that is different than the one you have as an active employee (see "Retiree dental benefits" to the right).

You can purchase the bronze, silver or gold level of medical coverage. The bronze level has the lowest premium but the highest out-of-pocket expense. The gold level has the highest premium, but the lowest out-of-pocket expense.

The table below shows the cost of medical and vision coverage for regular employees under the retiree medical plan in 2008. If you are a deputy sheriff or part-time transit operator, you will find your cost information under Health Benefit Rates for COBRA and Retiree Medical. Rates are subject to change each year.

Once you retire, you will need to make a decision about continuing coverage under retiree medical within 60 days after your county coverage ends or within 60 days from the date of the FBMC letter you receive notifying you of your options, whichever occurs later.

Regular Employees
Monthly cost for medical coverage

Regular Employees
Monthly cost for vision coverage