Retiree Plan coverage is effective on the first day of the month that your initial pension check is processed. If you are covered under the Active Plan when you retire, your coverage under the Retiree Plan starts the first of the month following the termination of Active Plan coverage. You are required to pay monthly premiums. Please note coverage start date is contingent on timely enrollment under CMS.

Yes. You may postpone enrollment if you maintain coverage under another health care plan, a State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or Medicaid. If you decide to enroll in the Retiree Plan in the future, you will be required to show proof of continuous coverage.

If you postpone coverage, you need to contact the Retirement Benefits Department for an Enrollment Form at least 30 days before you want to be added to the Plan.

For individuals who are not Medicare eligible there is an annual open enrollment for dental. For Medicare eligible individuals, there is no open enrollment. Please be aware that if you enroll in dental coverage, receive benefits, and subsequently cancel your enrollment in less than 1 year, you are prohibited from enrolling again for a period of 24 months.

If you marry after your Retiree Health Plan benefits start, your new spouse is eligible for coverage on the date of your marriage. You must complete the Enrollment Form and provide a copy of your certified marriage certificate within 90 days of your marriage date. You can postpone coverage for your new spouse if there is coverage through another health care plan. In this case, coverage must start immediately following the termination of the other plan coverage and you will need to provide proof of continuous coverage.

If you have a baby, adopt a child or have a child placed with you for adoption, you must complete an enrollment form and submit required documentation within 90 days of the event. If nothing is submitted within the 90 days, coverage for your dependent(s) the effective date for coverage is the first or the month following when the Fund Office receives all required documentation. Please note coverage start date is contingent on timely enrollment under CMS.

Required Documentation for Enrolling Dependents

	Dependent Type
Acceptable Proof of Dependent Status	Spouse	Child	Child (with court ordered coverage)	Newly Adopted Child	Stepchild
Original County-certified marriage certificate1	YES
Original County-certified birth certificate		YES	YES		YES
Qualified Medical Child Support Order (QMCSO)2 or a National Medical Support Notice			YES
Original county-certified divorce decree (if the parents are divorced)			YES		YES3
Interim order of placement and/or final adoption order				YES

Document requirements change from time to time.
¹Church marriage certificates and Hospital birth announcements are not acceptable forms of proof.
²Click here for the Plan's QMCSO procedures
³A stepchild dependent affidavit or a death certificate of the biological parent is also acceptable

You may voluntarily cancel your coverage or coverage for your spouse or children by completing a Cancellation Form and returning it to the Retirement Benefits Department by the 15th day of the month prior to the month in which you choose to no longer be covered. Canceling your coverage will automatically cancel your coverage for your dependents.

If you want to enroll in coverage in the future, you must provide proof of continued coverage for your enrollment to be considered; same as if you postponed initial Retiree Plan coverage.