Retiree Medical Benefits
When you retire and move from an active plan to a retiree plan, any deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums you met under the active plan will not be credited under the retiree plan. You will be required to meet any deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums under the retiree plan as of the effective date you retire.
Medical Plan Options: Retirees/Dependents Under Age 65
The medical plan options available to retirees and dependents under age 65 are listed below. Retirees and dependents under age 65 who elect medical coverage through Penn will automatically be covered under Penn's retiree prescription plan through CVS/Caremark.
Medical Plan Comparison Charts
View the medical plan comparison chart for the 2012 plan year (January 1, 2012–December 31, 2012).
Aetna HMO
- Use providers in the HMO network
- Select a PCP and obtain referrals
This is a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) administered by Aetna. You must select and coordinate your care through a Primary Care Physician (PCP) and obtain referrals when you go to specialists. Your providers must be part of the HMO network and you must live in a covered service area [pdf] to be eligible for this plan. Preventive care services are covered at 100%. Most other services are covered at 100% after applicable copays.
IMPORTANT NOTE: As of January 1, 2013, this plan will no longer be available.
Keystone/AmeriHealth HMO
- Use providers in the HMO network
- Select a PCP and obtain referrals
This is a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) administered by Keystone Health Plan East/AmeriHealth. You must select and coordinate your care through a Primary Care Physician (PCP) and obtain referrals when you go to specialists. Your providers must be part of the HMO network and you must live in a covered service area [pdf] to be eligible for this plan. Preventive care services are covered at 100%. Most other services are covered at 100% after applicable copays.
PENNCare/Personal Choice Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)
- Use any provider you wish
- No PCP or referrals needed
- Use PENNCare or Personal Choice providers to pay less out of your pocket
This is a Preferred Provider Organization administered by Independence Blue Cross. You may use any provider you wish, and you do not need to select a Primary Care Physician (PCP) or obtain referrals. Benefits differ according to the health care provider you use:
- PENNCare Preferred Providers — If you use health care providers who are part of or affiliated with the PENNCare network and the Personal Choice network, most services are covered at 100% after applicable copays.
- Personal Choice Preferred Providers — If you use health care providers who are part of the Personal Choice network but not the PENNCare network, services are generally covered at 100% or 80% after applicable deductibles, copays and coinsurance.
- Non-Preferred Providers — If you use health care providers who are not part of either the PENNCare or Personal Choice networks, most services are covered at 60% after applicable deductibles and coinsurance.
Medical Plan Options: Retirees/Dependents Age 65 and Over
The medical plan options available to retirees and dependents age 65 and over are listed below. For more information about the differences between these plans.
Medical Plan Comparison Charts
View the medical plan comparison chart for the 2012 plan year (January 1, 2012–December 31, 2012).
Retirees and dependents age 65 and over who elect medical coverage through Penn have options regarding prescription drug coverage—please see the
prescription drug benefits page for more information.
Aetna Medicare Plan (PPO)
- Use any provider you wish
- No PCP or referrals needed
- Use Preferred Providers to pay less out of your pocket
- Full preventive care coverage
This is a Medicare-Advantage (PPO) plan administered by Aetna. You may use any provider you wish, and you do not need to select a Primary Care Physician (PCP) or obtain referrals. Benefits differ according to the health care provider you use. If you use health care providers who are part of the Aetna Medicare network, most services are covered at 100% after applicable copays. If you use health care providers who are not part of the Aetna Medicare network, most services are covered at 80%. You must live in a covered service area [pdf] to be eligible for this plan.
Keystone/AmeriHealth 65 Medicare-Advantage (HMO) Plan
- Use providers in the Medicare-Advantage (HMO) network
- Select a PCP and obtain referrals
- Full preventive care coverage
- No deductible, coinsurance, or out-of-pocket maximum
- Virtually no paperwork necessary
This is a Medicare-Advantage (HMO) plan administered by Keystone Health Plan East/AmeriHealth. Medicare-Advantage plans manage health services for people with Medicare. You must select and coordinate your care through a Primary Care Physician (PCP) and obtain referrals when you go to specialists. Your providers must be part of the Medicare-Advantage (HMO) network. Preventive care services are covered at 100%. Most other services are covered at 100% after applicable copays. You must live in a covered service area [pdf] to be eligible for this plan.
Independence Blue Cross (IBC) Medigap Security 65: Standard and Premium Plans (Medicare Supplement Plans)
- No referrals needed
- Virtually no paperwork necessary
- Emergency care covered when traveling outside the U.S.
The IBC Medigap Security 65 plans combine the benefits of traditional Medicare and features of a private health plan by helping to pay expenses that Medicare doesn’t fully cover, such as copayments and coinsurance. These plans offer freedom and flexibility with no referrals and virtually no claim forms. They also provide coverage for services when traveling throughout the U.S. and emergency coverage when traveling outside of the U.S. You may choose between the Standard and Premium plans. The Standard plan offers a lower premium, but higher out-of-pocket costs. For instance, the Standard plan does not reimburse the Medicare Part B deductible while the Premium plan does. In addition, the Standard plan has a $20 copay for office visits and a $50 copay for the emergency room (waived if admitted), while there are no copays for the Premium plan.
Coordination with Medicare (Medicare-Eligible Retirees/Dependents)
Retirees and dependents who are Medicare-eligible must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B in order to enroll in a Penn medical plan for Medicare-eligible retirees/dependents. Penn’s medical plans are secondary to Medicare. You should apply for Medicare at your local Social Security office 90 days prior to reaching age 65 in order to give Social Security time to process the application. For information about contacting the Social Security Office directly, click here.
Retirees age 65 and over with dependents who are not eligible for Medicare should note that your dependents will be enrolled in a pre-65 retiree medical plan until becoming eligible for Medicare. Then the dependents must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B and you must select a Medicare-eligible plan for them. Social Security should be contacted 90 days prior to the dependent’s 65th birthday to avoid coverage delays and late enrollment penalties.
Medicare Part A. Eligibility for premium-free Medicare Part A starts when you are (1) age 65 or over and (2) eligible for
Social Security. If you are receiving Social Security, enrollment in Medicare Part A is automatic. If you are receiving Social Security but have opted not to start receiving the benefit, perhaps because you have decided to continue working, you must still enroll in Medicare Part A. This enrollment establishes your entitlement with the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Medicare Part B. If you are covered by a group health plan sponsored by your employer or your spouse/partner’s employer while either of you are in active employment, you need not enroll in Medicare Part B. When you enroll in Medicare Part A, you must notify the SSA that you want to decline Part B because of your coverage. When your coverage ends under the group health plan, the SSA will allow you to sign up for Part B during a Special Enrollment Period without any penalty.