Chicago retirees must enroll in other insurance to ensure continued health coverage in 2017

The City of Chicago has chosen to break its promise to workers who dedicated their lives in service to the city, and December 31, 2016, marks the end of a three-year phase out of the City of Chicago’s retiree health care plan.

At the end of this year, the city intends to terminate its retiree health plans. All retirees (except for those who retired prior to August 23, 1989) must enroll in other insurance for 2017 to ensure continued health coverage.   

This is a difficult time for city retirees. Despite a vigorous lobbying effort, we were not able to convince the Chicago City Council to take action to block the Emanuel Administration’s plan to discontinue retiree health care coverage. But we’re not giving up the fight. AFSCME is continuing to press the city to provide some form of health care subsidy for lower-income retirees who will be hardest hit.   

For now, though, it’s important that every retired city employee take action to ensure that you have health insurance coverage when your current coverage is terminated.

To prepare, first gather a few important personal documents so signing up will go as smoothly as possible. Make sure you have this information handy:

• Your Social Security number (and that of your spouse, if he or she will be on your plan). You don’t need the actual card — just the number.
• Income information. Have your pension statement on hand. If you or your spouse is performing salaried work, have a recent pay stub available. If you have other sources of income, e.g. Social Security or investments, have those amounts as well.
• Information about the health insurance you currently have. Something that has the policy number on it is all you need.
• List of prescription drugs you (and your spouse) are currently taking.

MEDICARE-ELIGIBLE CITY RETIREES

Medicare-eligible city retirees who have Medicare Parts A and B will need to sign up for supplemental insurance such as a Medicare Supplement, a Medicare Advantage Plan (Part C), or Part D Prescription Drug plan.

• For general Medicare information, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or visit www.medicare.gov. Open enrollment for Part C and Part D is underway and ends December 7, 2016 for coverage beginning January 1, 2017; however, because your employer-sponsored coverage is being terminated, you have two full months after the month your coverage ends to join a Medicare Advantage Plan or a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. To avoid a gap in coverage you’ll want to explore options right away.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is offering Medicare Advantage Plans to Medicare-eligible city retirees for 2017. Enrollment packets have been mailed to retirees. Call 1-877-566-8520 to speak to a Blue Cross representative about these plans. Application for the BCBSIL plans must be received before December 14, 2016.
• The Illinois Department on Aging’s Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) offers free statewide health insurance counseling services for Medicare beneficiaries and their caregivers. The program’s website also contains helpful information about Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage coverage options. To contact SHIP, call 1-800-252-8966 or go to www.illinois.gov/aging/ship.
• A Chicago-based company called GoHealth is available to help retirees explore and compare options to supplement Medicare.  Call 1-855-785-7841 to speak with a GoHealth representative.

NON-MEDICARE ELIGIBLE CITY RETIREES

• You may unknowingly be eligible for Medicare or find that purchasing Part A and Part B makes sense for you. Contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to discuss Medicare eligibility and learn about buying into Part A and Part B.
• Retirees can enroll in health plans available on the health insurance Marketplace (also known as the Exchange). For coverage that starts January 1, 2017, you must enroll in a health plan by December 15, 2016; however the last day to enroll in a Marketplace plan is January 31, 2017. To speak to someone about enrolling in a plan or to sign up to meet with a “navigator” who can provide you with information about your options, call 1-866-311-1119 or go to https://getcovered.illinois.gov/en.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is offering city retirees two PPO plans that include a network of doctors and hospitals that are not available in the Marketplace. Blue Cross has mailed enrollment packets to retirees. These plans are very costly and may not be viable for lower-income retirees. Call 1-800-292-6398 to speak to a Blue Cross representative about these plans. Application for the BCBSIL plans must be received before December 14, 2016.
• The City of Chicago has retained the services of GoHealth to help non-Medicare retirees shop and compare benefits and costs of insurance plans on the Marketplace as well coverage options with private insurance companies. Call 1-855-785-7842 to speak with a GoHealth representative.

AFSCME will keep pushing City of Chicago officials to make sure that every city retiree is able to access good, affordable health coverage. You can help by calling your alderman to tell him or her to call Mayor Emanuel with this message: "Don’t abandon city retirees who urgently need affordable health insurance!"