Health Care Options in Retirement
Having adequate health care coverage is an important consideration when you retire. Explore your options below.
Video: JHU Benefits in retirementJHU Health Plan: CareFirst Retiree Core PPO Plan
The university offers retiree medical and dental coverage for eligible retirees and their eligible dependents—the same coverage available to active employees and their families.
Under the CareFirst Retiree Core PPO Plan, you have:
- Access to Quantum Health, health care advocacy service
- Prescription drugs managed by Capital Rx
- One medical ID card with information about both your medical and pharmacy benefits, including contact info for Quantum Health and Capital Rx
- A combined out-of-pocket maximum (the most you’ll pay in a year for medical, mental health and prescription drugs)
- To obtain prior authorization for certain services, including surgeries, diagnostic tests and scans, oncology care and services, dialysis, transplants, hospice care, hospitalization, inpatient care, and medical equipment rentals or purchases. Quantum Health will manage this process.
JHU Retiree Medical and Dental Coverage Costs
The amount that JHU pays (the subsidy) is determined based on your age and years of service.
Faculty and Staff Retiree Cost of Coverage
Bargaining Unit Retiree Cost of Coverage
CareFirst Prescription Drug Coverage (Capital Rx)
If you’re enrolled in a CareFirst medical plan, your prescription drugs and prescription drug claims are managed by Capital Rx. The in-network mail-order and specialty pharmacies are Johns Hopkins Outpatient Pharmacy and Costco Pharmacy.
Medicare
You and your spouse or domestic partner must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B upon turning 65, and once that occurs, Medicare will become the primary insurer and the JHU retiree plan will become secondary.
Get a better understanding of the Medicare maze with Ask Alex Medicare, our interactive education tool that walks through what you need to know including:
- when you can sign up
- what choices you’ll need to make, and
- how your costs might be covered.
Choosing other coverage
If you waive coverage in the university medical plan at retirement, you will have one opportunity to enroll in the university’s available plan options within 30 days of losing your alternate medical coverage. If you die, your covered spouse or domestic partner is eligible to remain on the group plan for his/her lifetime, and covered dependent children can remain on the group plan until they no longer meet the plan eligibility requirements.
If you wish to discontinue retiree medical or dental coverage, you must notify the JHU Benefits Service Center in writing within 30 days of the date you want your coverage to end. Email [email protected] or call 410-516-2000 if you have any questions.
Aptia365 Medical Plans
As an alternative to the JHU retiree medical plans for those 65 or older, you may want to consider Aptia365, which provides access to the Mercer Retiree Exchange Platform and to one-on-one help from a licensed retiree benefits counselor. Choose from Medicare Supplement Plans, Medicare Advantage Plans, prescription drug plans, dental and vision.
Reach a benefits counselor toll-free at 855-206-8117 or click the button below to learn about Medicare and the different types of plans available.