Insurance News
Change in Insurance Programs for Retired Connecticut Teachers
The Teachers’ Retirement Board has selected UnitedHealthcare to administer the Connecticut Teachers’ Retiree Health Plan for Medicare-eligible retirees and dependents. The Teachers’ Retirement Board will continue to provide a choice of two comprehensive Medicare benefit programs. The new program will begin January 1, 2022. To learn more go to the Connecticut Retired Teachers Board website.
You can call 1 866-794 3033 to talk with United Healthcare.
Insurance contacts for last year's plan:
Express Scripts: 1-844-433-4883 www.Express-Scripts.com
Medicare: 1-800-633-4227 www.medicare.gov
Sterling Benefits: 1-800-447-6689 www.sterlingbenefits.com
Cigna Dental (DPPO) 1-800-564-7642 www.cigna.com or myCigna.com.
Change in Medicare Advantage Plan
February 15, 2022
Connecticut Teachers’ Retirement Board
165 Capitol Avenue Hartford, CT 06106
The Teachers’ Retirement Board (TRB) has very important news for our members!
We are pleased to announce UMASS facilities and specialists are accepting the UnitedHealthcare® Group Medicare Advantage (PPO) plan effective January 1, 2022. At this time, it does not include UMASS primary care providers.
What does this mean for you?
- If you have previously opted out of TRB healthcare coverage, you have the opportunity to re-enroll in one of the UnitedHealthcare plan options, which includes prescription drug coverage through March 31, 2022. Re-enrollments will not be accepted after the 31st, with no exceptions.
- If you are a participant of the UnitedHealthcare® Senior Supplement plan, you have an opportunity to change your plan election and enroll in the UnitedHealthcare® Group Medicare Advantage plan through March 31, 2022. Changes to plan elections will not be accepted after the 31st, with no exceptions.
- To change your plan election or to request reenrollment, call UnitedHealthcare at 1-866-794-3033, TTY 711, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. local time, 7 days a week.
The UnitedHealthcare® Group Medicare Advantage plan includes prescription drug coverage. This plan provides the same benefits as the UnitedHealthcare® MedicareRx for Groups (PDP) prescription drug plan. If you choose to enroll in the Medicare Advantage plan you will have one ID card to use for both your medical and prescription drug expenses.
- What if my primary care provider is not in the UnitedHealthcare® network? The UnitedHealthcare® Group Medicare Advantage plan will cover care from an out-of-network primary care provider, as long as they are a Medicare-approved provider and accept the plan. You should talk to your primary care provider before accessing care to confirm they will see you as a patient.
Sincerely,
Connecticut Teachers’ Retirement Board
Letter from CT Teacher's Retirement Board
New Insurance information
Dear Retiree,
Our goal is to ensure that we deliver benefits to you and your Medicare-eligible dependents in a way that provides as much value as possible.
After careful consideration and a rigorous proposal process, the Teachers’ Retirement Board has selected UnitedHealthcare to administer the Connecticut Teachers’ Retiree Health Plan for Medicare-eligible retirees and dependents. The Teachers’ Retirement Board will continue to provide a choice of two comprehensive Medicare benefit programs.
Effective January 1, 2022 coverage will be offered through the UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage plan that will now include Prescription Drug Plan coverage combined in one plan. The Group Medicare Supplement plan and Prescription Drug Plan will also be offered through UnitedHealthcare. The benefits for the plans remain the same while the Group Medicare Advantage plan includes new programs and services. The move to an integrated Group Medical /Pharmacy plan will significantly reduce costs for Retirees and the Teachers’ Retirement Board while preserving benefits for Medicare retirees and dependents. All plans become effective on January 1, 2022.
With over 44 years of experience, UnitedHealthcare is the largest business dedicated to the health and well-being of older adults and other Medicare beneficiaries. UnitedHealthcare serves over 14 million – or one in four – Medicare beneficiaries through all of its Medicare plans. Even more important, UnitedHealthcare has a strong local presence in Connecticut, serving nearly 576,00 people including over 274,000 Medicare-eligible individuals.
- UnitedHealthcare will provide a custom transition call center team and a dedicated website to serve Teachers’ Retirement Board retirees through this transition and beyond.
- UnitedHealthcare will provide a custom Group Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plan designed exclusively for TRB Medicare retirees and eligible dependents. This custom plan should not be confused with other UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans that you might see or hear about in your area.
- With the UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage plan, you are not limited to a network of health care providers and you can see any provider that accepts Medicare for the same cost share (copay). For Medicare-covered services, you can continue to see your doctors as long as they have not opted out of Medicare and agree to see you. Nationally, over 99% of health care providers participate in Medicare; in Connecticut the participation rate is 99.7%.
- The UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Advantage plan and Prescription Drug coverage retains current covered benefits including all benefits provided under Medicare Parts A and B and will include Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage and new programs and features including a fitness benefit and a new Healthy at Home benefit that includes non-emergency medical rides, home delivered meals, personal custodial care -- all in one plan with one ID card.
- The UnitedHealthcare Group Medicare Supplement plan and Prescription Drug coverage also retains current benefits including a fitness benefit.
- Your current coverage remains in place until December 31, 2021. Please continue to use your existing medical and prescription drug ID cards for covered health care services.
We wanted to make you aware of this change as soon as the decision was made. It is very early in the transition process and we are still working through some of the operational details with UnitedHealthcare.
We are providing information as soon as it is available to make this transition as easy as possible. In the upcoming months, you will be hearing more from us and UnitedHealthcare on the details of the 2022 plans. This includes contact information for the UnitedHealthcare custom transition call center dedicated to the Teachers’ Retirement Board. In addition, expect to receive an invitation from UnitedHealthcare for education meetings (both in-person and virtual meeting options) for Medicare-eligible members that will be held throughout the region that will begin in October 2021.
While change is never easy, we are excited about the transition to UnitedHealthcare. It provides us a new way to balance our financial responsibilities to you and future retirees with our commitment to provide the comprehensive health care benefits that you deserve.
Sincerely,
The CT Teachers’ Retirement Board
