Congratulations on your retirement! At retirement, if you will be receiving a pension from the City of Cambridge, your health and life insurance coverage will automatically continue unless you elect to cancel them. Please review how each of the following benefits are impacted at retirement.
Benefits Information for Retiring Employees
Health Insurance in Retirement
- If you are enrolled in the health insurance at the time you retire, you may keep your health plan at retirement. Should you decide to cancel coverage at any point in retirement, please note that it cannot be reinstated. Cancellation would result in a permanent end of eligibility for coverage through the city.
- Enrollment in Medicare Parts A & B may be required—see detail below.
- Health insurance premiums are automatically deducted from your pension.
For Medicare Eligible Retirees
If you or your spouse are 65+, you MUST apply for Medicare Parts A & B to continue health insurance coverage through the city.
Medicare Supplemental Plans
- Harvard Pilgrim Medicare Enhance
- Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO
- Managed Blue for Seniors
- Medicare PPO Blue Freedom Rx
All Medicare supplemental plans through the City include pharmacy prescription coverage.
Medicare Premium Reimbursement
The City reimburses 85% of retiree Medicare part B premiums for both retirees and their spouses on a quarterly basis. Reimbursements are processed by the third week of January, April, July & October for the previous quarter. Retirees are required to set up direct deposit as payments are sent electronically.
Enrolling in Your Medicare Supplemental Plan
If you have received your Medicare Part A & B card, please complete your enrollment for a Medicare Supplemental plan or permanently cancel your health insurance. Please note that if you cancel your health insurance it cannot be reinstated. Cancellation would result in a permanent end of eligibility for coverage through the city.
View Retiree Medicare Supplemental Health Plan Comparison Sheet
For Non-Medicare Eligible Retirees
- BCBS Advantage Blue PPO (Out of State)
- BCBS HMO Blue (New England)
- BCBS Blue Choice PPO (MA Network)
- Harvard Pilgrim HMO
View Retiree Non-Medicare Eligible Health Plan Comparison Sheet
Dental/Vision Insurance
Your Dental/Vision insurance ends as of the last day of the month in which your employment ends with the City of Cambridge. You may continue coverage through the Cambridge Dental & Vision Fund or Teamsters Dental as applicable. If you would like to do so, please contact them directly.
- Cambridge Dental Vision Fund
Phone: 617-354-1110
Email: info@cdvfund.org
- TeamstersCare
Phone: 617-241-9220
Email: memberservices@teamsterscare.com
Life Insurance
- Group Basic Life Insurance - $5,000 policy continues with 25% retiree contribution ($2/month)
- Voluntary Life Insurance - Ends at retirement month’s end
- Optional Life Insurance - May continue if enrolled in the grandfathered plan
- Premiums are automatically deducted from your pension once you retire unless you actively decide to cancel your coverage.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- FSA coverage ends as of last day worked
- Claims incurred prior to an your retirement date may be submitted up to 90 days post-employment for reimbursement
- FSA is NOT available in retirement
Long-Term Disability
Your long-term disability insurance coverage ends as of your last day worked.
Questions? Contact Us. We're here to help with your transition into retirement.
Call 617-349-1770 or email: Benefits@cambridgema.gov
Deferred Compensation
If you currently have funds with one our 457B vendors, you may contact them directly to manage your funds. As a reminder, plans are subject to required minimum distributions by a certain age. Be sure to consult with your plan for an appropriate distribution schedule for you.
- Empower Retirement
Mike Tomlin
Phone: 914-355-6624 or 800-701-8255
Email: mike.tomlin@empower.com
- MetLife
Albert Ruggiero
Phone: 781-876-4180
Email: aruggiero@baystatefinancial.com
- VOYA
Brady Cowling
Phone: 781-796-9973
Email: brady.cowling@voyafa.com