Health Insurance in Retirement

• Retirees, spouses, and surviving spouses may maintain health insurance through the City of Cambridge. Should you decide to cancel coverage at any point in retirement, please note that it can not be reinstated. This would result in a permanent end of eligibility for coverage through the City.
  
  
• Retiree coverage continues unless canceled at or during retirement.
  
  
• Enrollment in Medicare Parts A & B is REQUIRED once you or your spouse turn 65. See details immediately below.
  
  
• Employees must be on the City's health insurance plan at the point of retirement in order to have health coverage through the City in retirement.

Mandatory Medicare Enrollment at 65

• If you or your spouse are 65+, you MUST apply for Medicare Parts A & B to continue health insurance coverage through the City.
• Apply for Medicare parts A & B through the Social Security office. This may be done in person at one of their offices or online at Sign up for Medicare | SSA
• Once you have been approved for Medicare Parts A & B, please provide a copy of your Medicare card(s) to the benefits office along with your enrollment application to move to a Medicare Supplemental Plan.

Learn More About Medicare and Medicare Reimbursement

Medicare 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.

Not eligible for Medicare?

Submit a copy of your Social Security denial letter to the benefits office to enable you to remain on your current health plan.

Available Health Plans in Retirement

For Medicare Eligible Retirees:

• 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.

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

Need to Make Changes to Your Existing Health Coverage?

You have the option to make changes to your current insurance coverage, however you may only do so within 60 days of a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) or during annual Open Enrollment in the fall and spring.