If you choose not to take action during this enrollment period, your existing coverage will roll over into the following year, and your premium costs will automatically update effective Jan. 1, 2024.
Informational Session
The University Benefits Office held one UI Retiree Health Insurance informational session on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023. If you were unable to attend in person or join via Zoom, please select the gold button below to watch a recording of the meeting and access the handouts given at the meeting.
Making Changes?
Do you want to switch health plans or cancel coverage? Find out your options by selecting the button to skip to this section.
Info and Help
Find resources to help you make the best-informed decision for your 2024 benefits.
Medicare
Have you become Medicare eligible? Find more information about your next steps with Parts A & B.
Changes in 2024 Benefits
What's Changing:
1. UI Retiree Health Plan Premiums:
Health premiums will increase for both UIChoice and UISelect.
UIChoice Premium Rates
| 2024 Total Cost | *with $288 contrib. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare Eligible | Single | $1,018.00 | $730.00 |
| Retiree + Spouse (1 Medicare eligible) | $1,879.00 | $1,591.00 | |
| Retiree + Spouse (Both Medicare eligible) | $2,036.00 | $1,748.00 | |
| Not Medicare Eligible | Single | $861.00 | $573.00 |
| Retiree + Spouse | $2,055.00 | $1,767.00 | |
| Retiree + Children | $1,676.00 | $1,388.00 | |
| Family | $2,201.00 | $1,913.00 |
*With $288 Contribution: Faculty and staff who retired at age 62 or older and attained ten or more years of continuous benefit-eligible service receive a university contribution of $288 per month toward the UIChoice or UISelect health insurance cost.
UISelect Premium Rates
| 2024 Total Cost | *With $288 Contrib. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Medicare Eligible | Single | $916.00 | $628.00 |
| Retiree + Spouse (1 Medicare eligible) | $1,578.00 | $1,290.00 | |
| Retiree + Spouse (Both Medicare eligible) | $1,832.00 | $1,544.00 | |
| Not Medicare Eligible | Single | $662.00 | $374.00 |
| Retiree + Spouse | $1,580.00 | $1,292.00 | |
| Retiree + Children | $1,290.00 | $1,002.00 | |
| Family | $1,693.00 | $1,405.00 |
*With $288 Contribution: Faculty and staff who retired at age 62 or older and attained ten or more years of continuous benefit-eligible service receive a university contribution of $288 per month toward the UIChoice or UISelect health insurance cost.
UI Retiree Health Plan Provision Changes:
There will be one plan design change for UISelect. Effective Jan. 1, 2024, mental health visits under provider levels 1 and 2 will decrease from $15 to a zero-dollar copay per visit.
UI Health Plan Comparison with Plan Provisions
What's Not Changing in Health Insurance:
- The university contribution towards the cost of UIChoice and UISelect for eligible retirees will continue to be $288 per month.
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There will be no changes in the Health Alliance Medicare Advantage monthly premiums or plan design of the HMO and PPO plans.
What's Changing:
Dental II premiums will increase in 2024.
Retiree Dental Insurance - Dental II
There will be a slight premium rate increase for the dental plan.
| DENTAL II 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Retiree Only | $48.00 |
| Retiree + Spouse | $100.50 |
| Retiree + Child(ren) | $106.00 |
| Retiree + Family | $142.00 |
What's Not Changing:
- There will be no design changes to the Dental II plan in 2024.
Making Changes
If you would like to switch health plans
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As a reminder, the university offers two health plans, UISelect and UIChoice. To compare the two plans, you may visit a side-by-side comparison to determine which plan will work best for you and your family. Open Enrollment allows you to switch to another health plan if you wish.
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You must complete and return the enrollment form by Dec. 7, 2023. This form can be sent back to us at benefits@uiowa.edu or by mail to University Benefits. The change in your health plan will be effective on Jan. 1, 2024.
2024 UI Enrollment Form
Alternative to UI Retiree health plans
- Health Alliance plans: You may elect coverage under one of these plans and still have the option to return to UIChoice or UISelect during future annual enrollment periods. Health Alliance mailed information regarding 2024 coverage to current plan participants in late September. Plan information is also available on the UI Health Alliance website. You may also contact Health Alliance directly by calling 1-877-917-8550.
- As an alternative to UIChoice or UISelect, Medicare-eligible retirees may choose other Medicare coverage (Medicare Supplemental or Advantage plans) outside the University of Iowa or Health Alliance. Choosing a plan other than UIChoice, UISelect, or the Health Alliance PPO/HMO plans means you cannot return to UI plans in the future.
- To enroll in a Health Alliance plan, you must complete a Health Alliance Enrollment form (pdf) and the Health Alliance ACH form (pdf) and return these directly to Health Alliance.
- Please notify University Benefits in writing by Dec. 7, 2023, of your wish to cancel UI coverage. The notification can be sent by email to benefits@uiowa.edu or by mail to University Benefits Office.
- The change in your health plan will be effective on Jan. 1, 2024.
If you would like to cancel your UI Retiree coverage
- Please notify University Benefits in writing by Dec. 7, 2023. The notification can be sent by email to benefits@uiowa.edu or by mail to University Benefits Office. Your coverage will be canceled as of Jan. 1, 2024.
- If you cancel coverage, you cannot enroll in the university's plan(s) again later. The exception is if you currently have health and/or dental insurance through your or your spouse's employment, you may have the option to enroll in the university's plan(s) if that coverage ends.
UI Retiree Health Information Session
The University Benefits Office held one informational session to help better understand your health benefit options to make an informed decision regarding your health coverage for 2024.
The University Benefits Office hosted the session with a guest speaker, Kevin Ward, from the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP). The informational session focused on Medicare, Medicare Supplement/Medicare Advantage Plans, and the University retiree health options.
Below, you can find the recorded video of the presentation and other materials handed out in person.
Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023 Informational Meeting
Resources
The following are resources to help you succeed during this enrollment period. A retiree benefits open enrollment letter has been mailed to your home address.
Open Enrollment Resources
Once again, this year, the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) is available to assist you in understanding your healthcare options. SHIIP Counselors will provide objective information concerning enrollment guidelines, benefits, and costs of your various Medicare alternatives. The SHIIP counselors from the Iowa City Senior Center are familiar with the four plans the University makes available to its retirees: UIChoice, UISelect, Health Alliance HMO, and the Health Alliance PPO. If you want to consider the options available to the general public, these Counselors can explain the benefits and costs of original Medicare and Medigap supplements, the prescription drug plans, and Medicare Advantage plans available in Iowa.
It is essential to review your current Medicare coverage, particularly prescription drug and Medicare Advantage plans, every Fall during the Open Enrollment Period between October 15 and December 7. The costs and benefits of your current plan may change for 2024, just as your health care needs may also change.
SHIIP Counselors from the Iowa City Senior Center are offering appointments at the Senior Center and Mercer Aquatic Center in Iowa City and the Community Center in North Liberty, in addition to Zoom and telephone options. Appointments may be made online through the Iowa City Senior Center website: https://shiip.iowa.gov/contacts/johnson-iowa-city-senior-center. This allows you to identify as a University of Iowa Retiree and select from the available locations and counselors. Please complete the questions asked when scheduling your appointment to allow the Counselor to assist you better. Individuals may also call the Senior Center at 319-356-5220 for assistance.
UIChoice Retiree Health Plan
UISelect Retiree Health Plan
- Find a side-by-side comparison of the UI health plan options, UIChoice and UISelect.
- If Medicare eligible, review all UI health plans available side-by-side:
Summary of UI Retiree Health Plans (pdf)
Becoming Medicare Eligible
If you or your spouse become eligible for Medicare, you must enroll in Medicare Parts A & B as your primary insurance. Failure to enroll on time may result in a penalty and delay your enrollment. If you are a UIChoice or UISelect plan participant, University Benefits will automatically enroll you in the UIChoice or UISelect Medicare Carveout plan, which will become the secondary payer. The UIChoice or UISelect Medicare Carveout includes creditable prescription drug coverage, and you should not enroll in a Medicare Part D plan.
If you do not wish to continue your UIChoice or UISelect coverage, you must notify University Benefits in writing.
2024 Health Alliance Documents and Information