Active Retiree Rates
When a UI retiree and/or spouse is not yet Medicare eligible, they will have an active retiree policy until they turn 65. Once you turn 65, you will be placed into our UI Medicare Carveout plans under UIChoice and UISelect.
Medicare Eligible Rates
Once a retiree and/or spouse turns 65, the plan participant is moved into a UI Medicare Carveout plan under UIChoice or UISelect.
University of Iowa Contribution Eligibility
Faculty and staff enrolled in UIChoice or UISelect who retire at age 62 or older with 10 or more years of continuous benefit-eligible service, may receive a $288 university contribution toward the cost of the UIChoice or UISelect health insurance premium per month. Please note that this contribution is NOT guaranteed and is reviewed by executive leadership on a yearly basis.
Retiree's who are eligible for the University Contribution ($288)
Total Cost - ($288) = Eligible for UI Contribution Retiree's Cost
Example: $682 (UISelect) - $288 = $394 premium per month
What happens to your rates when you become Medicare eligible?
UI Retiree Becomes Medicare Eligible
When a UI retiree becomes Medicare eligible, the University Benefits Office will move the UI retiree from an active retiree rate (first table on this page) to a single UI Medicare Carveout policy within the plan you are enrolled in UIChoice or UISelect.
Examples (reflects 2026 premiums):
- NO UI CONTRIBUTION:
Gabriel is enrolled in the UIChoice active retiree single plan and pays $955 for their monthly premium. In February, Gabriel turns 65 and will move into the Medicare Carveout plan for UIChoice. Their new monthly premium will increase to $1,031 per month. - HAS UI CONTRIBUTION:
Florence retired at age 64 and had 24 years of continuous benefit-eligible service with the university, which makes them eligible for the $288 UI contribution towards their premium. Florence's monthly premium for UISelect is $394 after the UI contribution. When they turn 65 later this year, Florence will be moved into the Medicare Carveout plan for UISelect, and the new premium will be:- Single UISelect Medicare Eligible premium $928 - $288 UI Contribution = $640
Medicare Eligible Retiree Covering Spouse (not Medicare eligible)
If the Medicare-eligible UI retiree covers a spouse who is not Medicare-eligible, the spouse will have a single (non-Medicare-eligible) policy paying the retiree's cost.
Examples (reflects 2026 premiums):
- Maggie is Medicare eligible (age 66), and her spouse is not (age 64). Therefore, Maggie and her spouse have two different policies.
- Maggie will be in the UISelect Medicare Carveout Single plan, which is $928/month.
- Her spouse will be enrolled in the UISelect Active Retiree Single plan for $682/month.
- Maggie and her spouse's total monthly health insurance premium is $1,610.00.
- If Maggie is eligible for the UI Contribution, their total premium for health insurance is $1,610 - $288 contribution = $1,322 per month.
Medicare Eligible Retiree Covering Non-Medicare Eligible Spouse & Child(ren)
If the Medicare-eligible UI retiree is covering a spouse, not Medicare eligible, and child(ren), the spouse and child(ren) will be enrolled in a Retiree + Child(ren) policy. The UI retiree will have a single Medicare carveout plan.
Example (reflects 2026 premiums):
- Donald retired from the university at age 67. He also plans to cover his spouse, Kate, who is 59, and their son, Jack, who is 25, who has decided to return to school.
- Donald is Medicare eligible, but Kate is not. Therefore, University Benefits will enroll Donald in the Medicare Carveout Single plan, and Kate and Jack will be enrolled in the Active Retiree + Child(ren) plan.
- Donald is also eligible for the $288 UI contribution, as he has met the eligibility requirements.
- This family is enrolled in the UIChoice plan.
- Donald's Medicare carveout single plan = $1,031 - $288 contribution = $743
- Kate and Jack's Active Retiree + Child plan = $1,859.00
- Total cost for health insurance = $2,602 per month
Retiree and Spouse are Both Medicare Eligible
If the UI retiree and their spouse are Medicare-eligible, they will have single Carveout policies. If they cover children, each child will be enrolled in a single non-Medicare policy.
Example (reflects 2026 premiums):
- Gus and Kim are both Medicare eligible and have the UISelect health plan. However, neither was eligible for the UI Contribution when they retired from the University.
- Gus and Kim are both put in their own Medicare Carveout single plans. $928.00 x 2 policies = $1,856.00 per month.
- They have two children who have come back to their plan; below is the breakdown:
- Gus and Kim remain in their single Medicare Carveout plans and continue to pay a total of $1,856.00 for themselves.
- The two children will each be enrolled in a single active retiree plan for UISelect. $682.00 x 2 policies = $1,364.00.
- Total premium for all 4 per month = $3,220.00
2026 Retiree Health Monthly Premiums
Not Medicare Eligible
(UI Retiree and/or spouse is not yet age 65)
| COVERAGE OPTIONS | UICHOICE TOTAL COST | UICHOICE WITH $288 UI CONTRIBUTION* | UISELECT TOTAL COST | UISELECT WITH $288 UI CONTRIBUTION* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $955.00 | $667.00 | $682.00 | $394.00 |
| Retiree + Spouse/Partner | $2,279.00 | $1,991.00 | $1,627.00 | $1,339.00 |
| Retiree + Children | $1,859.00 | $1,571.00 | $1,328.00 | $1,040.00 |
| Retiree + Family | $2,441.00 | $2,153.00 | $1,743.00 | $1,455.00 |
*Total cost premium minus the $288 contribution = Retirees eligible for contribution premium rate.
To be eligible, one must have retired from the university at age 62 or older with ten or more years of continuous benefit-eligible service.
Medicare Eligible - Carveout Plans
(UI Retiree and/or Spouse is Medicare Eligible, over age 65)
| COVERAGE OPTIONS | UICHOICE TOTAL COST | UICHOICE WITH $288 UI CONTRIBUTION | UISELECT TOTAL COST | UISELECT WITH $288 UI CONTRIBUTION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retiree Only | $1,031.00 | $743.00 | $928.00 | $640.00 |
| Retiree + Spouse/Partner (one Medicare eligible) | $1,986.00 $1,031 (Retiree Only Carveout) + $955 (Single Plan) | $1,698.00 | $1,610.00 $928 (Retiree Only Carveout) + $682 (Single Plan) | $1,322.00 |
| Retiree + Spouse/Partner (both are Medicare eligible) Please note you and your spouse will each have your own individual policies. | $2,062.00 $1,031 (Retiree Only Carveout) x 2 | $1,774.00 | $1,856.00 $928 (Retiree Only Carveout) x 2 | $1,568.00 |
| Retiree + Child(ren) | $1,986.00 (1 child)* $1,031 (Retiree Only Carveout) + $955 (Single Plan) per child covered | $1,698.00* | $1,610.00 (1 child)* $928 (Retiree Only Carveout) + $682 (Single Plan) per child covered | $1,322.00* |
| Retiree + Family (UI Retiree is Medicare Eligible, Spouse is Not) | $2,890.00 $1,031 (Retiree Only Carveout) + $1,859 (Active Retiree + Children) | $2,602.00 | $2,256.00 $928 (Retiree Only Carveout) + $1,328 (Active Retiree + Children) | $1,968.00 |
| Retiree + Family (Both Retiree & Spouse are Medicare Eligible) | $3,017.00 (1 Child)* $2,062 (Retiree+Spouse Carveout) + $955 (Single plan) per child covered | $2,729.00* | $2,538.00 (1 Child)* $1,856 (Retiree+Spouse Carveout) + $682 (Single plan) per child covered | $2,250.00* |
* Medicare eligible and covering child(ren)
The cost calculated in the above table for "Retiree + Child(ren)" and "Retiree + Family" is for the Retiree plus 1 covered dependent child; Add $955.00 for each additional child on UIChoice or $682.00 for each additional child on UISelect.
2025 Retiree Health Monthly Premiums
Not Medicare Eligible
(UI Retiree and/or spouse is not yet age 65)
| COVERAGE OPTIONS | UICHOICE TOTAL COST | UICHOICE WITH $288 UI CONTRIBUTION* | UISELECT TOTAL COST | UISELECT WITH $288 UI CONTRIBUTION* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single | $904.00 | $616.00 | $670.00 | $382.00 |
| Retiree + Spouse/Partner | $2,157.00 | $1,869.00 | $1,599.00 | $1,311.00 |
| Retiree + Children | $1,760.00 | $1,472.00 | $1,305.00 | $1,017.00 |
| Retiree + Family | $2,311.00 | $2,023.00 | $1,713.00 | $1,425.00 |
*Total cost premium minus the $288 contribution = Retirees eligible for contribution premium rate.
To be eligible, one must have retired from the university at age 62 or older with ten or more years of continuous benefit-eligible service.
Medicare Eligible - Carveout Plans
(UI Retiree and/or Spouse is Medicare Eligible, over age 65)
| COVERAGE OPTIONS | UICHOICE TOTAL COST | UICHOICE WITH $288 UI CONTRIBUTION | UISELECT TOTAL COST | UISELECT WITH $288 UI CONTRIBUTION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retiree Only | $1,018.00 | $730.00 | $916.00 | $628.00 |
| Retiree + Spouse/Partner (one Medicare eligible) | $1,922.00 $1,018 (Retiree Only Carveout) + $904 (Single Plan) | $1,634.00 | $1,586.00 $916 (Retiree Only Carveout) + $670 (Single Plan) | $1,298.00 |
| Retiree + Spouse/Partner (both are Medicare eligible) Please note you and your spouse will each have your own individual policies. | $2,036.00 $1,018 (Retiree Only Carveout) x 2 | $1,748.00 | $1,832.00 $916 (Retiree Only Carveout) x 2 | $1,544.00 |
| Retiree + Child(ren) | $1,922.00 (1 child)* $1,018 (Retiree Only Carveout) + $904 (Single Plan) per child covered | $1,634.00* | $1,586.00 (1 child)* $916 (Retiree Only Carveout) + $670 (Single Plan) per child covered | $1,298.00* |
| Retiree + Family (UI Retiree is Medicare Eligible, Spouse is Not) | $2,694.00 $1,018 (Retiree Only Carveout) + $1,676 (Active Retiree + Children) | $2,406.00 | $2,206.00 $916 (Retiree Only Carveout) + $1,290 (Active Retiree + Children) | $1,918.00 |
| Retiree + Family (Both Retiree & Spouse are Medicare Eligible) | $2,940.00 (1 Child)* $2,036 (Retiree+Spouse Carveout) + $904 (Single plan) per child covered | $2,652.00* | $2,502.00 (1 Child)* $1,832 (Retiree+Spouse Carveout) + $670 (Single plan) per child covered | $2,214.00* |
* Medicare eligible and covering child(ren)
The cost calculated in the above table for "Retiree + Child(ren)" and "Retiree + Family" is for the Retiree plus 1 covered dependent child; Add $861.00 for each additional child on UIChoice or $662.00 for each additional child on UISelect.
2025 Health Alliance Monthly Premiums
Rates effective Jan. 01, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025
| Plan | Cost |
|---|---|
| Health Alliance HMO Plus Rx plan* | $60.00 |
| Health Alliance PPO* | $320.00 |
Important Notice:
Health Alliance Health Plans will remain a viable coverage option through December 31, 2025. After this date, these plans will no longer be available. Please plan accordingly and explore alternative coverage options in advance.
More information coming soon.