Medical Plans

Post Retirement Benefits Eligiblity

Eligibility for post-retiree health coverage depends upon several factors, including date of first employment at the University, employee group, the length of University service, age, and date of retirement.

Consult the Benefits Office for specific details.

Eligibility is also addressed in Retiree Health Coverage Overview at https://hr.harvard.edu/files/humanresources/files/retireehealthplan.pdf.

Plans are subject to change. Retirees should verify all benefits and eligibility requirements with Harvard Human Resources, Benefits or call their medical care providers. 

More information about the plans available to eligible retirees can be found on the HHR  website:  (https://hr.harvard.edu/retiree-health)

Retiree Health Benefits
Health Plan Comparison Charts and Rates

Eligibility & General Information

You must meet certain age and service requirements in order to participate in Harvard's retiree medical plans. If you meet the requirements, you may also cover your spouse/domestic partner (at the time you retired) and any eligible dependents. For details, please refer to the Retiree Health Coverage overview. There is no requirement for previous participation in a Harvard medical plan while you were employed in order to qualify for retiree medical coverage. 

Retirees who retire from Harvard at or after age 55 but before age 65 and meet the eligibility requirements may remain in an active-employee Harvard medical plan until they reach age 65. (This provision includes an eligible spouse or domestic partner and dependents.)

At age 65, the covered individual must sign up for Medicare A and B and switch to a Harvard age-65-and-over retiree medical plan. When the covered individual reaches age 65 before the eligible spouse/domestic partner (or vice versa), only the one who has reached age 65 would enroll in an age-65-and-over retiree medical plan. The other would remain in an under age 65 retiree medical plan until reaching age 65.

Eligible participants must be enrolled in both Part A and Part B of Medicare to enroll in any age-65-and-over retiree medical plan.

Prescription drug benefits for all three age-65-and-over plans is provided through a Medicare Part D plan managed by Optum RX. The cost of this coverage is included in the monthly medical plan premium; retirees in a Harvard plan should not enroll in a separate Medicare Part D plan.

Retirees who receive a pension payment from Harvard, will have the monthly health plan premium deducted from this check. Otherwise, retirees will be billed for health plan premiums and failure to make timely payments will result in cancellation of coverage. Automatic payment option is available. This is handled by Benefit Strategies, 888-401-3539.

Plans for Retirees/Dependents Age 65 and Over

Retirees and eligible spouses/domestic partners (and eligible dependents if any) age 65 and over may choose from one of the following plans that supplement Medicare:

• Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Massachusetts Medex (no residential restrictions) (Medex Summary of Benefits)
• Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Medicare Enhance, (must live in the U.S.)
• Tufts Health Plan Medicare Preferred HMO (must live in the Tufts HMO service area)
• Kaiser Permanente – available only to retirees of Dumbarton Oaks and the Center for Hellenic  Studies living in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.

View plan feature comparison charts and rates here. 

Prescription Coverage for Retirees in Senior Medical Plans: Participants in Harvard’s medical plans for those over age 65 (except Kaiser Permanente) receive prescription drug benefits included as part of their medical coverage. There is no need to sign up for a separate Medicare Part D plan. OptumRx is the administrator for this benefit for all Harvard health plans - retirees may call 844-265-1225 with questions and can create an online account at www.optumrx.com.

Plans for Retirees/Dependents Under Age 65

Retirees and eligible spouses/domestic partners (and eligible dependents if any) under age 65 may choose from the same plans offered to active employees.

• Retiree faculty and nonunion staff under age 65 are covered under the active plans for faculty and nonunion staff
• Retirees under age 65 who were members of ATC, HUPA, HUSPMGU, Local 26, and SEIU and retired prior to 9/4/2014 are covered under the active plans for faculty and nonunion staff; those who retired on or after 9/4/2014 are covered by the plan for their union
• Retirees under age 65 who were members of HUCTW and retired prior to 7/5/2011 are covered under the active plans for faculty and nonunion staff; those who retired on or after 7/5/2011 are covered by the plan for their union

View plan feature comparison charts and rates here.

Other Medical Services/Information

Harvard University Health Services (HUHS): Harvard retirees age 65 or over participating in either Medex (BCBS) or Medicare Enhance (HPHC) are welcome to begin or continue their health care at HUHS.

Retirees formerly with the Harvard University Group Health Plan (HUGHP) may continue to see their physicians and access all services at HUHS under these two plans. However, payment for services is dependent upon coverage provided by Medex or HPHC Medicare Enhance. See your retiree medical benefit summary for details.

Harvard University Health Services
75 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge
617-495-5711; huhs.harvard.edu, click on “Retirees.”

Flu Shots are offered each year in the fall at HUHS to any senior with a valid HUGHP ID or valid Harvard ID, regardless of their health plan. Spouses or domestic partners with one of these ID cards are eligible for shots at these clinics. Consult the HUHS website huhs.harvard.edu or call the HUHS information line 617-496-2288.

The HUHS Patient Portal offers a number of confidential services to retirees who use HUHS for their medical and mental health needs.

They can review their stored personal profile and list of medications, schedule or cancel medical appointments, and access a secure messaging system. The online scheduler permits patients to view, arrange or cancel appointments with the Primary Care Team. Patients can also book an appointment with the After Hours Urgent Care clinic for medically urgent concerns.

Access to this confidential, online service requires a Harvard ID and PIN.

Spousal/Domestic Partner Benefits Retiree medical and dental coverage for spouses/domestic partners (DP) is a benefit that continues for the lifetime of the spouse or DP, even if the Harvard retiree predeceases that person. 

New spouses/domestic partners of retirees who marry or remarry following retirement from the University are not eligible for medical and dental coverage under the retiree’s Harvard plan.