Medicare Companion Insurance Plan

When you become eligible for Medicare, you can enroll in a PERS-sponsored Medicare companion insurance plan. Approximately 120 days before your 65th birthday, PERS will automatically mail you insurance information. For most retirees, this will be the last enrollment opportunity.

The Oregon Legislature has directed PERS to establish a Retirement Health Insurance Account (RHIA) to help pay the Medicare companion health insurance premiums of eligible retirees. PERS applies a monthly contribution, up to $60 per retiree, to PERS-sponsored Medicare companion insurance costs. You can have premium payments exceeding that amount deducted from your monthly benefit checks.

You are eligible to receive an RHIA contribution if you:

• are enrolled in a PERS-sponsored health plan,
• are enrolled in both Medicare Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance),
• had a minimum of eight years of PERS-qualifying service, including your six-month waiting time, when you retired (or the equivalent of eight years if you receive a disability benefit), and
• are receiving a retirement benefit from PERS.

Related topics:

Health and Dental Insurance for Retirees

Spouse and Dependent Insurance