Retirement insights from a Colorado PERA perspective

Inside Colorado PERA

PERACare Open Enrollment Overview

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Photo credit: 72991363 -DarrinKlimek – Thinkstock

The Open Enrollment period for PERACare ends on November 10, 2016. If you are enrolled in a PERACare plan now, or if you are considering a PERACare plan for 2017, here are some PERACare Program highlights.

PERACare offers health, dental, and vision plans for PERA retirees and their dependents. There are two health plan categories – one for retirees who are under the age of 65 and not eligible for Medicare (PERACare Pre-Medicare coverage) and one for retirees who are age 65 and older and enrolled in Medicare (PERACare Medicare coverage).

Open Enrollment is the period each year when PERA retirees can make changes to their health care, dental and/or vision coverages. Open Enrollment meetings are scheduled across the state each October and are designed for PERA retirees to learn more about the PERACare Program. There are three presentations at each Open Enrollment meeting and they are each designed for a specific audience. There is a presentation for Medicare enrollees, one for pre-Medicare enrollees, and one for those who are turning age 65 in the next year.

Open Enrollment Meeting Schedule

If you missed the meeting in your area, we have the presentations available online.

Plan Changes for 2017

Perhaps the biggest change enrollees in the PERACare plans will see in 2017 is the change made to prescription drug coverage. There will be four levels, or tiers, of drug costs: generic, preferred brand or formulary, non-preferred brand or non-formulary, and specialty. (Read more about the rapid growth and high costs of specialty prescription drugs.)

Additionally, the health plan options for Pre-Medicare coverage have been streamlined. Retirees who have been in Anthem’s Pathways HMO and High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) will be automatically enrolled in Anthem’s PPO #1 plan or may choose the PPO #2 plan during open enrollment. Retirees in the Kaiser Permanente HMO #1 plan will be automatically enrolled in the HMO #2 plan, which will become the Deductible HMO plan, or have the option to choose the Kaiser Permanente High Deductible Health Plan during open enrollment.

Lastly, Anthem PPO enrollees are asked to select a Primary Care Physician from Anthem’s network. Instructions to find a PCP are on page 3 of the Pre-Medicare Enrollment Guide linked below. Anthem enrollees are asked to submit a PERACare Enrollment/Change form to select their PCP, even if they are not changing plans.

Details on the plans, coverage levels, and copays may be found in the following publications:

PERACare Pre-Medicare Coverage Booklet

PERACare Pre-Medicare Enrollment Guide

PERACare Medicare Coverage Booklet

PERACare Medicare Enrollment Guide

You may enroll in a PERACare plan, change your coverage, or select your Anthem PCP four ways:

  • Online at copera.org, log in with your User ID and password.
  • Send your completed form to PERA at PO Box 5800, Denver, CO
  • Fax your completed form to PERA at 303-863-3727.
  • Drop off your completed form to PERA at 1300 Pennsylvania Street, Denver.

The deadline to enroll/make changes is November 10, 2016.

Coverage begins January 1, 2017.

If you are currently enrolled and do not wish to make changes, or add dependents, you do not need to do anything. If you have questions and wish to talk to a PERA representative, you may call 1-800-759-7372; or on the PERA website (www.copera.org), click on the “contact us” link.

PERA on the Issues posts are written and compiled by the staff of Colorado PERA under the direction of Executive Director Greg Smith and the PERA Board of Trustees.
We encourage you to comment with your thoughts and feedback.

Comments

  1. Lisa Miller says:

    You need to update this article.

    • Colorado PERA says:

      Dear Ms. Miller,

      We are preparing our PERACare Open Enrollment materials for the 2019 plan year now. Updated information will be available in early September and Open Enrollment begins in October.

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