There is a retirees association affiliated with each UM System university and all work to serve the interests of their retiree communities and actively promote the welfare of their institution. Associations offer membership options for retirees and some may extend invitations to pre-retirees, spouses and partners, as well as for retirees from other campuses. Select your university below to learn more about the affiliated retirees association.
UM Retiree Association Offerings
Retirees association offerings include:
- Advocacy for retirees
- University town halls on health care benefits and pensions
- Social programs and events
- Volunteer opportunities
- Educational programs and other learning opportunities
- Organizational meetings
- Communications with university news
- And more!
Fall 2021 Retiree Town Hall
UM System Retiree Health Benefits Virtual Town Hall
Thursday, October 7, 2021 | 1 - 2 p.m.
University leaders and representatives from our benefit administrators shared information on our 2022 benefits plans and answer questions about Medicare-eligible and non-Medicare eligible insurance; dental, vision and hearing benefits; wellness resources; and more. Review the recorded session or consult the Q&As below.
Trouble viewing the video? Click here to view on YouTube.
Event Q&As: Click on a header to expand the selection and uncover additional information.
Annual Enrollment Process
How do I enroll if I don’t have access to internet during the Annual Enrollment period?
You may choose to complete the 2022 Annual Enrollment Retiree Benefits Change Form and return it to the HR Service Center via email, email or fax by November 5, 2021. You can visit the HR Service Center in-person, or your campus HR team can help you access the form if you don’t have an internet connection. If you’ll be unable to complete paperwork during the Annual Enrollment period, feel free to complete and submit your change before the Annual Enrollment period begins. You’ll need to connect with your HR team to get access to and submit the necessary form.
I turn 65 next year. When should I contact the Benefits office about moving from non-Medicare coverage to a Medicare Advantage and what is the process?
In order to transition to the University Medicare Advantage Plan, apply for Medicare no earlier than three months before your eligibility date. The application process can be completed through your local Social Security office or online. University Medicare Advantage plans include enrollment in an eligible Part D prescription plan, so only enroll in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B.
As you approach your enrollment date, the university will only send you information regarding Medicare Advantage plan enrollment. That packet will include an enrollment form you will need to return to us, along with a copy of your Medicare card. You can get more details on the Medicare website.
I want to cancel life insurance for my spouse and/or myself. What do I need to do and by when?
You can cancel life insurance coverage at any point. In fact, you may reduce or cancel any coverage, including medical, at any time during the year and are not limited to retiree Annual Enrollment. If coverage is reduced or cancelled, it cannot be reinstated at a later date. To do so, just complete the Retiree Benefits Change Form (PDF).
If I drop down from the buy up plan to the basic plan, would I be able to go back to the buy up plan again next year?
Yes, you would have the option of selecting the Medicare Advantage Enhanced Plan (Buy-Up Plan) again in the future, but only during the Annual Enrollment period.
If a non-Medicare eligible spouse turns 65 mid-year, i.e., in June 2022, how does that affect HC premiums?
Upon enrollment in Medicare, premiums will be calculated using the Medicare Advantage rates.
General questions for Medicare and non-Medicare eligible retirees
What is meant by “accepts the plan” vs. “in-network”?
Providers that are in-network have contracts with UnitedHealthcare and this relationship provides specific guidance regarding payment and expectations on provider responsibilities. Providers who are out-of-network do not have a contract with UnitedHealthcare, but may still “accept the plan.” This means they agree to bill UnitedHealthcare for services rendered and accept the Medicare fee schedule as payment in full.
UnitedHealthcare's online list of providers includes providers that are not in-network. What does United Healthcare do to maintain accuracy of this information?
The UnitedHealthcare coverage for UM System Retirees website is updated on a bi-weekly basis
What types of facilities are in-network with UnitedHealthcare? Does it include inpatient, skilled nursing, inpatient rehab?
UnitedHealthcare’s network includes general care clinics, urgent care clinics, medical and surgical hospitals, emergency rooms, specialty centers like those that provide dialysis, skilled nursing and physical therapy services, labs, medical suppliers and more. You can review all in-network providers through the UnitedHealthcare website through UHC's Find a Provider.
When will I receive information on my premiums for 2022?
All retirees will receive a letter from the university to their mailing address that provides information on the plans available to them as well as their personalized premiums and additional information on the Annual Enrollment period.
Do retirees call the HR Service Center or UnitedHealthcare for benefits questions?
Retirees can call the HR Service Center for information about the Annual Enrollment period or plan eligibility. For information on specific health plans offered by UnitedHealthcare, retirees can reach out to UnitedHealthcare directly using the customer service phone number on the back of their insurance card.
Why does the university make changes to plans each year?
The landscape of health insurance is constantly changing. Each year, the university evaluates plans and works with our providers as well as the Total Rewards Advisory Committee (TRAC) and the UM System Office of Finance to keep premium increases lower than they otherwise would be. In addition, we conduct regular, competitive bids to ensure we’re providing high-quality plans at manageable costs.
How are “self coverage” and “family coverage” different between the two non-Medicare plans?
Family coverage encompasses any employee enrolled in the benefit plan who has at least one dependent covered on the plan as well: i.e., “self and spouse,” “self and child(ren)” and “self, spouse, and child(ren)” categories. The difference lies in how the deductible works for family coverage, since it’s different between the Retiree Healthy Savings Plan and the Retiree PPO Plan.
For the Retiree Healthy Savings Plan, only the individual or family deductible must be satisfied based on self or family coverage. For the Retiree PPO Plan, individual deductibles must be satisfied for all individuals covered until the family deductible is met. Expenses that are included in the deductible vary by plan.
Why are my premiums increasing and will they continue to do so?
Premiums are dependent on many factors, including age, years of service at retirement and more. For 2022, some retirees will see lower premiums than they did in 2021 because the cost of their program changed. For others, they may see an increase in premiums as the university works to align premiums and actual plan costs. Recognizing the market is likely to continue to evolve and mature, the university continues to monitor and explore opportunities to improve choice and reduce costs for current (as well as future) pre-Medicare-eligible UM retirees.
Does it matter where I live with my coverage, for in-network?
The UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage Plans are PPO plans, which means it includes a broad network and you have lots of flexibility in choosing a provider. Learn more about in-network providers near you through UHC's Find a Provider.
Non-Medicare Coverage
Will Rx coverage continue to be with ExpressScripts for non-Medicare retirees?
Yes. Rx coverage will continue to be with ExpressScripts for non-Medicare retirees.
Does United Healthcare have differing arrangements with providers from one clinic to the next and how can non-Medicare retirees identify the best value across providers?
The cost of care is dependent on provider, the services provided and may also vary based on how the services are billed by the provider. UnitedHealthcare can help you check cost estimates before you choose where to get care so you can save on health care costs. Sign in on myuhc.com to get personalized cost estimated and see how much you can expect to pay for your specific plan and specific in-network providers.
Prescriptions
Should there be a copay for CPAP supplies such as tubing, masks, etc?
CPAP supplies are covered under the Durable Medical Equipment benefit for the Medicare plans at the following cost shares:
- Base Plan: 20% coinsurance
- Enhanced Plan: $0 copay
Does OptumRx provide drug costs online like ExpressScripts?
Prescription drug pricing is available on uhcretiree.com once you have logged into your secure online account
Will mail order prescriptions that have refills remaining at Express Scripts be forwarded to OptumRx or will new prescriptions be required?
UnitedHealthcare regularly works with other vendors during a provider change. UnitedHealthcare is currently working with Express Scripts to transfer remaining refills to OptumRx mail order when UHC is the prescription plan provider in January.
Do the Medicare plans shows no deductible for prescriptions for 2022? Are there other differences we should anticipate for the cost of prescription drugs obtained through a retail pharmacy, e.g. Walgreens, as compared to those by mail order?
The Medicare Advantage Plan does not have a deductible for prescription drugs, but there a couple of changes that you can note:
- With an appropriate prescription, Medicare retirees will be able to get a 90-day supply of prescriptions filled at a retail pharmacy for the same cost-share as OptumRx mail-order.
- Cost-shares will be the same at retail pharmacies as they are at MU pharmacies.
- All generic medications will now be listed as Tier 1 prescriptions.
Is there no maximum out of pocket cost for families or for dependents for pharmacy for drug coverage in the Medicare plans?
Both the Base and Enhanced plans include an annual out of pocket maximum, also known as maximum out of pocket (MOOP) of $4,130 for prescriptions
Will the specific, brand-name drug I have been prescribed by my specialist continue to be covered with Part D coverage through UnitedHealthcare?
You can see if your current prescriptions are listed on the Drug List (formulary). As someone who is new to the plan, if you are currently taking a drug that is not on the plan’s drug list, or is on the drug list but is restricted in some way, you should:
- Talk to your doctor about appropriate alternative medications available on the drug list.
- If no appropriate alternatives can be found, you or your doctor can request a formulary exception. If approved, you may be able to obtain the drug for a specified period of time.
- While you and your doctor determine a course of action, you may be eligible to receive at least a 1-month supply anytime during the first 90 days of membership in the plan.
Additional information and options are available on the prescription drug information webpage and the prescription drug transition process webpages through UnitedHealthcare.
How are durable medical goods covered like insulin pump supplies?
Insulin pumps and supplies are covered under the Durable Medical Equipment benefit in the Medicare plans at the following cost shares:
- Base Plan: 20% coinsurance
- Enhanced Plan: $0 copay
If I find my charges from my pharmacy in 2022 for the same prescriptions I received in 2021 are different, how will I know or be able to find out if that is due to a change by the drug company in pricing or by a change in this plan (I’m in the Medicare base plan)?
Does OptumRx work just like ExpressScripts?
You can have prescription drugs delivered to your home through OptumRx just like you did through ExpressScripts. If you already have a prescription that’s filled through Express Scripts, UnitedHealthcare will work to transfer those remaining refills to OptumRx mail order for January.
To request a new prescription beginning January 1, 2022, you’ll log into optumrx.com, create an account and then click on the blue “New prescription” button under “At a glance.” You can then choose to have the medication shipped to your home or to the pharmacy you want to use.
What are the implications of Medicare coverage being combined with Part D (prescription)?
Since the university worked to roll together our Medicare Advantage plans with Part D prescription coverage and both are now serviced by UnitedHealthcare, some Medicare-eligible retirees may notice premium reductions for 2022. Medicare retirees are automatically enrolled in the Part D prescription coverage at no additional cost. There is no annual deductible for prescription drug coverage through Part D.
Will retirees experience an increase in out-of-pocket costs attributable to the change in the prescription drug program?
The prescription drug program included in the Medicare Advantage plan is mirrored on the existing Part D benefit through Express Scripts. Members should not expect to experience any increase in out-of-pocket expenses tied specifically to the change in carriers
Why does my 30-day supply of a generic drug cost more than if I bought directly from a commercial pharmacy?
The cost of prescriptions is typically determined by the manufacturer of the prescriptions. To help keep prescription prices as low as possible for the university and plan members, UnitedHealthcare negotiates guaranteed discounts with retail pharmacies and provides discounts through their own mail order process.
How do copays compare for the Medicare Advantage plans?
Coinsurance costs are also the same for both and depend on the Tier of the prescription:
| Tier | Prescription drug type |
Your Costs for Retail (31-day supply) |
Your Costs for OptumRx® Home Delivery (90-day supply) |
|
Tier 1 |
Preferred Generic (all covered generic drugs) |
20% coinsurance ($7 minimum) |
20% coinsurance ($15 minimum) |
|
Tier 2 |
Preferred Brand (many common brand-name drugs, called preferred brands) |
20% coinsurance ($15 minimum) |
20% coinsurance ($30 minimum) |
|
Tier 3 |
Non-preferred Drug (non-preferred brand-name drugs and Part D-eligible compound medications) |
50% coinsurance ($30 minimum) |
50% coinsurance ($60 minimum) |
|
Tier 4 |
Specialty Tier (unique and/or very-high-cost brand-name drugs) |
25% coinsurance |
25% coinsurance |
Is the out-of-pocket maximum for Part D prescription drug coverage $4,130 or $7,050? Can you please explain coverage in the gap?
For both plans with Part D coverage, the prescription drug deductible is $0 and the out-of-pocket maximum is $4,130. The chart below provides guidance for coverage in the gap.
|
Initial coverage |
Coverage gap |
Catastrophic coverage |
|
You pay a copay and the plan pays the rest. You stay in this stage until your total *drug costs reach $4,430 *what you and the plan pay |
Your plan provides additional coverage through the gap. You continue to pay the You stay in this stage until your out-of-pocket costs reach $7,050 |
After out-of-pocket costs
You stay in this stage for the rest of the plan year |
Is the shingles vaccine the 2 dose newer vaccine for shingles? Are shingles vaccines supposed to be free? Does that include the newer, two-dose vaccine?
The shingles vaccine is covered by UnitedHealthcare’s Part D drug benefit at a Tier 2 copay level. The Tier 2 copay for the Shingrix vaccine is 20% coinsurance with a $15 minimum per dose.
If you don't take medicine on a regular basis, what would the cost be for the generic vs. brand name?
That depends on the specific medication. You can get additional information on prescription coverage or, to look up what medications are covered by your plan and which Tier they fall under on UnitedHealthcare’s prescription drug lookup webpage. Part D coinsurance based on Tier are listed below:
| Tier | Prescription drug type |
Your Costs for Retail (31-day supply) |
Your Costs for OptumRx® Home Delivery (90-day supply) |
|
Tier 1 |
Preferred Generic (all covered generic drugs) |
20% coinsurance ($7 minimum) |
20% coinsurance ($15 minimum) |
|
Tier 2 |
Preferred Brand (many common brand-name drugs, called preferred brands) |
20% coinsurance ($15 minimum) |
20% coinsurance ($30 minimum) |
|
Tier 3 |
Non-preferred Drug (non-preferred brand-name drugs and Part D-eligible compound medications) |
50% coinsurance ($30 minimum) |
50% coinsurance ($60 minimum) |
|
Tier 4 |
Specialty Tier (unique and/or very-high-cost brand-name drugs) |
25% coinsurance |
25% coinsurance |
What will be the new phone # that providers can call for mailed prescriptions.
You can have prescription drugs delivered to your home through OptumRx just like you did through ExpressScripts. If you already have a prescription that’s filled through Express Scripts, UnitedHealthcare will work to transfer those remaining refills to OptumRx mail order for January.
To request a new prescription beginning January 1, 2022, you’ll use the optumrx.com website. You can reach out to OptumRx customer support with the information on the OptumRx webpage.
Medicare Coverage
What changes are coming to the UHC Medicare plans in 2022?
In 2022, UnitedHealthcare will remain the plan administrator for Medicare Advantage Plans. Starting January 1, 2022, Part D pharmacy services are included in Medicare Advantage Plans rather than being provided by ExpressScripts.
What travel coverage is offered through Medicare when traveling internationally?
Both the Medicare Base and Enhanced plans include a $200,000 lifetime maximum travel benefit for any non-emergent medical expenses incurred outside of the United States. Medical evacuation is covered under the plan. Urgent Care and Emergency Room services are already covered worldwide and fall under the existing medical benefit.
How do the MU Medicare Advantage plans differ from other UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plans?
Many enhancements are included in the MU Medicare Advantage plan including:
- $0 copays for medical services on the Enhanced plan
- Customized drug coverage on both the Base and Enhanced plan
- Out-of-pocket maximum of $4,130
- Full coverage through the coverage gap (donut hole)
- Ability to see in and out-of-network providers for the same cost share
- On most individual Medicare Advantage plans you pay more when you go out-of-network
- National plan availability
- Most individual Medicare Advantage plans have geographic restrictions to their plan offerings
If I want to change to a commercial insurance plan, will I need to pass a health examination in order to qualify, since I have previously been enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan?
Most commercial plans offered through an employer do not have a health examination requirement. Many individual commercial plans no longer have pre-existing conditions based on the Affordable Care Act protections.
Why did my Medicare Advantage plan premiums go down?
Since the university worked to roll together our Medicare Advantage plans with Part D prescription coverage and both are now serviced by UnitedHealthcare, some Medicare-eligible retirees may notice premium reductions for 2022.
Does retiree medical insurance function as a Medicare Advantage plan?
Both university-sponsored Medicare plans are Medicare Advantage plans.
I turn 65 in March. Will I receive a new UnitedHealthcare insurance card with the Medicare box on it?
Before you turn 65, the university will send you a packet in the mail with information regarding Medicare Advantage plan enrollment. The packet will include an enrollment form and you will need to return the completed form along with a copy of your Medicare card. When processed, your enrollment will change to your selected Medicare plan and you’ll receive a new UnitedHealthcare insurance card in the mail.
You can get more information about receiving your Medicare card on the Medicare website.
How can we find out the difference in cost between the Medicare Base and Enhanced options?
To learn more about the differences between the Base Plan and the Enhanced Plan, visit the coverage and benefits section of the UnitedHealthcare coverage for UM System Retirees website.
Should I still use UnitedHealthcare HouseCalls if I am seeing my physician regularly?
Yes! HouseCalls — UnitedHealthCare’s yearly in-home health and wellness service — is a health plan feature for Medicare and Medicaid members, offered at no additional cost. It’s can help members stay on top of their health between regular doctor visits.
What is UHC doing with the information and data they collect on us?
You can learn about UnitedHealthcare’s privacy practices and your rights as a plan member in the Annual Member Notice.
Will Renew Active continue to be offered to Medicare-eligible retirees?
Yes. You can learn more about Renew Active by visiting the Renew Active webpage.
I have the Medicare Buy-Up plan. Is there a limit to expenditures through Medicare and UnitedHealthcare?
No, there are no lifetime maximums on either the Base or Enhanced Medicare Advantage plans
Dental, Vision and Hearing
Will the $1500 annual dental benefit or the $500 hearing aid benefit be increased?
Our university always strives to provide high-quality plans and we regularly take competitive bids to help support this goal. Our next competitive bid will evaluate our options for dental and vision coverage, which includes the hearing benefit. That process will be conducted in 2022 and could potentially result in a new provider effective January 1, 2023, depending on who offers the most competitive plans.
COVID-specific
Is there a discount for those who have taken the initiative for COVID vaccination?
There is no discount offered to those who have taken the COVID-19 vaccination.
Will COVID copays for hospitalizations, etc. continue to be paid into 2022?
The answer for testing is yes. COVID-19 testing and testing-related services are $0 cost-share through the national public health emergency period. COVID-19 treatment, such as hospitalizations, will be paid according to each plan’s benefits.
Other Resources
Click on a header to expand the selection and uncover additional information.
Past UM Retiree Events
- October 2, 2020 - UM System Retiree Health Benefits Virtual Town Hall
- May 6, 2020 - Virtual Town Hall for Retirees (COVID-19)
- May 12, 2021 - Spring 2021 Retiree Town Hall (see below)
Spring 2021 Retiree Town Hall
View the meeting video below, or review answers to systemwide questions that came in before and during the event.
Trouble with the video? View the video on YouTube.
Pension
When can we expect to receive raises in our pensions (COLA)?
Ad hoc cost of living adjustments are evaluated annually and are based on the performance of the retirement fund. They’re considered only if the retirement trust fund performance exceeds certain actuarial assumptions and provides excess assets that can be used for such adjustments.
Can we receive the annual actuary reports for the pension fund?
Yes, you can access the 2020 actuary report online.
According to the quarterly update of December 31, 2020, the funded status of the retirement plan decreased by 5.5% from 2019 to 2020. Is the decrease in funded status repairable?
Our plan year (September of 2020) ended with a return of 5.2%. That’s only 2% less than our 7.2% return assumption. At six months into the new plan year (March 31, 2021), the investment portfolio has already returned 13.5% - 6.3% above our 7.2% annual return assumption.
Are there planned pension annuity reductions for 2021 and 2022?
No, there are no pension annuity reductions planned for 2021 and 2022. The pension benefits to current and retired employees are important to the university and the university is required to pay those benefits. Retirees are protected to the extent the current laws surrounding public pensions remain in effect. If any changes were to occur for retirees, they would likely be part of broader changes at the state or national level.
What is the funding level and the unfunded liability of the Retirement Plan and how is the university working to improve funding and unfunded liability?
As of FY19, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and the financial crisis, the university’s pension plan was 82% funded. As of FY2020, our plan is funded at 80%. That’s better funded than the national average for a public pension, which is only 70% funded as reported by Pew.
The university’s Retirement Trust is invested for long-term growth. We’ve reduced risk with broadly diversified investments, and we use a total return approach with an emphasis on balanced growth and a diversified investment portfolio. Our investments recovered from steep losses in March 2020, ending our plan year (September of 2020) with a return of 5.2%. That’s only 2% less than our 7.2% return assumption. At six months into the new plan year (March 31, 2021), the investment portfolio has already returned 13.5% - 6.3% above our 7.2% annual return assumption.
How are we doing with investment returns, compared to our peers?
As approved by the Board of Curators, our investment strategy has been tailored to the specific needs and risk characteristics of both the Retirement Plan and the University itself. As such, comparison of investment returns with peers is not particularly meaningful. In terms of our performance relative to the policy benchmark established by the Board, through March 31, 2021, our five year annualized return has been 9.65% as compared to our policy benchmark return of 9.27%.
Health insurance and other benefits
Why are my prescription costs still so high?
The cost of prescriptions is typically determined by the manufacturer of the prescriptions, and often prescription drug costs are the primary driver in health care costs. To help keep prescription prices as low as possible for the university and plan members, our administrator, Express Scripts, negotiates guaranteed discounts with retail pharmacies and provides discounts through their own mail order process. If you’re a non-Medicare retiree, you may choose to sign up to receive a 90-day fill/refill through Express Scripts mail-order services or through a Mizzou pharmacy to receive the discount. To estimate 90-day prescription costs, visit Express Script's prescription cost estimator tool for UM System medical plans.
Will there be any unexpected changes for our health care coverage and benefits?
In order to provide high-quality plans at a manageable cost, we conduct regular, competitive bids—and we evaluate our plans with our existing administrators annually. So, while there are no unexpected changes, our routine bidding and review processes has the potential to result in some level of change regularly.
When plans change, those changes are implemented at the beginning of a new calendar year and they’ll be communicated to you prior to the Retiree Annual Enrollment period. That means you’ll have the opportunity to review plan details and get to know your options so you can select the plan that’s best for you.
<Are there plans to improve or change retiree dental and vision coverage?
Our university always strives to provide high-quality plans and we regularly take competitive bids to help support this goal. Our next competitive bid will evaluate our options for dental and vision coverage. That process will be conducted in 2022 and could potentially result in a new provider effective January 1, 2023, depending on who offers the most competitive plans.
Is the university considering a custom network plan for retirees to help with cost?
The university does not have plans to explore a narrow-network option for pre-65 retirees at this time. However, we’re always exploring options that will provide high-quality and affordable benefits for our faculty, staff and retirees. While there are no current plans for a custom network plan option for retirees, we’ve heard interest in such a program and will continue to explore solutions that will best support our community.
How do retirees approaching age 65 enroll in one of the Medicare insurance plans, and are supplemental insurance options or Part D coverage available?
Retirees enrolled in a university insurance plan will receive a packet around 90 days before they become Medicare-eligible. The retiree’s share of premiums is determined by a formula that considers age and years of service at retirement. The packet will include details about the transition to a Medicare Advantage plan, premium amounts and information for any dependents that will continue coverage. Both the Medicare Advantage Base and Enhanced plans include Part D coverage. Supplemental insurance is available outside of the university.
Retirees can get an estimate of their premiums with our Retiree Insurance Premiums Estimator. We encourage you to reach out to our support professionals at the HR Service Center for one-on-one guidance if you need additional help at that time.
What are the spending limits with United Healthcare? Is it per person or per family?
Out-of-pocket limits depend on the insurance plan you’ve selected and whether you’ve elected coverage for yourself or for a family. The Retiree Healthy Savings Plan has one out-of-pocket limit that combines both medical and prescription drug costs and the Retiree Health PPO Plan has two annual out-of-pocket limits: one for medical and a second for prescription drug costs. Access specific information on out-of-pocket limits for these plans on the Retiree Healthy Savings and the Retiree Health PPO webpages.
Please note, considerations for “self” and “family” are different for the Healthy Savings Plan than for the Retiree Health PPO Plan. Visit the glossary
Who is the best advocate for retirees to work with to better understand and coordinate with United Healthcare?
The university contracts with various companies to help administer our benefit and retirement plans. You can reach out to your plan administrator for support regarding your plan and covered care by calling the number on the back of your card or learn more about other methods of contacting administrators on our benefit plan administrators webpage. You can also connect with our HR Service Center for guidance and support.
How does the university work to control the cost of health care for active employees and retirees?
The university evaluates plans and works with our providers each year to keep premium increases lower than they otherwise would be. In addition, we conduct regular, competitive bids to ensure we’re providing high-quality plans at manageable costs. For example, this year we’re taking bids for our Medicare Advantage plans to help ensure the most competitive plans.
What should I do if my provider is no longer in-network?
If your provider is no longer covered, we encourage you to review your in-network options. For pre-65 retirees, United Healthcare provides a nationwide network of providers, all of whom can be browsed on the myUHC website. If you’re Medicare-eligible, our plan states you can see any provider (in-network or out-of-network) at the same cost share to you as long as that provider accepts Medicare and agrees to UHC’s payment schedule—which is the same as Medicare. If the provider will not submit your claim to UHC, you can choose to submit the claim for reimbursement directly. Access additional information and support on your plan through www.UHCRetiree.com/umsystem
How committed is the university to continuing to subsidize insurance for pre-2017 retirees?
The Total Rewards Advisory Committee, in reviewing retiree health insurance and subsidies, recognized that then-current retirees, spouses and covered dependents participating in UM-sponsored retiree insurance plans had a limited ability to accommodate changes in coverage that were being recommended at the time. Ultimately, the university determined it would continue to provide access and subsidy levels for pre-2017 retirees and covered dependents. The university is not exploring and has no plans to make additional changes that would affect subsidy levels for pre-2017 retirees.
Recognizing the market is likely to continue to evolve and mature, the university will continue to monitor and explore opportunities to improve choice and reduce costs for current (as well as future) pre-Medicare-eligible UM retirees.
Why can’t retirees carry their university life insurance until death or the retiree elects termination?
For most retirees with basic life insurance through the university, coverage continues until the end of the year in which they reach the age of 70. The November before the retiree reaches 70, Unum will reach out about converting term life policies through the university into personal whole life policies or another type of permanent life insurance. You can reach out to Unum at 1-800-343-5406 to talk about your options. We’ll drop that phone number in the chat.
Please explain the difference between the two out of pocket maximums in the Part D drug plan?
University Medicare Advantage plans do not have two out of pocket maximums for Part D drugs. Instead, these plans have one out of pocket amount of $4,130. Once you reach this out-of-pocket amount, you will pay $0 for your covered prescription drugs for the remainder of the plan year. If the total cost of your drugs, including what the plan pays, exceeds $6,550, you will pay the greater of 5% coinsurance or $3.70 copay for covered generic drugs and $9.20 copay for all other covered drugs.
I retired 4 years ago. Do I still have life insurance with the University?
This usually depends on your elections at retirement, but you can get specific information on your specific enrollments by reaching out to the HR Service Center
Please explain the difference between the Optum RX and Express Scripts Benefit for Retiree Medicare Enhanced Plan. The cost of certain diabetic supplies are free with Optum RX but are charged a fee with Express RX?
University retirees do not have access to Optum Rx. However, each pharmacy administrator has different formularies and levels of coverage associated with covered drugs.
IT and Email Updates
Is UM doing away with retiree emails?
No. Retirees with active university email accounts will continue to have access to those accounts. Our new email policy, UM 12006, outlines eligibility for university email—and that includes all current retirees who have maintained their university accounts.
Future retirees may also be able to retain university email accounts to support academic work and research endeavors or facilitate university business or volunteer activities. Future retirees will need to be sponsored by leadership in their school/college, division or recognized UM committee, organization or associations and submit a request upon retirement.
What are the reasons for restricting emails for retiring UM employees?
Phishing and similar attacks are becoming common and sophisticated, and we’ve had some email-related security incidents over the past several years. Historically, we haven’t had a formal email policy, but new regulations and legal responsibilities require it. In general, new policies and procedures—including email eligibility—are meant to provide consistency and reduce risk by increasing security, reducing our footprint and addressing or eliminating the presence of sensitive data.
Can the university send information to my preferred email account, or will non-university emails be excluded from receiving informational updates from the university?
Currently, retirees who maintain a university email address receive all communications through that email, since myHR requires the university email become the default email. However, staff in Human Resources and Information Technology are exploring ways that myHR can be adjusted to allow for retirees to select a preferred email that is not their university address, with plans to implement that email solution as is possible. At this time, no action is required on your part. As the team begins to implement solutions, we’ll let you know how and when you can use a preferred email address.
If I want to transition off UM email, is it okay to set my UM account to forward to a new Gmail account to facilitate the transition?
It does go against IT policies to forward university email to an outside email address, but you can help facilitate a transition from university email to personal email by updating your email in personal online accounts and setting an auto or out-of-office response that will direct those who reach out to you to connect with you via your new email address.
What security requirements are required to use the Outlook desktop app or a mobile app instead of the web interface?
Retirees using an outdated email client to connect to the UM email system are no longer able to access university email because outdated clients endanger our university’s information infrastructure. If you are having issues, you can use an updated mobile client or an updated Outlook app on your desktop. In most cases, older devices, like an older phone, will work fine to access university email as long as you’re not using outdated email clients. As always, you can also check email on the web from any web browser securely. For support in using approved clients to access email, reach out to your campus help desk.
Shortly after I retired, I stopped receiving weekly MU Info emails. Why?
The membership list for some of our newsletters are built dynamically. That means the list filters based on active employees and they’re not always set to pick up retirees. There are discussions regarding the potential to implement an opt-in or subscription type membership for specific newsletters, but this effort will take technical investigation and additional support to implement it more broadly. In the meantime, you can access information through the MU Info webpage, which includes the same content: https://muinfo.missouri.edu/.
Can retirees use Microsoft Teams to help facilitate university business?
Based on our Microsoft license, retirees don’t typically have access to Teams through the Office desktop app. However, retirees do have the option to access Teams through the web-based app. If a retiree ends up needing the Teams Office desktop app for official business, their department can request an ad-hoc license be assigned to them.
I understand the university is migrating away from Box. What will happen to files currently stored/shared in Box? What is the timeline for this change?
The university is migrating from Box to OneDrive, a Microsoft product later in the summer. Any files you currently have saved in Box will be moved on the back end for you. Individual users will not have to drag and drop their files from Box to OneDrive and users will lose access to Box after the move has been completed. All members of our university community, including retirees, will receive additional information as that change approaches.
What storage systems are recommended to use for maintaining old emails to avoid having them swept?
If you have emails you’d like to retain that have business value but don’t include sensitive information, you can save them in existing subfolders in your email to retain them or. If the emails have business value and should be stored outside of email for security purposes, save them to OneDrive or an appropriate system of record (PeopleSoft, etc.). You can save older personal emails that don’t contain sensitive information to a third-party space like Google drive.
If I used an email other than my university email to contact former colleagues, my email often goes into junk mail.
This is challenging to answer because junk mail decisions are usually made on the recipient’s email system so there’s not a lot of control you can have on where that goes. If you’re using a personal email, those senders have good reputations so you’re less likely to have that occur. If you’re getting repeatedly miscategorized by a system, reach out to us and we’ll do our best to provide help on understanding why it’s happening and how you can solve it.
Will there be instructions on email changes and next steps for retiree users, and will the university provide Help Desk support?
Yes! Changes will continue to be implemented over a period of time, so the university will provide email communication so our community knows how and when to take action to follow information security guidance. We’ll also provide web-based information and guides on our website with step-by-step guidance for those in need. And, as always, one-on-one support is available through the campus Help Desks.
Will there be a maximum storage limit for One Drive?
5TB
Engagement
What current engagement opportunities exist for retirees?
We encourage engagement in three ways—
- Get to know your legislators and then let your legislators get to know you in a meaningful way. Your legislators are interested—so have a genuine moment of connection and share how their support is valuable. The summer months are a great time to reach out to them when they are at home in their districts. Inviting them to city or county events, out for coffee are just a few ways for you to get to know them and for them to get to know you. They want to hear from their constituents.
- Learn about university efforts by attending events like our virtual Extension and Engagement week, which run October 18-22. Save the date to learn more about this year’s focus—health—and attend the grand opening of the NextGen precision health building, which will bring expert health researchers and clinicians together under one roof in search of solutions to the world’s greatest health challenges.
- Connect with your university’s retiree associations to advocate for the needs and interests of retirees and learn about the opportunities available to you. University retiree associations provide events, social programs, educational opportunities and more. Being part of your retiree association is a great way to stay up-to-date with university news.
UM Connection
UM Connection is produced quarterly for the retirees of the four-campus University of Missouri System. The publication is a partnership between the Office of Engagement, the Office of Human Resources and the UM Retirees Association Leaders.
Past Editions
Reviewed 2021-10-27