VSTRS Group Health Insurance

***What's New***

Open Enrollment begins September 1st, 2024 for calendar year 2025. For more information please visit the applicable link for your Medicare situation below:

Medicare

Non-Medicare

PLEASE NOTE: During Open Enrollment, our call volumes are much higher than normal. While we make every effort to return calls within 24 hours, another way to reach us is by email, at Tre.RetirementOffice@vermont.gov.

VSTRS Health Insurance - The Basics

VSTRS Retirees and Beneficiaries may receive group medical insurance through VSTRS after retirement.  Subsidy eligibility information is determined by certain criteria and details can be found HERE.

Our Providers

VSTRS has contracted with two providers to provide eligible retirees and dependents with health insurance:

• Vermont Education Health Initiative (VEHI) provides coverage for:
  • Non-Medicare-eligible retirees and dependents, and
  • Medicare-eligible retirees and dependents who have purchased their own prescription drug (Part D) plan outside of VSTRS
• Vermont Blue Advantage PPO (VBA) provides coverage for:
  • Medicare-eligible retirees and dependents who have NOT purchased their own prescription drug (Part D) plan outside of VSTRS

Our Plans

Non-Medicare-Eligible Retirees and Dependents

• Non-Medicare-eligible retirees and dependents have access to the following plans, provided through VEHI, and administered by BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont:
  • Vermont Health Partnership Plan (VHP)
  • Comprehensive Plan
  • JY Plan
• If you would like to learn more about the these plans, please see the links below.

Member Booklet

Drug Formulary

Medicare-Eligible Retirees and Dependents

• To qualify for any of VSTRS health insurance plans, Medicare-eligible retirees and dependents must meet all eligibility criteria and be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. 
• Medicare-eligible retirees and dependents have access to the following plans:
  • Medicare Advantage plans provided through VBA:
    • Comprehensive Plan
    • JY Plan
    • VSTRS 65 – where covered person has no separate prescription drug (Part D) plan
  • Medicare supplement plan provided through VEHI:
    • VSTRS 65 – where covered person has a separate prescription drug (Part D) plan

VBA Benefits at a Glance 

VEHI Benefits at a Glance

If you will age-in to Medicare, experience mid-year life events during the current year, and/or retire in the current year, please click HERE for VBA and VEHI’s VSTRS 65 enrollment information. Please note that the VEHI Plan is only for those who seek to enroll in a separate non-VSTRS prescription drug (Part D) plan.

For all Medicare insurance applications; please sign, date, and return within 90 days of your desired effective date. Our office cannot process your application if it is dated prior to this window of time and it will be returned to you.

Information for New Retirees

If you are considering retirement, it is important to understand your situation regarding Medicare eligibility and any contracted coverage dates provided by your school district.

With the VBA health insurance plans, our office must receive enrollment forms prior to the month your coverage becomes effective. For instance, if you intend on retiring on July 1 and are Medicare eligible on that date; you must apply and have your Medicare benefits in place as well as complete and return a VBA enrollment application to our office by June 30. Please note, to ensure that your new insurance card is received by the effective date of coverage, your completed application should be submitted to our office 45 days prior to the effective date.

Important Contact Information

• If you would like additional information, please feel free to reach out to either of our providers or to the Retirement Office Directly:
  • For VEHI, most questions will be answered by BlueCross BlueShield, which can be reached at 1-800-247-2583.
  • VBA can be reached at 1-800-572-0280/ TTY call 711.
  • Please also feel free to call the Retirement Division at (802) 828-2305 or email Tre.retirementoffice@vermont.gov, Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Eastern time. TTY users call 711.

Vermont Blue Advantage is a PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Vermont Blue Advantage depends on contract renewal.

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