Initial Enrollment for New Annuitants and New Survivors Who Are Not Medicare Eligible

Section 2210.320  Initial Enrollment for New Annuitants and New Survivors Who Are Not Medicare Eligible a)         A new Annuitant has an initial enrollment period lasting 60 days from the date of retirement from State employment. b)         A new Survivor has an initial enrollment period lasting 60 days from the date the Survivor first becomes eligible to receive an annuity as the result of the death of an Employee, Retiree, or Annuitant. c)         The following elections may be made by a new Annuitant or new Survivor during the initial enrollment period: 1)         Enroll in either the Basic Health Plan or any available Optional Health Plan; 2)         Elect not to participate in the Program; 3)         Enroll eligible Dependents, or 4)         Enroll in the dental plan administered by the Agency. d)         A new Annuitant or new Survivor who fails to submit the forms required by the Agency for enrollment during the initial enrollment period will not be covered by the Program. e)         Coverage for a new Annuitant will be effective on the latest of: 1)         Date of commencement of the individual's retirement/annuity benefit; or 2)         The first day of the month following the month in which the individual's application for retirement is received by the appropriate retirement system. However, at no time will the effective date of coverage be retroactive greater than six months from the date the Agency is notified of the individual's retirement. f)         If a new Survivor was enrolled as a Dependent of a deceased Member at the time of the deceased Member's death, elected coverage as a Survivor will be effective on the day after the Member's death. g)         If a new Survivor was not enrolled as a Dependent of a deceased Member at the time of the deceased Member's death, elected coverage as a Survivor will be effective on the first day of the month following the date the Agency is notified of the approved application. h)         Enrolled Dependents designated by the Annuitant or Survivor, who receive coverage based on that designation and timely complete and submit the necessary enrollment paperwork, will have the same effective date of coverage as the new Annuitant or new Survivor. Notwithstanding the new Annuitant or new Survivor's non-Medicare eligibility status, if a Dependent is Medicare eligible, the Dependent must enroll in Medicare Part A and Part B coverage and the TRAIL Program for their health benefits. i)          A new Annuitant or new Survivor must provide a social security number, and the social security number of any Dependents being enrolled, at the time of initial enrollment. j)          A full-time Employee who would otherwise be eligible as a new Annuitant or new Survivor must make an election to either enroll in coverage or opt out of coverage as an employee.  A full-time Employee opting out of coverage must provide proof of other major medical insurance administered by an entity other than Agency. k)         A Part-time Employee who would otherwise be eligible as a new Annuitant or new Survivor must make an election to either enroll in coverage or waive coverage.