During the Open Enrollment period as a retiree, you have the opportunity to evaluate your insurance needs and make changes in your benefits for the following plan year. The 2026 Open Enrollment period is October 29, through November 15, 2025.
Benefits Expo, Thursday, October 30: During this event, the Benefits Team and providers will be available for questions in a fun and festive environment. Providers will have materials and giveaways, and there will be prizes for attendees. Events will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in University Center East (UC) 2217-2219. A full schedule can be found online.
Help Sessions: If assistance is needed, a member of the Benefits Team will be available to help you. Below are the dates the Benefits Team will be available. You may schedule a virtual or in-person meeting by calling 812-461-5466 or by emailing benefits@usi.edu.
Presentations: United Healthcare and Amwins will host presentations to provide education about the Medicare Advantage plans. It will be in person during our Benefits Expo October 30 in UC East 2220, . You can find a full schedule for the workshops you want to attend by visiting the Retiree Benefits - Open Enrollment website.
Flu Shots: The USI Nursing Program, in partnership with the USI Deaconess Clinic, will provide flu shots. The flu shots will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, October 30 in UC East, 2217-2219 (Bring a copy of your insurance card).
Thanks to a careful budget planning process and the exceptional fiscal stewardship of our campus community, the University has successfully absorbed a significant portion of rising health care costs over the past several years to minimize the financial impact on employees. At the time, we anticipated that the sharp increase in expenses would be temporary. However, national trends in medical inflation, prescription drug pricing, and provider fees have continued to rise at a sustained and compounding rate. It is now clear that this is not a short-term spike, but a long-term challenge.
Simultaneously, reductions in state funding and ongoing pressures to keep tuition flat have placed additional strain on the University’s financial model. These combined factors have made the current approach to funding employee benefits unsustainable.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of our retiree benefits program, cost increases must be shared between retirees and the University. While we remain committed to offering affordable benefits, a portion of this year’s increased cost will be reflected in premiums paid by retirees. We understand that any increase affects household budgets, and this decision was made only after careful analysis and thoughtful consideration of all available alternatives.
Looking ahead, health care costs are expected to continue rising. We will remain vigilant in evaluating plan design, wellness initiatives, and vendor partnerships to help manage these pressures while preserving access to high-quality care.
|
Provider |
Benefits |
Contact Number |
|
Amwins Group Benefits |
Contact for eligibility, billing and benefits |
1- 855-345-7788 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. - 5 days a week |
|
United Healthcare |
Contact about Medicare Advantage Plan benefits or claims
|
1- 877-714-0178, TTY 711 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. - 7 days a week |
|
HRI Dental |
Contact about Dental Plan benefits or claims
|
1- 800-727-1444 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. - 5 days a week |
Amwins is the company that handles eligibility and billing for the university retiree plans. Once an eligible employee reaches retirement, they will set up payment with Amwins.
Please update the Direct Payment Authorization Form and send to Amwins.
United Healthcare is the company that provides the University's retirement health plans. The University offers a Medicare Advantage plan to eligible retirees.
The United Healthcare Medicare Advantage Plan, like other advantage plans, requires retirees to enroll in and pay for Medicare plans A and B. The UHC Medicare Advantage plan enhances and bundles the plans together so that providers only need to bill one insurance plan. Learn more about the Medicare Advantage Plans at medicare.gov and in.gov/ship/.
No, the retiree must be enrolled in health and/or dental coverage for the spouse to have coverage.
The Medicare Advantage plans are single plans, but a retirees spouse's coverage is based on the retirees coverage, so if the retiree is on the Core plan then the spouse has to be on the Core plan.
As your 65th birthday approaches, you will receive a enrollment packet from Amwins. Once you receive it, you will need to elect the plan you want. You will also need to make sure you enroll in Medicare A and B in order to enroll in the University's Medicare Advantage plan.
If an eligible employee is not yet eligible for Medicare then they will remain on the UMR or Surest Health Plan until they are eligible. Once they are eligible they will automatically switch to the Medicare Advantage Plan.
The HouseCalls program is not required and does not take the place of your primary doctor. Think of a HouseCalls visit as an extra layer of care. It gives you valuable one-on-one time you don’t always get in the
doctor’s office. Plus, we share details about your visit with your regular doctor.
Prescriptions costs can be high, but there are ways to save. Retirees can contact United Healthcare to ensure they are using the Preferred Pharmacy Network and consider using the Home Delivery 90 day supply for maintenance drugs. In addition retirees can check on the best places to get prescriptions by visiting the following price comparison websites.
GoodRx - Compare prices and get coupons for prescriptions. Good Rx coupons can be used instead of insurance. The pharmacy can tell you which is the better deal. Click on the link for more information.
BlinkHealth - Compare prices and get coupons for prescriptions. Blink Health coupons can be used instead of insurance. The pharmacy can tell you which is the better deal. Click on the link for more information.
Extra Help - Medicare beneficiaries can qualify for Extra Help paying for their monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and co-payments related to Medicare Part D (prescription drug coverage). You can apply online or call 800-772-1213.
HRI Dental (formerly Paramount) is the current dental provider for the University.
Vision is not offered as a retirement benefit but can be extended by 18 months through COBRA once you retire.
Once retiree's are eligible for Medicare, they must enroll in Part A and B Medicare. Retirees can make an appointment and go in person the the SSA office (make appointment 30 days in advance) or they can enroll online. The video below is a helpful resource to the online enrollment option.
How to enroll in Medicare:
Medicare Advantage (also known as “Part C”) is a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare. The University partnered with United Healthcare to provide a Medicare Advantage plan to eligible USI retirees.
Original Medicare covers inpatient hospital and skilled nursing services – Part A - and doctor visits, outpatient services and some preventative care – Part B.
Medicare Advantage plans bundle the original Medicare plans and provide coverage for all the above (Part A and Part B), and also includes prescription drug coverage (Part D).
When you receive care you only need to provide your Medicare Advantage plan card. Keep your original Medicare cards somewhere safe. With the Medicare Advantage plans provided by the University, the claims only has to go through the Advantage plan, it is not going through original Medicare.
The University Medicare Advantage plan is a custom plan designed by the University.
If enrolled in one of the Medicare Advantage Plans, there is a $0 copay for SilverSneakers®, a health and fitness program designed for Medicare plan members. It includes a standard monthly membership at participating fitness locations plus online classes, workshops and more.
Call or go online to learn more and to get your SilverSneakers ID number.
Call:
1-888-338-1722, TTY 711
Online:
SilverSneakers.com/StartHere.
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