Retirement

What do I do now ? Congratulations from PEIA on your retirement! Insurance is complicated enough, therefore, this website is here to help you navigate the transition from active employee to retiree with or without PEIA coverage.

* Retirement Step By Step (updated 12/1/2023)
* Using Accrued Sick and Annual Leave to Extend Coverage upon Retirement
* Termination Form
* Retiree Optional and/or Dependent Life Enrollment Form
* Retiree Basic Life and Health Enrollment Form
* Summary Plan Description PPB Plans A, B & D
* FBMC Retiree Enrollment Forms
* FBMC Retiree Benefits Guides
* Premium Rate Charts

If You Do Not Want to Continue ANY PEIA Coverage After You Retire

If you do not want to continue any PEIA coverage after you retire, please fill out a Termination Form and return it to your Benefit Coordinator to be signed and sent into PEIA. You will also need to fill out and return to your Benefit Coordinator a Retiree Basic Life and Health Form indicating that you are declining coverage.

Non-Medicare Retirees

If you are a Non-Medicare Retiree, your agency participates in PEIA retirement insurance and you want to continue PEIA Health Insurance, you will need visit your Retirement Board and your HR Department. You will need to fill out a Retiree Basic Life and Health Enrollment Form, a Retiree Optional and/or Dependent Life Enrollment Form and a Termination Form or you can contact PEIA customer service at PEIA to pick up a retirement packet or you can contact PEIA customer service at 1-888-680-7342 to request that a retirement packet be mailed to you.

If you are not Medicare Eligible, you will continue with the health plan you have when you retire. You will keep the same Medical ID card and use it as you did when you were an active employee for facilities, doctors and prescriptions.

Medicare Retirees

If you are a Medicare Retiree, your agency participates in PEIA retirement insurance and you want to continue PEIA Health Insurance, you will need visit your Retirement Board and your HR Department. You will need to fill out a Retiree Basic Life and Health Enrollment Form, a Retiree Optional and/or Dependent Life Enrollment Form and a Termination Form. You can visit customer service at PEIA to pick up a retirement packet or you can contact PEIA customer service at 1-888-680-7342 to request that a retirement packet be mailed to you.

You will need to visit the Social Security Office and sign up for Medicare parts A and B. PEIA will need a copy of your Medicare card when you receive it. If any dependent is Medicare eligible, PEIA will need a copy of their Medicare Card also. When your dependents become Medicare Eligible, please send a copy of their Medicare card into PEIA.

If you are Medicare Eligible, you may transfer directly to Humana. You must have Medicare parts A and B. If you choose to move directly to Humana, you will need to call PEIA at 1-888-680-7342 and request a transfer form. Once PEIA receives, reviews and processes the form, you will be moved into the Humana Plan and receive a welcome package.

Another alternative is to continue in the PPB plan you have when you retire through PEIA's Special Medicare Plan (see section below). Medicare-eligible employees who retire after the beginning of a plan year, and retired employees who become eligible for Medicare during the Plan year will be moved to the Special Medicare Plan. These members in the Special Medicare Plan will be moved to PEIA’s Medicare Advantage Plan at the beginning of the next plan year (the following January).

Special Medicare Plan

PEIA offers the Special Medicare Plan to two groups of Medicare-eligible retirees:

1. Members who are unable to access medical care through the PEIA Medicare Advantage (Humana) Plan due to provider network limitations are permitted, on a case-by-case basis, to move into PEIA’s Special Medicare Plan. These members may remain in the Special Medicare Plan until adequate provider access becomes available.

2. Medicare-eligible employees who retire after the beginning of a plan year, and retired employees who become eligible for Medicare during the Plan year will be moved to the Special Medicare Plan. Retired members who are enrolled in an HMO when they become Medicare-eligible will be transferred to PEIA’s Special Medicare Plan. These members in the Special Medicare Plan will be moved to PEIA’s Medicare Advantage Plan at the beginning of the next plan year (the following January).

Under the Special Medicare plan, the member purchases traditional Medicare Parts A and B, and their secondary medical and prescription claims are paid by UMR and Express Scripts, respectively. Medical benefits under the Special Medicare Plan are generally the same as those provided under PEIA’s Medicare Advantage plan. For Medicare Retirees, Medicare will be primary and PEIA will be secondary. You will need to update your coordination of benefits with UMR.

Premiums

Once all of your paperwork is turned in, it will be 2-3 months before your retirement check will arrive. The full premium for the months from the date of retirement to the date of the first retirement check will be withdrawn.

If you do not have your payment taken out of your retirement check payments can be made here after you receive your first bill. You can also sign up for Direct Draft to automatically pay your bill each month.

Life Insurance

You may continue your basic, optional and dependent life insurance at the time of retirement. If you wish to elect new or increased life insurance as a retired employee, you must enroll and submit medical information during the calendar month of retirement or the two following calendar months. Coverage will be effective upon approval of PEIA’s life insurance carrier. You may not elect or increase life insurance after this period. If your life insurance lapses after retirement for any reason, for example, for non-payment of premiums, you will not be permitted to reinstate that coverage; you will need to seek life insurance from another source.

Mountaineer Flexible Benefits

You can elect optical and dental care through

Mountaineer Flexible Benefits

with after-tax earnings

Helpful Links

Medicare Shopper's Guide
Premium and Benefit Assistance Form (Medicare)
Premium Assistance Form (Non-Medicare)

Call: 1-888-680-7342

Email:peia.help@wv.gov

Popular Resources

Questions?