Be Prepared
Timeline To Retirement
Congrats! You've worked so hard to get to this huge milestone in your life. Follow these steps to make sure you have everything you need to have a happy and carefree retirement.
RETIREE HEALTH INSURANCE RULES
Current retirees are "grandfathered" under the contribution rule they retired under.
Non-Medicare Eligible (<65yrs old)
Employees hired before March 1, 2007 have to attain a combination of age plus a minimum of 10 years non-forfeited Harris County/TCDRS service equal to 80.
Medicare Eligible (>65yrs old)
Employees hired before March 1, 2007 AND at least 65 years, will have to attain a minimum of 10 years non-forfeited Harris County/TCDRS service.
Non-Medicare Eligible (<65yrs old)
Employees hired after March 1, 2007 have to attain a combination of age plus a minimum of 20 years non-forfeited Harris County/TCDRS service equal to 80.
Medicare Eligible (>65yrs old)
Employees hired after March 1, 2007 AND at least 65 years, will have to attain a minimum of 15 years non-forfeited Harris County/TCDRS service equal to 80.
COUNTDOWN TO RETIREMENT
CHOOSE YOUR DEPENDENTS
Dependents must be covered by the retiring employee at least one (1) year prior to retirement to obtain any County contribution toward dependent premium. Any dependents added after retirement will result in retiree paying 100% of all dependent coverage.
USE FINAL BENEFITS
You will be compensated for any unused comp and vacation time upon retirement. This is a good time to start using some of your time saved up over the years. If exempt, 50% of comp time, and 100% of vacation time. If non-exempt, 100% of comp time, and 100% of vacation time.
If you have a 457 Plan, you may choose to defer your final benefits check into your deferred comp account.
If you are 65 years or older, enroll in Medicare within 30 days of your retirement date to avoid a gap in coverage.
MEDICARE PARTS A & B
Medicare becomes the primary insurer when a retiree, or a dependent of a retiree, turns 65 or becomes eligible due to disability. Harris County medical benefits then become secondary to Medicare. The Harris County Medical Plan coordinates its benefits with Medicare Parts A & B. Since Medicare is the primary insurance, it must pay benefits first before the Harris County Medical Plan will pay benefits. The Harris County Medical Plan will pay benefits as if Medicare Part B paid first even if you are not enrolled in Medicare Part B. This will cause a gap in your coverage if you do not enroll in Medicare Part B as a retiree.
MEDICARE PART D
Harris County Medicare eligible employees and retirees should NOT enroll in Part D — Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. Enrollment in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan is voluntary, but Harris County’s Medical Plan administered through Cigna typically provides more comprehensive prescription drug coverage. In addition, there is no coordination of benefits between Harris County’s medical plan and the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan; however, there will continue to be coordination with Medicare Parts A and B.
If you meet certain income and resource limits, Medicare’s Extra Help Program may assist in paying some of the costs of its prescription drug coverage. You may qualify if you have annual earnings of up to $19,140 ($25,860 for a married couple living together) and up to $14,610 in resources ($29,160 for a married couple living together).
If you don’t qualify for Extra Help, your state may have programs that can help pay your prescription drug costs. Contact your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) for more information at 800-252-3439. Remember that you can reapply for Extra Help at any time if your income and resources change.
For more information and assistance with your prescription drug costs, call Social Security at 800-772-1213 or visit socialsecurity.gov. If you or any of your covered dependents are eligible for additional coverage through Medicaid, you should contact 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) or visit medicare.gov to determine the best prescription drug option for you.
APPLY FOR RETIREMENT
Your retirement date will be the last date of the month. Submit your TCDRS application at least 30 days prior to your desired date. If you want to keep your Harris County Insurance, you MUST contact a Financial Benefits Specialist prior to retiring.
Contact a Financial Benefits Specialist
Financial Benefits Specialists are here to answer any questions you have to help you make the best decision for you and your family. If you wish to keep Harris County Health Insurance throughout retiring, you MUST contact us directly.
Phone: 713-274-5500
Apply For TCDRS Pension
Visit tcdrs.org for a step by step plan to apply online.
Notify Your Department Payroll
Submit a letter of retirement to your department to inform them of your retirement. This helps for a smooth transition after your exit.
Our Retirement Process is completely paperless! Please contact hrrmretirement@harriscountytx.gov for benefits update forms.
THINGS TO CONSIDER
Optional Life Insurance
You have within 31 days of retirement to decide if you want to either convert or port your optional life insurance. Retiring employees must complete a Dearborn Conversion form and mail to Dearborn to continue policy, and be covered at the time of retirement. Dearborn National- (800) 348-4512 Request form from us.
Option to Convert:
Upon becoming ineligible for group insurance, e.g., leaving employment, you may convert your Group Life Insurance coverage to an Individual Whole Life Insurance policy. This can be done regardless of your current health. For information about the amount you may convert or how long you have to convert, see either your certificate or group policy.
Download Application
Option to Port:
If your Insurance benefit terminates, you are eligible to continue your Supplemental/Voluntary Life and Dependent Life coverage. Except for the Additional Purchase Option, this can be done at the rate for your attained age indicated on the back, regardless of your physical condition. The Additional Purchase Option requires satisfactory evidence of insurability if your employer’s group policy effective date is 4/1/03 or later. You must apply for the continuation within 31 days of the date of termination of coverage.
Download Application
Surviving Spouse Health Coverage Option
Effective March 1, 2019
- Surviving spouses of employees and retirees covered under the Harris County health and related benefits plans who were covered as a dependent at the time of the employee’s or retiree’s death are eligible for continuation of coverage under COBRA.
- Surviving spouses of employees who are “vested” (8 years of service) or who choose to take a vested survivor benefit under the TCDRS (minimum of 4 years) who were covered as a dependent at the time of the employee’s death are eligible to continue coverage under the Harris County health and related benefits plans until age 65 or eligible for Medicare. The cost of this coverage would be the total internal monthly rate for “Employee” or “Retiree” only coverage. The total internal monthly rate would be the current County portion and employee or retiree contribution as approved and as amended by Commissioners Court.
Long Term Disability
Not offered to retirees. The retiree has one year after retirement to submit a claim for a disability that occurred while an active employee.
Flexible Spending Account
FSA is not offered to retirees. You have until “active” insurance ends to submit claims to your FSA account.
Healthy Actions Medical Plan (HAMP)
This plan is not offered to employees. Retirees will lose their HAMP status once the “active” coverage ends.
Medicare Eligible upon Retirement
Medicare becomes the primary insurer when a retiree, or a dependent of a retiree, turns 65 or becomes eligible due to disability. Harris County medical benefits then become secondary to Medicare. The Harris County Medical Plan coordinates its benefits with Medicare Parts A & B. Since Medicare is the primary insurance, it must pay benefits first before the Harris County Medical Plan will pay benefits. The Harris County Medical Plan will pay benefits as if Medicare Part B paid first even if you are not enrolled in Medicare Part B. This will cause a gap in your coverage if you do not enroll in Medicare Part B as a retiree.