Several changes are coming to TRS-Care in 2025.
During its July meeting, the TRS Board of Trustees set rates and benefits for the newly approved TRS-Care Vision and TRS-Care Dental plans. It also set premiums for TRS-Care Standard (health plan for non-Medicare eligible participants), lowered premiums for TRS-Care Medicare Advantage and announced an opportunity for open enrollment in Medicare Advantage.
Starting Oct. 1, retirees eligible for TRS-Care medical plans can enroll in plans for vision and/or dental care through a new partnership with MetLife. Enrollment ends Dec. 7 and coverage begins in January 2025. Enroll by calling 888-237-6762.
MetLife’s dental network includes 130,000 providers, and the benefit structure is the same for in- and out-of-network dentists on this plan. The monthly dental premiums range from $41.62 for retirees to $129.92 for retirees and families.
MetLife’s vision network includes 167,000 providers and retailers, including LensCrafters, Walmart Vision Centers and Target Optical. Monthly premiums range from $6.89 for retirees to $24.08 for retirees and families. TRS-Care Vision plans have different benefits, deductibles and co-pays for in-network and out-of-network providers.
TRS-Care Standard will not experience a premium change and will continue to offer competitive pricing at 20% to 30% of the cost of individual market plans.
IRS guidelines require increases to deductibles in 2025 so that pre-Medicare participants can continue to contribute to and use a health savings account. Deductibles will increase by $50 in-network and $100 out-of-network for individuals, and $100 in-network and $200 out-of-network for retirees and families.
Retirees enrolled in TRS-Care Medicare Advantage will have lower premiums after trustees approved a 45% reduction in costs for plan year 2025, which is more in line with the market. Individual retirees will save $60 per month on premiums, while retirees with family coverage save $407.
To help eligible retirees take advantage of the lower premiums, TRS will hold open enrollment for TRS-Care Medicare Advantage between Oct. 1, 2024, and March 31, 2026 (18 months). Medicare-eligible retirees or surviving spouses aged 65 or older, may enroll if:
Learn more about all of the TRS-Care changes for 2025 here.
TRS and MetLife staff will answer questions from attendees during three webinars in October to review the TRS-Care Dental and TRS-Care Vision plans, benefits and costs before enrollment begins.
Free one-hour webinars are planned at 11 a.m. Oct. 4, Oct. 15 and Oct. 17 for TRS-Care retirees and eligible dependents interested in adding dental and vision coverage in 2025.
TRS plans free one-hour webinars at 10 a.m. Aug. 30, Sept. 8 and Oct. 3 to explain 2025 medical and prescription drug benefits for retirees enrolled in or those about to be eligible for TRS-Care Medicare.
Free one-hour webinars will be held at 10 a.m. Sept. 9 and Oct. 11 to explain TRS-Care Standard medical and prescription drug benefits in 2025.
In-person health fairs also are planned across the state in August, September and October to explain options.
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