Retiree Health Coverage

Medicare Coverage

Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people 65 and older, certain younger people with disabilities and people with End Stage Renal Disease. There are four parts to Medicare, known by letters. Each part has separate deductibles and premiums.

Medicare Advantage or Medicare Supplement: What’s the Difference?

Original Medicare (Parts A and B) covers hospital and medical services, but it doesn’t cover prescription drugs, vision, dental, hearing services, long-term nursing care or home health care. That’s why some people purchase these options:

• Medicare Advantage Plan, which covers all the services covered by Original Medicare plus some others, or
• Medicare Supplement plan (also known as a “Medigap” plan), which helps cover out-of-pocket costs, such as copays or deductibles—the gap that is not covered by Original Medicare. However, Medigap plans don’t cover prescriptions drugs, so many people also buy Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage in addition to Medigap coverage. Generally, you must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B to enroll in a Medigap plan. To learn more about Medigap and what’s covered, visit medicare.gov.

For general information about Medicare, Medicare and You is the official guide to getting the most out of Medicare. Fidelity also offers a Medicare Basics tool. Visit the Countdown to Retirement section for more information on when you should apply.

Get Personalized Help Exploring Your Medicare Options

Comparing Medicare with other plans can feel overwhelming, but SmartConnect can help. SmartConnect is a no-cost program for employees who are planning to retire and are or will be Medicare-eligible. With SmartConnect, you’ll get matched with an experienced advisor who will provide education and then help you get the right coverage at the right cost.

Get started at gps.smartmatch.com/fluor  or call 1-833-933-1944.

When to Sign Up

Generally, there are two enrollment periods when you can sign up for Medicare.

• If you’re retiring at 65 or earlier, you can sign up for Medicare during your Initial Enrollment Period, which lasts a total of seven months, starting three months before you turn 65.
• If you work past 65 or have health insurance through your spouse’s employer, you may be able to enroll through a Special Enrollment Period that lasts for eight months, starting after your other coverage ends.

Be sure to enroll in Medicare on time. If you enroll late and you don’t qualify for a Special Enrollment Period, you may pay higher premiums for the rest of your life.

When you’re ready to apply for Medicare, create an account and apply at ssa.gov. Alternatively, you can call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778). Visit Countdown to Retirement for a more detailed timeline.

Source: Social Security Administration

What Happens to Your Dental and Vision Coverage

As a Bettis employee, you may continue dental and vision benefits through COBRA for up to 18 months. Or, if you’re younger than 65 and you meet the age and service requirements described under FMP Retiree Coverage, you may enroll in FMP’s retiree dental and vision coverage, which continues until the first day of the month that you turn 65.

If you want dental and vision benefits after your COBRA or retiree coverage ends, you will need to purchase coverage through the public Health Insurance Marketplace or through Medicare (if you’re Medicare-eligible).

For additional information about continuation of dental and vision benefits and eligibility criteria, see the Summary Plan Description (SPD) for the NNPP Contractor Group Benefits Plan on fmpbenefits.bswift.com. You can also find dental and vision coverage overviews on the Resources page.