Retiree Healthcare
Medicare Requirements
Once you turn 65, Medicare becomes your primary healthcare coverage and the Cincinnati Retirement System (CRS) healthcare coverage you are purchasing becomes your secondary healthcare coverage.
When you become enrolled in Medicare, you must send a photocopy of your Medicare Health Insurance Card to the Cincinnati Retirement System.
CRS will provide a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan (CVS/SilverScript) for Medicare-eligible participants who are enrolled in CRS healthcare coverage. This prescription drug plan will provide additional coverage to improve the standard Medicare Part D benefit so that your coverage is similar to your current prescription drug benefit from CRS. You must have Medicare Part A and/or Medicare Part B coverage to be enrolled in a Medicare Part D plan (CVS/SilverScript).
NOTE: Once CRS has received your Medicare card, enrollment into the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan can take up to 8-10 weeks. Continue to use your CVS/Caremark Prescription Drug card until you receive your new Medicare Part D (CVS/SilverScript) card.
Contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to enroll in Medicare Part A and B.
Health Care Open Enrollment Takes Place Each Year In Autumn
Open Enrollment is the time of year for CRS retirees to select their health care coverage for the coming calendar year. Retirees may choose to update medical, dental and/or vision coverage. If CRS retirees wish for coverage to remain the same, they do not need to do anything for Open Enrollment.
Select Plan - Retirement date on or before January 1, 2016 - including Group C
Benefit Summary - Select Commercial (pre-Medicare)
Benefit Summary - Select Medicare Advantage
Rx Benefit Summary (pre-Medicare)
2025 Select Plan Enrollment Form
Model Plan - Retirement date on or after February 1, 2016 - excluding Group C
Benefit Summary - Model Commercial (pre-Medicare)
Benefit Summary - Model Medicare Advantage
Rx Benefit Summary (pre-Medicare)
2025 Model Plan Enrollment Form
Secure Plan - Closed Group
Benefit Summary - Secure Medicare Advantage
Cincinnati Retirement System will no longer provide health care benefits to legally separated spouses of City of Cincinnati retirees.
When a dependent no longer meets the eligibility requirements for CRS health care, the pensioner has 60 days to notify CRS of the change in status. The ineligible dependent is removed from CRS health care on the last day of the month following the month of the qualifying event.
Covered Student Verification
Health care coverage for eligible dependent children is available through the end of the month in which they turn age 19, or through the end of the month in which they turn age 24 (must be unmarried and fulltime student at an accredited school). Pensioners who request to purchase health care coverage for eligible dependent children aged 19-24 are required to provide verification of full-time student status each year, by December 15th and once again by August 15th. Failure to provide verification of fulltime student status by the deadlines will result in the termination of the dependent’s coverage.
CVS Caremark & CVS SilverScript Prescription Plans
CVS Caremark (pre-Medicare) 1-888-202-1654
CVS SilverScript (Medicare Part D) 1-888-234-0927
Important Drug Coverage Information
Resources
Anthem (pre-Medicare) 1-855-315-8928
Anthem Medicare Advantage Member Services 1-833-848-8730
Diabetes and Hypertension Coaching Program (Kroger) 1-513-639-9940
EyeMed Benefit Summary / EyeMed Website 1-866-299-1358
Superior Dental Benefit Summary / Superior Dental Website 1-800-762-3159
Health Reimbursement Arrangement
What is an HRA?
An HRA, or a Health Reimbursement Arrangement, is a plan offered through the Cincinnati Retirement System (CRS) which reimburses your out-of-pocket medical expenses, including co-pays, co-insurance, deductibles, and premium differentials, associated with a pensioner’s (and their eligible dependents) enrollment in a non-City sponsored alternate group health plan.
If you are eligible for retiree healthcare, but have waived CRS health insurance because you have access to health insurance under another plan, you may want to consider enrolling in the HRA. The HRA is free!
Mental Health Services Resources and Flyers
Anthem covered services include the following: Inpatient Services in a hospital; Outpatient Services including office visits, therapy, and treatment; and Telehealth Services/Virtual Visits. In-network and out-of-network co-insurance percentages apply.
Examples of providers from whom you can receive covered services include: psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, neuropsychologists.
Call the number on the back of your Anthem insurance card or click on the links below for more information.
Behavioral Health Case Management