Medicare becomes the primary coverage for you and any covered dependents age 65 years of age or older (or disabled) once you have retired.
Medicare becomes the primary coverage for an Other Qualified Adult (OQA) at age 65, even if you are still working. All services must be submitted to Medicare first for payment when it is the primary coverage. Your U-M health plan becomes secondary or supplementary to Medicare.
ESR Coverage and Medicare
If you return to active employment with the university and become eligible under Employer Shared Responsibility (ESR) after enrolling in Medicare, U-M will provide primary coverage during your period of eligibility under ESR. Once your eligibility under ESR or your employment ends, your retiree benefits will be reinstated, and Medicare will become primary coverage.
Newly Eligible for Employee Benefits and Medicare
If you return to active employment with the university as a regular faculty or staff member (including primary and instructional staff, LEO I, II, III, IV, or Adjunct) at 50% or greater effort lasting four continuous months or longer, you are eligible for employee health plan coverage. However, you are no longer eligible for retiree health plan coverage. If you already have retiree health plan coverage, you must enroll within 30 days of rehire in employee health plan coverage, since retiree coverage will cease, and you will not have U-M health plan coverage while rehired.
Your employee health plan coverage will again provide primary coverage during your post-retirement appointment period. Medicare is the primary coverage for an Other Qualified Adult starting at age 65, even if you are working. Once eligibility for employee health plan coverage ends (i.e, your post-retirement employment ends, your appointment effort or job title changes to one that is not eligible for employee health plan coverage, etc.), your retiree health plan coverage will be reinstated, and Medicare will become primary again.
If you continue to work but become ineligible for employee health plan coverage (i.e., your appointment as a regular faculty or staff member, including primary and instructional staff, is reduced to 49% or less, you become a temporary employee, etc.), you may qualify for ESR health plan coverage. Eligibility for ESR will depend on the terms of your post-retirement appointment as a regular faculty or staff member. This continuation of coverage will postpone the reinstatement of your retiree health plan coverage and postpone when Medicare will become primary again. Contact the Shared Services Contact Service Center and ask for an ESR evaluation to determine if you may be affected by ESR coverage.
View this flowchart for more information.
No ESR or U-M Employee Benefits
If you are not eligible for employee health plan coverage as a rehired regular faculty or staff member, including primary and instructional staff (eligibility requires a minimum 50% or greater effort lasting at least four continuous months) or health plan coverage through ESR, retiree health plan coverage continues. Medicare will continue to be primary over your retiree health plan coverage.
Medicare Enrollment Considerations
If you return to work and are eligible for coverage through ESR, or you are newly eligible for employee health plan coverage as a rehired regular faculty or staff member, including primary and instructional staff (requires a minimum 50% or greater effort lasting four continuous months or longer), it can affect your Medicare enrollment. Postponing or canceling Medicare enrollment or suspending it relative to an upcoming post-retirement appointment may be an important consideration. Call the SSC for an evaluation.
View for more information about Medicare.
Frequently Asked Questions For Professors Emeritus
- I am a professor emeritus returning to work at the university. Do I need to be enrolled in Medicare parts A and B?
- Yes. As a professor emeritus, you will remain eligible for retiree benefits even upon returning to work at the university, and you will not be eligible for benefits as an active employee. As such, your U-M Health Plan will not pay for claims unless you are enrolled in Medicare parts A and B. Medicare will be the primary payer, and U-M health coverage will only pay secondary to Medicare.
- I am a professor emeritus returning to work at the university. Do my Medicare-eligible dependents need to be enrolled in Medicare parts A and B?
- Yes. Anyone covered on your U-M Health Plan must be enrolled in Medicare parts A and B if they are eligible due to age or disability.
- I am a U-M professor emeritus, but I am actively working elsewhere. Do I need to enroll in Medicare parts A and B? Do my dependents?
- To have your U-M Health Plan pay for claims, you and your dependents must be enrolled in Medicare parts A and B. If you have active health coverage through your current employer, you do not need to enroll in Medicare. However, the only coverage you will have is your active coverage. Your U-M Health Plan will not pay for claims unless you are enrolled in Medicare parts A and B. Once you enroll in Medicare parts A and B, your U-M policy will pay after Medicare pays.