Enrolling in Retiree State Plan Benefits
You must complete and submit the Retiree Election Form within sixty (60) days of the date your active service ends otherwise your State Plan coverage will remain terminated and will not be reinstated.
Retiree Benefits Enrollment
Complete the necessary forms (listed below) and return them within 60 days of the date your active service ends along with payment to HCBD. Your Retiree coverage will begin retroactive to the day your active service coverage ended as soon as the required forms and payment are received.
- Retiree Election Form (Required): Complete form by circling the coverage you wish to continue, the dependents you wish to cover, and your preferred method of payment. Return this form, and any of the following forms that pertain to you, within 60 days of the date your active service ends. The Retiree Election Form will be provided by HCBD.
- BlueCross BlueShield of Montana Beneficiary Designation/Change Form (Optional): Non-Medicare eligible Retirees are required to continue the $14,000 Basic Life Insurance coverage until Medicare eligible. If you are not Medicare eligible, the Beneficiary Designation/Change Form allows you to update your beneficiaries. If you have more beneficiaries than the form allows, you may add more to the back of the form.
- Electronic Benefits Payment Deduction Authorization Form (Optional) - Complete this form if you would like to have your monthly contributions withheld electronically from your checking or savings account (occurs on the 5th of every month), include a voided check with the completed form.
- MPERA Authorization for Deduction of Health Insurance Premiums (Optional): Complete this form if you would like to have your monthly contributions withheld electronically from your MPERA retirement benefit. This option may take up to 60 days to become effective.
Grandfather Month
If you were hired prior to (and enrolled in benefits) and have had no break in coverage since August 1998, you are entitled to an additional month of state share contribution upon termination. If your monthly benefit deductions exceed the state share, HCBD will withhold this amount from your final check. If the total amount is less than state share, HCBD will withhold nothing. Contact HCBD to find out if you are eligible for the additional month of state share.
This additional month of coverage only extends to medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. Flexible spending accounts will end the last day of the month in which full or partial benefits contributions have been paid. Long-term disability ends the last day of the month in which full or partial premium is paid.
Retiree Resources
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2024 Preparing to Retire - On-demand presentation
- Public Consulting Group - Early Medicare Coverage Assistance
How to Enroll
1. Go to benefits.mt.gov and click on the “Benefit Enrollment and Changes” button- You may also enroll using the MyChoice Mobile App. First time users will need to log in to benefits.mt.gov to receive your access code.
- First time users: Register your User Name and Password and answer a few security questions
- The case-sensitive company key is stateofmontana
3. Begin Enrollment by clicking “Start Here” and follow the instructions to enroll in your benefits.
payment options
You will need to indicate your method of payment when you complete your enrollment. Once your enrollment is completed and payment is received, your retiree coverage will be re-instated retroactive to when your employee coverage ended.
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Prepayment from Your Final Pay Check: You may prepay benefit contributions from your final paycheck for any months remaining in the current Plan Year. This option is only available if your final paycheck has not yet been issued. To pre-pay, you must complete and return the Retiree Election Form and a Retiree Prepayment Option Form (available from your agency payroll) to your agency payroll before your final pay period ends.
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Electronic Deduction of Benefit Contributions from a Checking or Savings Account: Benefit contributions are deducted from your designated account on the 5th of each month. If the 5th falls on a Saturday, payment will be withheld on Friday the 4th. If the 5th falls on a Sunday, payment will be withheld on Monday the 6th. You must self-pay benefit contributions to HCBD for any months prior to the date electronic deductions begin.
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Automatic Deduction from MPERA Retirement Benefit: Contact HCBD to find out when your first payment can be deducted from your MPERA retirement benefit. You must self-pay benefit contributions to HCBD for any months prior to the date MPERA deductions begin. This option normally takes 60 days to start.
Montana VEBA HRA
If you will have a Montana Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association (VEBA) Health Reimbursement Account (HRA), you can select any of the payment options above. With Montana VEBA HRA, you will pay the State Plan for your benefits and Montana VEBA HRA will reimburse you.
TERMINATING COVERAGE
Retirees may terminate State Plan coverage at any time by submitting a written request or completing the Retiree Termination Form.
Benefits will be terminated the month following receipt of the written request. If you pay your benefit contributions through your State retirement check or from your checking account, HCBD may not be able to stop the next payment from being deducted. If this occurs, you will receive a refund for any contributions paid after coverage has been terminated.