Health and Life Insurance Benefits at Retirement

Shelby County Government offers health, life and voluntary benefits to retirees that meet the eligibility requirements at the time of retirement.

Shelby County Government reserves the right to make changes to its benefit program offered to employees, retirees and their dependents at any time. Changes relative to eligibility are subject to the approval of the Shelby County Board of Commissioners. While we do try to keep the following up-to date, since benefits are subject to change, please contact the Retirement Department to assure that you have the most current information.

Health Plan Coverage

There are two types of health plan coverage, pre-65 retiree coverage and post-65 retiree coverage. Pre-65 retirees are offered the same plan as active employees depending on eligibility. Post-65 retirees are offered Medicare Advantage depending on eligibility.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Employees hired on or after June 11, 2007, are not provided retirement life insurance.

2. Employees hired on or after June 11, 2007, retirement health insurance will only be provided as a Medicare Supplement/Advantage plan upon becoming eligible for Medicare. In order to be eligible for the County’s Medicare Supplement/Advantage plan, retiring employees must have a minimum of 15 years of service.

3. Dependents of employees hired on or after June 11, 2007, must be an eligible dependent at the time of retirement in order to be covered under the County’s health plan; subject to the Spousal Carve-Out provision.

4. Employees hired prior to June 11, 2007, that are eligible for an immediate retirement benefit, may carry the County’s health coverage into retirement. However, if the retiree ceases the coverage at any time during retirement, reinstatement of coverage at a later date will be subject to Open Enrollment and Qualifying Event guidelines. Employees that have the County’s health coverage at the time of retirement, but do not carry the coverage into retirement, will not be eligible for the County’s health coverage at any time in the future.

5. Retired employees eligible for the County’s Medicare Advantage coverage must have Medicare Part A (Hospital) and Medicare Part B (Medical), if eligible. Retirees with a date of hire prior to April 1, 1986 may not be eligible for Medicare Part A; the County provides coverage for those retirees not eligible for Medicare Part A.

6. Deferred retirees, who may be eligible for a pension benefit at a future date, are not eligible for health or life coverage at any time.

Spousal Carve-Out Provision

The County’s Spousal Carve-Out provision applies to all retirees. A retiree’s spouse may become eligible for County health coverage if the spouse meets eligibility requirements, and is not offered health coverage through the spouse’s employer. Retirees are required to verify spousal coverage information by attesting and completing a verification form at the time of enrollment.