As you or your spouse approach age 65 and Medicare eligibility, you may wonder what will happen with your health coverage. The good news is, as an MMIA Plan participant, you have options!
For more information regarding retiree options, please contact MMIA Employee Benefits.
If you are an active employee when you turn 65, it is your responsibility to sign up for Medicare Part A and send your city or town representative a copy of your Medicare card. Because you have a group health plan, you may be able to wait to sign up for Part B until you retire without a penalty. Contact a Medicare expert to learn more. As long as you remain an active employee on an MMIA Health Plan, MMIA will continue to pay as your primary insurer.
As you are thinking about retirement, please note that as of January 1, 2024, Medicare retirees are no longer eligible to remain on an MMIA medical plan. They may remain enrolled in the MMIA dental and vision plans if your city or town offers those plans.
Medicare retirees may remain on the dental and vision coverages. Retirees and spouses of Medicare retirees that are not yet Medicare-eligible can remain on the medical plans, until they become Medicare-eligible.
MMIA plans are designed mainly to function as primary coverage and may not coordinate with Medicare in the most efficient way. This may mean you pay a higher monthly premium and more out-of-pocket for services than if you had a Medicare Advantage or supplement plan, which are specifically designed to coordinate with Medicare. See the "Other Options" tab below for alternative medical plan options.
In order to offer other options to Medicare-aged retirees who are no longer eligible to remain on an MMIA plan, MMIA sponsors a menu of Medicare Advantage Plans through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana. These plans:
For more information about the MMIA-sponsored Group Medicare Advantage Plans, contact Wendy Nelson at 406-969-3000 or [email protected].
If you leave an MMIA Dental or Vision Plan as a retiree, you cannot come back. However, once you leave the MMIA Employee Benefit Plan for a Medicare supplement or Advantage Plan, your non-Medicare spouse can stay on the MMIA Plan. Also, when your spouse becomes a Medicare-eligible retiree, currently enrolled in an MMIA plan or any other plan, he/she may join the MMIA-sponsored Group Medicare Advantage Plan.
If you are currently on an MMIA Dental and/or Vision Plan, you can continue that coverage when you become Medicare-eligible.
To make a change to your current MMIA benefits, fill out the appropriate enrollment (change or termination) form through our forms page. If you have questions, call us at 800-635-3089 option 4 or contact your city or town representative.
The MMIA-sponsored Medicare Advantage Plan is just one of many options. Retirees may also consider contacting a certified insurance agent who specializes in Medicare to ask about other Medicare Advantage and supplement options, or contact Wendy Nelson at 406-969-3000, [email protected].
Additionally, the Montana State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) provides no-cost health benefits counseling and advocacy service for Medicare beneficiaries and their families or caregivers. You can visit their website or contact your local SHIP Counselor at 1-800-551-3191.
Located in Helena, Missoula, Anaconda, Butte, and Billings, these clinics offer primary care, lab work, flu shots, same-day services, and much more. Services are no-cost to Standard Plan participants and a $55 copay for High Deductible Health Plan participants.
Schedule an appointment at www.mypremisehealth.com. If you do not see appointment availability online, we recommend you call them at 855-200-6822.
Take Control is a Montana-based healthcare company that provides MMIA EB Program participants customized health coaching services to reduce risks associated with:
Take Control is a Montana-based healthcare company that provides expecting moms on the MMIA EB plan with high quality maternity management during and after pregnancy. The program includes:
Contact Take Control as soon as you know you’re pregnant to get enrolled 1-800-746-2970.
No-cost life-balance and counseling services through Sapphire Resources. You (and anyone in your household) can receive up to six in-person counseling sessions per issue, per year.
No cost, 24/7/365 access to board-certified doctors who can treat many medical issues by phone or video. This added medical benefit gives you a no-cost alternative to costly urgent care or ER visits. Simply set up an account, request a consult, and a doctor will call you within minutes.