Below you will find information regarding your Medicare benefits if you are a covered employee or covered spouse reaching age 65.

Covered Employee Reaching Age 65

• There should not be any penalties for having both the BlueKC and Medicare coverage if you choose to continue coverage under the District’s policy. The District’s policy provides creditable prescription drug coverage as defined by Federal law. The updated Creditable Coverage Notice is available on the Benefits Website under the Tab titled: Health / Important Notices.

• You may want to consider enrolling in Medicare Part A effective the first of the month in which you attain age 65, even if you choose to continue your coverage under the District’s health insurance. However, if you plan to continue working at the District beyond age 65 and plan to be enrolled in the District’s BlueKC policy, you are permitted to delay enrolling in Medicare until employment with the District ends and you subsequently lose eligibility for the District’s BlueKC policy.  If you are participating in the Health Savings Account (HSA) and would like to continue making contributions to your HSA, please be aware that enrollment in any part of Medicare (even Part A) makes you ineligible for HSA contributions. 

• HSA participants:  To avoid tax penalties, if you enroll in Medicare when it is first available (typically the first of the month in which you turn age 65), then you should stop all HSA contributions in the month prior to your Medicare effective date.  If you delay Medicare enrollment, then you should stop all HSA contributions at least six months prior to your Medicare effective date. 

• If you decide to drop the District’s BlueKC health insurance policy, then you would also want to sign up for Medicare Parts A, B, D and likely a Medicare Supplement policy or Medicare Advantage. It is recommended that you compare the Medicare plan benefits and costs to the District’s plan benefits and costs.

• Medicare has a great website to obtain this information: www.medicare.gov. Or you can call Medicare at (800) 633-4227. You can obtain personalized health insurance counseling by calling (800) 860-5260 if you reside in Kansas, or (800) 390-3330 if you reside in Missouri. You can also make an appointment with the local Social Security office if you prefer. The toll-free number for Social Security is: (800) 772-1213.

• Turning 65 and becoming eligible for Medicare is treated as a Qualifying Life Changing Event, which opens a 31-day window from the date that you become enrolled in Medicare (when first eligible) to apply to make changes to your benefits. To apply to make changes to your benefits, call the Blue Valley Benefits Help Center at 844-239-0434, M-F anytime from 8:30am-5:00pm.

Covered Spouse Reaching Age 65

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• Your covered spouse may continue enrollment the District’s health insurance coverage at age 65 if so chosen (as long as you remain enrolled also). The District’s health plan would be primary and Medicare would be secondary. There should not be any penalties for having both the BlueKC and Medicare coverage if you decide to continue you and your spouse’s coverage under the District’s policy since the District’s policy provides creditable prescription drug coverage as defined by Federal law. The updated Creditable Coverage Notice is available on the Benefits Website under the Tab titled: Health / Important Notices.

• Your spouse may want to consider enrolling in Medicare Part A effective the first of the month in which he or she attains age 65, even if you choose to continue to cover your spouse under the District’s health insurance.

• If you decide to drop your spouse from the District’s health insurance policy, then he/she would also want to sign up for Medicare Parts A, B, D and likely a Medicare Supplement policy or Medicare Advantage. It is recommended that you compare the Medicare plan benefits and costs to the District’s plan benefits and costs.

• Medicare has a great website to obtain this information: http://www.medicare.gov/ . Or you can call Medicare at (800) 633-4227. You can obtain personalized health insurance counseling by calling (800) 860-5260 if you reside in Kansas, or (800) 390-3330 if you reside in Missouri. You can also make an appointment with the local Social Security office if you prefer. The toll-free number for Social Security is: (800) 772-1213.

• Turning 65 and becoming eligible for Medicare is treated as a Qualifying Life Changing Event, which opens a 31-day window from the date that you become enrolled in Medicare (when first eligible) to apply to make changes to your benefits. To apply to make changes to your benefits, call the Blue Valley Benefits Help Center at 844-239-0434, M-F anytime from 8:30am-5:00pm.