You must notify the Retirement Division in writing with your signature. You can send a letter, or note your address change on your retirement check stub or direct deposit earnings statement. A retired employee change of information form can be found in the Forms section of this website.

The checks are mailed in advance each month, taking into consideration Sundays and holidays, so the check arrives by the first of each month. Retirement checks are due and payable on the first business day of each month. Please refer to the Retiree Payment Calendar in the Forms section of this website.

If you haven’t received your check by the tenth day of the month, call the Retirement Division and request that a stop pay be placed on the check and the check be reissued.

The deposit is made into your account on the first banking business day of each month.

You can cancel direct deposit or note the financial institution information on your retirement check stub or direct deposit earnings statement. Sign and mail the request to the Retirement Division. Additionally, a direct deposit authorization form can be found in the Forms section of this website.

You can note any requested state and/or federal tax withholding change on your retirement check stub or direct deposit earnings statement. Sign and mail the request to the Retirement Division.

You must notify the Retirement Division in writing with your signature. A retired employee change of information form can be found in the Forms section of this website.

You must make any changes with the Kansas City Credit Union. The Credit Union will then notify the Retirement Division.

 The Retirement Division office is open Monday - Friday from 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM, Central Time.

You can enroll at the time of retirement, during the annual Open Enrollment period and within 31 days of having a qualifying Change in Family Status. All retirees and surviving spouses are automatically enrolled in the free vision VSP Access Plan at the time of retirement, unless you enroll in the VSP Value Plan.

You can dis-enroll from health insurance coverage at the first of any month, provided you notify the Retirement Division in writing with your signature by the first of the month before you want your coverage to end. For example, to end your coverage on January 1, the Retirement Division would need your written request by December 1.

You can dis-enroll from dental and the VSP Value Plan vision insurance coverage only during the annual Open Enrollment period or within 31 days of having a qualifying Change in Family Status. You must notify the Retirement Division in writing with your signature.

Note: If you are dis-enrolling your spouse from coverage, your request will also need your spouse’s signature.

This is a change in personal circumstances that affects your family’s benefit needs. Documentation of the event will be required. Some examples are:

• You are married or divorced
• You have a new baby or adopt a child
• Your spouse or dependent child dies
• Your child is no longer eligible due to age
• Your eligibility for benefits under another group plan changes
• You or a family member gains or loses coverage under another group insurance plan
• A judgment, decree or order requiring coverage
• Your spouse has an open enrollment period at his/her place of employment
• You or your dependent becomes eligible for Medicare or Medicaid
• A change of employment by you or your spouse affecting benefits
• COBRA coverage is exhausted

You must provide proper documentation when requesting a change in coverage outside of the annual Open Enrollment period, and the change must be made within 31 days of the qualifying event.

The Medicare eligible member has three options:

• Remain on their Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan, and send a copy of the Medicare card showing the effective dates of Part A and Part B to the Retirement Division, with a signed note requesting the reduction in the monthly premium. Medicare will then become the primary payor and Blue Cross will be the secondary payor. The Medicare member should show the Medicare card to their medical providers, as the providers will need to submit claims to Medicare first, then to Blue Cross. The Blue Cross plans include prescription drug coverage.

– or –

• Transfer to one of the Blue Medicare Advantage Plans, and the non-Medicare member would remain on the Blue Cross Blue Shield Plan. The Medicare member needs to submit a signed Blue Medicare Advantage Plan application and a copy of the Medicare card showing the effective dates of Part A and Part B to the Retirement Division. The Medicare member will be transferred from the Blue Cross plan to the Blue Medicare Advantage , and the monthly premium will be adjusted. The Blue Medicare Advantage plans include prescription drug coverage.

– or –

• Enroll in an individual health insurance plan and prescription drug plan, both sold by private insurance companies. You have the option to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan with or without prescription drug coverage, or you could enroll in a Medigap (Medicare supplement insurance) policy. If you are in the Original Medicare Plan, Medigap policies help pay some of the health care costs that the Original Medicare Plan doesn’’t cover. As most Medigap policies now do not cover prescription drugs, you would also need to enroll in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan.

The Blue Medicare Advantage plans are Medicare Advantage plans that provide prescription drug coverage. The Blue Medicare Advantage plan member’s coverage is transferred from the Original Medicare Plan to Blue Medicare Advantage , and all eligible claims are paid by Blue Medicare. Members must comply with the benefit coverage rules of the Blue Medicare Advantage Plans plan. Medicare will not pay any claims as long as the member is enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan. If the Blue Medicare Advantage member transfers to a medical plan that is not a Medicare Advantage plan, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, their Original Medicare Plan becomes effective again as primary coverage.

No. The prescription drug coverage offered by each of the Blue Cross Blue Shield plans is, on average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much as the standard Medicare prescription drug coverage will pay and is considered Creditable Coverage. Because your existing coverage is on average at least as good as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage, you can keep this coverage and not pay a penalty for late enrollment if you later decide to enroll in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan. This notice is mailed to all retirees each year with the Open Enrollment material.

Medicare Advantage plans provide prescription drug coverage that is considered a Medicare Prescription Drug Part D Plan.  Medicare members are not allowed to enroll in more than one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan at a time. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) administers Medicare and the Medicare Prescription Drug Plan programs. If a Medicare Advantage member enrolls in a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan, CMS will dis-enroll them from Medicare Advantage. The member would lose their Medicare Advantage medical and prescription drug coverage.

For members with limited income and resources, extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug coverage is available. Information about this extra help is available from the Social Security Administration online at www.socialsecurity.gov, or you can call them at 1 (800) 772-1213 (TTY 1 (800) 325-0778).

First, you need to make sure the doctor’’s office has filed the claim with your insurance carrier, and Medicare if applicable. This information may be listed on your billing statement, or you may have to call your doctor's office.

Next, call the customer service phone number listed on your insurance card. You will need to know your ID number, the date of service, the provider name and the amount of the claim.

You can cover them on health, dental and vision insurance until the end of the calendar year the child reaches age 26, regardless of student status.