Types of Service Credit
Rounding Out Your Retirement Plans
When your retirement application is processed, we forward your insurance information to the health, prescription drug, dental, and vision insurance carriers. You should receive insurance identification cards and materials a few weeks after your pension begins.
As a retiree, your state-sponsored life insurance continues for you and your dependents at no charge to you. Your coverage is 25 percent of the coverage you carried when you left work; your dependents' policies are capped at $1,000 each.
To view Long-Term Care Insurance (LTC) plan details, visit the Employee Benefits Division of the Michigan Civil Service Commission under Retiree Eligibility. If you previously enrolled in a state-sponsored LTCI plan with LifeSecure, Prudential or MetLife, you can call the vendor directly. For the LifeSecure Indiv
Eligible dependents for health, dental, and vision insurance plans include your spouse (as long as he or she is not also separately enrolled as an eligible state employee or retiree) and your unmarried children by birth, legal adoption, or full legal guardianship.
The Benefits for Life, the retiree-paid, optional coverage program offered through the state of Michigan offers you the opportunity to apply for coverage in key benefit areas. These offerings do not replace your state-sponsored benefit plans. Instead, the program offers additional financial protection with premiums payable through the convenience of pension deduction. Because the plans are optiona
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As long as you are enrolled in one of the retirement system's insurance plans, your spouse (as long as they are not enrolled separately as an eligible state employee or retiree) and eligible dependents can be enrolled in the same insurance plans. Eligible dependents include:
In the case of legal adoption, a child is eligible for coverage as of the date of placement. Placement occurs when you become legally obligated for the total or partial support of the child in anticipation of adoption.
In the case of full legal guardianship, eligibility for coverage ceases when the child reaches age 18 or upon your death, whichever occurs first.
Normally, coverage for your eligible children ceases the end of the month in which they turn age 19. However, your dependent(s) by birth or legal adoption remain eligible through the end of the month in which the child turns age 26 or graduates, whichever comes first, if they are an unmarried student who is enrolled at least half time in an accredited educational institution and is dependent on you for financial support.
If your enrolled dependent is a disabled child, coverage will continue as long as they were totally and permanently disabled before age 19, continue to be disabled, and your coverage does not terminate for any other reason. Disabled children are those who are unable to earn a living because of a mental or physical impairment and must depend on their parents for support and maintenance. You must furnish proof of disability and proof of dependency.
Go to How to Apply for the list of proofs you'll need to provide when enrolling your spouse and dependents in your insurances.
Note: Federal law changes in 2010 extend coverage to all adult children to age 26 for active employee plans, but this does not apply to retiree health plans.
It is your responsibility to notify the Michigan Office of Retirement Services of any change in your status, or that of your family, that would result in ineligibility, or of coverage under any other group insurance including Medicare. We will adjust your premium deductions if necessary, but we cannot refund premiums that were withheld before the month in which you report the change.
To report changes, log in to miAccount, go to the Insurance Coverage section, make your changes, and mail us required proofs if necessary. You can also use the Insurance Enrollment/Change Request (R0452G) form.
You can also use miAccount to add or change the name of someone on your health, dental, or vision insurance contract. If you're adding a spouse due to marriage, be sure to send proof of marriage and birth. If you are adding a dependent due to birth or adoption, be sure to send proof of birth or adoption. Proofs are required within 30 days of the event so that the six-month waiting period can be waived. If we do not receive the proofs on time, your request will be canceled.
Do not mail in original documents, as they will not be returned.
If your spouse or one of your dependents loses insurance eligibility, they may be able to pay for continued coverage for a limited time. A federal law known as the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, or COBRA, allows your spouse or dependent child the option of paying for continued health, dental, and vision coverage for up to 36 months after a qualifying event. The retiree or affected family member must notify our office within 30 days of the date of a qualifying event and request an Application for Continuation of Insurances (CS-1767) form.
Your health insurance carrier may also offer a non-group conversion policy for your spouse and dependents. Contact the insurance carrier for more information.
Upon your death, insurance benefits continue for your survivor pension beneficiary. Your eligible spouse and unmarried children by birth or legal adoption who were covered at the time of your death will continue to receive insurance benefits only if you have chosen the survivor option and there is no break in eligibility since your death.