Medicare Retirees

The Medicare Benefits page is for RIT Retirees or their spouses who are eligible for Medicare, which usually occurs at age 65; unless they are disabled before age 65.

Retirees or spouses who are enrolled in Medicare can find more about their benefits on the Pre-Medicare Retirees page.

Information for Retirees Becoming Medicare Eligible in 2024

RIT has retained the services of Lifetime Benefit Solutions (LBS) to administer billing for retirees and surviving spouses. LBS sends an invoice to pre-Medicare retirees with medical coverage on or about the 15th of each month for the next month’s coverage and the payment is due by the 1st of the month.

LBS offers several payment options:

• payment by check,
• money order,
• electronic funds transfer (EFT - automatic withdrawal from your bank account), and
• by credit card with a fee.

If payments are not made in a timely basis, coverage will be cancelled. LBS will send details about the payment options and deadlines with the first bill.

Each year, RIT holds a retiree Open Enrollment period in the late fall. Open Enrollment materials will mailed to retirees home addresses. 

This is a retiree's annual opportunity to enroll, change or cancel any benefits they have through RIT. This enrollment period is separate from the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period that is outlined below. 

When you are retired and you (and/or your spouse/partner) are eligible for and enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B, RIT provides you with access to supplementary Medicare coverage through a private Medicare Exchange with Via Benefits. 

The Medicare Exchange provides several advantages, including:

• Expert advice from licensed Medicare specialists year-round
• An RIT funded Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) 
• More individualized coverage
  • Retirees will have many choices in plans, carriers, and price points.  Plans can be individualized to suit retiree needs best.
  • Retirees will be able to select additional Coverage which includes Medicare Advantage, Medicare Supplement (Medigap), and Prescription Drug (Part D).
  • There are many carriers to choose from, including both local and national carriers so retirees can elect coverage that works best where they live. 

Original Medicare

Original Medicare consists of two parts:  A and B.

Part A

Provides you with inpatient care, and covers inpatient hospital stays, home healthcare, stays in skilled nursing facilities and hospice care.

Part B

Part B provides you with outpatient care, and covers physician fees and other medical services not requiring hospitalization. You must enroll in Part B and pay the Part B premium. 

Supplemental Plans

You choose from three different types of supplemental plans that add coverage where original Medicare may have less than you require.

The Medicare Open Enrollment Period which occurs each year from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7. This Open Enrollment Period gives you the chance to review and make changes to your current Medicare coverage through Via Benefits. 

REMEMBER! In order to receive the HRA funding from RIT, you must enroll in your Medicare plans through Via Benefits.

Provider Information 

The Vision Care plan is offered through VSP. You can find participating providers at VSP Vision Care or by calling VSP at (800) 877-7195/v and (800) 428-4833/TTY Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Eastern Time.

Online Account with VSP

You can set up an member account on the VSP website to manage your coverage. Click on Members then Member Log In to log in or create an account. Enter you University ID number (UID) for the Member ID along with the other required information. 

Once your account is set up, you will be able to see information about your coverage. From your account, you will also be able to print a Member ID Card to keep in your wallet; the card does not have the VSP ID on it.

Non-Participating Providers

If you or a covered family member receives coverage from a non-VSP provider, you should pay the provider’s full fee at the time of service and then submit an itemized bill to VSP for reimbursement according to the schedule of allowances. Discounts do not apply for vision care benefits obtained from non-VSP Providers, so your cost is likely to be higher if you receive services from a non-VSP Provider.

You can print a Member ID card from the VSP website. You will not receive an ID card from VSP. And, when you go to a VSP provider, you simply let them know you are a VSP member and they will take care of the rest (no claim forms to file). The ID number will be your RIT University ID (UID) number.

Member will receive the below in-network benefits when they go to a participating provider.

The VSP Diabetic Eyecare Plus Program^SM provides coverage of additional eyecare services specifically for members with diabetic eye disease, glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Eligible members can receive both routine and follow-up medical eyecare from their VSP doctor—the doctor who already knows their eyes best. A summary of the coverage is as follows:

• The VSP Diabetic Eyecare Plus Program^SM provides coverage of additional eyecare services specifically for members with diabetic eye disease, glaucoma or AMD, including:
  • medical follow-up exams,
  • visual field and acuity tests,
  • specialized screenings and diagnostic tests,
  • diagnostic imaging of the retina and optic nerve,
  • retinal screening for eligible members with diabetes.
• The program also provides supplemental¹ coverage for non-surgical medical eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, abnormal blood vessel growth on the eye (rubeosis), and diabetic macular edema.
• Members can self-refer², visit their VSP Provider as often as needed, and pay only a copay for services.

_{1 The VSP Diabetic Eyecare Plus Program pays secondary to other medical eye insurance coverage.
2 Unless referral by a primary care physician is required by the health plan.}

Low Vision Services are a plan benefit when specific benefit criteria are satisfied and when prescribed by the covered person’s VSP Preferred Provider. Professional services for severe visual problems not correctable with regular lenses are covered as follows:

• Supplemental Test: Covered in full*
• Supplemental Aids: 75% of VSP Preferred Provider’s fee, up to $1,000*

_{*maximum benefit for all Low Vision services and materials is $1,000 every two (2) years and a maximum of two supplemental tests within a two-year period.}

Some brands of spectacle frames may be unavailable for purchase as Plan Benefits, or may be subject to additional limitations. You may obtain details regarding frame availability from the VSP Member Doctor or by calling VSP’s Customer Care Division at (800) 877-7195.

This Plan is designed to cover visual needs rather than cosmetic materials. If you or a covered family member selects any of the following extras, the Plan will pay the basic cost of the allowed lenses, and you will pay the additional costs for the options.

• Optional cosmetic processes
• Anti-reflective coating
• Color coating
• Mirror coating
• Scratch coating
• Cosmetic lenses
• Laminated lenses
• Oversize lenses
• Photochromic lenses, tinted lenses except Pink #1 and Pink #2
• UV (ultraviolet) protected lenses
• Certain limitations on low vision care

Not Covered
There are no benefits for professional services or materials connected with:

• Orthoptics or vision training and any associated supplemental testing
• Plano lenses (less than a ±.50 diopter power)
• Two pair of glasses in lieu of bifocals
• Replacement of lenses and frames furnished under this plan that are lost or broken, except at the normal intervals when services are otherwise available
• Replacement of lost or damaged contact lenses, except at the normal intervals when services are otherwise available.
• Medical or surgical treatment of the eyes
• Local, state and/or federal taxes, except where VSP is required by law to pay
• Services associated with Corneal Refractive Therapy (CRT) or Orthokeratology
• Corrective vision treatment of an experimental nature, unless approved by an external appeal agent
• Plano contact lenses to change eye color cosmetically
• Artistically-painted contact lenses
• Contact lens insurance policies or service contracts
• Additional office visits associated with contact lens pathology
• Contact lens modification, polishing, or cleaning
• Costs for services and/or materials above Plan Benefit allowances
• Services or materials of a cosmetic nature
• Services and/or materials not indicated on this Schedule as covered Plan Benefits

Liability in Event of Non-Payment
In the event VSP fails to pay a VSP preferred provider, you will not be held liable for any sums owed by VSP other than those not covered by the plan.

Covered Services

• Advice and Consultation
• Consumer Protection
• Debt Matters
• Civil Lawsuit Defense
• Document Preparation
• Family Law
• Immigration
• Personal Injury
• Real Estate 
• Traffic and Criminal Matters
• Will and Estate 

The available benefits are very comprehensive, but there are limitations and other conditions that must be met. **See Exclusions in the Legal Plan Services Summary for details regarding matters not covered by MetLife Legal. 

How to Use the Plan

You must call MetLife Legal Plans, as described below, prior to contacting any attorney. Plan benefits will be denied if you do not call first.

To begin, call MetLife Legal Plans' Client Service Center at 800-821-6400 between Monday - Friday, 8am – 7pm; Eastern Time. You will need to identify yourself as a participant in the Plan and to give the last four digits of your Social Security Number and Zip Code. If your spouse/partner or a child is calling, they will need this information to provide to the representative. 

During the call, the Client Service representative will:

• verify your eligibility for services;
• make an initial determination of whether and to what extent your case is covered (the Plan Attorney will make the final determination of coverage)
• provide you a Case Number (you will need a new Case Number for each new case you have);
• give you the telephone number of the Plan Attorney most convenient to you; and
• answer any questions you have about the Plan.

Contacting the Plan Attorney

Contact the Plan Attorney provided by MetLife and identify yourself as a legal plan member referred to them by MetLife Legal Plans to request an appointment for a consultation. Be prepared to give them your Case Number, the name of the legal plan (Hyatt Legal Services) and the type of legal matter you are calling about.

If you wish, you may choose an out-of-network attorney. In a few areas, where there are no Participating Law Firms, you will be asked to select your own attorney. In these circumstances, you must call MetLife Legal Plans, as described above, prior to contacting any attorney. MetLife Legal Plans will reimburse you for these non-Plan attorneys' fees based on a set fee schedule.

Reminder - Plan benefits will be denied if you do not call first!

Plan Contact 

Website: Identity Force     Phone: 877-697-3367

Plans

UltraSecure - provides continuous monitoring of your personal information, Rapid alerts, comprehensive recovery services and a $1 million identity theft insurance policy.

UltraSecure+ Credit - all of the benefits of the UltraSecure Plan plus robust credit report monitoring and credit reports and scores from all 3 bureaus. 

Covered Services

Prevention 

• Fraud Monitoring
• Online Protection Tools
• Identity Threat Alerts
• Fraud Alert Reminders

Detection 

• Identity Monitoring
• Identity Health Score
• DeleteNow
• Change of Address Monitoring
• Court Record Monitoring
• Sex Offender Report & Monitoring 
• Pay Day Loan Monitoring
• Medical ID Fraud Protection
• Junk Mail Opt-Out

 Restoration

• Lost Wallet Assistance 
• Identity Restoration Specialists
• $1 Million Identity Theft Insurance

Credit

• Free annual credit report 

ChildWatch (Available for children under the age of 18 with the purchase of an employee policy.)

• Identity Monitoring
• Fraud Monitoring
• Identity Restoration Specialists
• $1 Million Identity Theft Insurance

Activating Coverage

When retirees elect coverage and their enrollment is processed, an email will be sent from ID Theft to their email address on file as well as to their spouse/partner if they elected coverage. Additional personal information needs to be provided directly to ID Theft in order to provide full theft protection.

Retirees and their eligible family members continue to be eligible for tuition waivers (courses taken at RIT) in retirement. Waivers for the retiree are automatic - retirees just need to register for the class. A Tuition Waiver for Retiree Family Member needs to be completed for an eligible family member. This form must be completed once per academic year.

Tuition Assistance, Tuition Scholarship and Tuition Exchange are not available in retirement. 

Check out the BetterMe website for more information about programs and benefits.

• Retirees receive a FREE fitness membership at the Student Life Center and Better Me Wellness Center. You will need an RIT Retiree ID card to access these locations; for more information, please refer to their website at https://www.rit.edu/~w-criw/. You can obtain an Retiree ID card from the Registrar’s Office, 1st floor, Eastman Hall.
  • Access to weight room, pool, track, tennis courts, basketball courts, racquetball/squash/pickleball courts
  • Access to recreation sports (golf league, pick up soccer, lunchtime basketball, racquet sports list, cycling group, Tough Tigers, volleyball)
• Retirees have access to the following free Better Me services:
  • Weight room orientations
  • Student Life Center tours
• Retirees have access to the following Better Me services that have an additional fee:
  • Personal fitness training
  • Class pass
  • Nutrition coaching (fee for service only)
  • Occupational athletic training
  • Massage therapy

You may obtain a Retiree ID card at the Registrar’s Office located on the first floor of George Eastman Hall.

By showing your RIT Retiree ID card, you have access priviledges to RIT Facilities and services, including the Student Life Center and Wallace Library. In addition, by showing your retiree ID card at the Digital Den, you can receive discounted Apple Education Pricing for certain Apple products. 

You are also eligible for an RIT e-mail account; it may be your same email address or a different email address.

More information about this request can be found here: How to request an RIT retiree account

Please note that annually, from the first time your retiree e-mail account is activated, you will receive an e-mail from ITS confirming that you want to continue the account. You will need to complete the instructions in the message to keep your RIT email active.