Enrolling in a Medicare plan
Here’s what you need to know if you or a family member will become eligible for Medicare in 2026.
If you or a family member are enrolling in Medicare at any point next year, think carefully about the medical plan you choose during Open Enrollment. Your non-Medicare plan will determine which partner Medicare plan you will be transferred into when you turn 65. Consider whether the Medicare version of your medical plan offers the benefits you want. Unless you are enrolled in HealthSavings+ or Kaiser Mid-Atlantic HMO, which don’t have Medicare partner plans, UC does not allow you to change Medicare plans mid-year. Kaiser Mid-Atlantic HMO is only available to active employees of Washington Center (UCDC).
If you are a non-Medicare retiree, you may enroll in HealthSavings+ during Open Enrollment, regardless of the plan you were enrolled in for 2025. Note that HealthSavings+ is open to non-Medicare retirees during Open Enrollment only, so that they will receive the full UC contribution to their Health Savings Account (HSA).
UC has a special Medicare Coordinator Program for Medicare-eligible retirees and their Medicare-eligible spouses or domestic partners who live outside California.
For California retirees, below are non-Medicare plans and the corresponding partner Medicare plans.
| If you’re enrolled in | You’ll transfer to this Medicare plan when eligible |
|---|---|
| UC Care PPO | UC Medicare PPO (Anthem Blue Cross) |
| UC Blue & Gold HMO | UC Medicare Choice PPO (UnitedHealthcare) |
| Kaiser CA HMO* | Kaiser Permanente Senior Advantage (CA) |
| HealthSavings+ | No partner plan; Period of Initial Eligibility (PIE) to enroll in UC-sponsored Medicare plans in your service area |
*Please note: Kaiser Mid-Atlantic HMO is only available to active employees of Washington Center (UCDC). If you’re enrolled in Kaiser Mid-Atlantic HMO, you’ll have a Period of Initial Eligibility (PIE) to enroll in a UC-sponsored Medicare plan in your service area.
If you have some family members with Medicare coverage and others not currently eligible for Medicare, you’re considered a split Medicare family. You and the family members you cover must enroll in plans that work together. See Split or mixed Medicare families for more information.
You must be enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B to enroll in a UC Medicare plan. If you did not pay into Social Security or have less than 40 quarters (less than 10 years of full-time employment), you may be ineligible for premium-free Medicare A. Contact Social Security to check if you may be eligible under a spouse, former spouse or deceased spouse. If you are ineligible for Medicare, you must provide a copy of the Medicare denial letter with a UBEN 100 to RASC so you can remain in your UC non-Medicare plan and avoid the UC Medicare offset penalties (currently $419.60/month) and termination of your medical coverage.
Read the Medicare Factsheet (PDF) for more information.