Retiree Information

• At least 60-90 days prior to your retirement, contact Human Resources at benefits@luc.edu  concerning your eligibility for retiree benefits, including your Retiree Health Account balance.
  • Request retirement information packet from the Benefits Department. The information provided will provide you with a guide for what you may need to consider, or act on, in preparation for retirement. Many answers to your questions about the status of your current enrollment in the University’s benefits and post retirement options will be provided to you.
  • Before you contact Via Benefits regarding supplemental Medicare plans or your Retiree Health Account, you must first notify Human Resources of your intent to retire and also be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. If you need to enroll in Part A and/or Part B, contact your local Social Security office.
    
• If you/your covered spouse/LDA are at least 65 years of age (Medicare-eligible) when you leave Loyola and will not be going on another employer's medical plan, you will need to sign up for Medicare Part B at least 30-60 days prior to your Loyola medical insurance coverage ending.

Many of your questions about the status of your current enrollment in the University’s benefits, after retirement, may be answered by contacting the Benefits Department.

Since Original Medicare (Parts A & B) only pays for 80% of your doctor and hospital costs, you’ll need to purchase additional Medicare coverage. Through Via Benefits, you will find all of your entire Medicare supplemental plan needs – including Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap), Part D Prescription Drug plans, and vision and dental plans – in a wide range of quality and affordable plans from leading insurers. Additionally, Via Benefits administers the Loyola Retiree Health Reimbursement Account and reimbursements. 

Via Benefits licensed benefit advisors will provide personalized, over-the-phone support to guide you through your plan options and enroll you in new coverage that meets your health and financial needs. These benefit advisors work as unbiased advocates with no financial incentive or reward for enrolling you in one health plan over another. Note: Before you schedule an appointment with Via Benefits, you must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B. If you need to enroll in Part A and/or Part B, contact your local Social Security office.

Learn More

Via Benefits will you prepare to enroll in new individual Medicare coverage. Please read through it and collect the requested information. Once you do that, you are ready to enroll with Via Benefits.

• You can review available plan options on the Via Benefits website:  https://my.viabenefits.com/loyola. Note: You cannot create an online account for Via Benefits until after you have officially retired.
• View the helpful Via Benefits Flyer for a snapshot of available services and support.
• View the recent webcast of the Medicare Presentation for a high-level overview to help you prepare for your upcoming Medicare enrollment.
• You can also contact Via Benefits toll-free at 855.229.3283 (Monday through Friday from 7:00AM - 8:00PM CST).

Learn more about Medicare using the resources below and by visiting the Medicare Facts and FAQs page.

• Medicare Part D Creditable Coverage Notice
• The Medicare/CMS Request for Employment Verification Form form can be completed upon request by the benefits department.
• Medicare Basics—Contains information regarding types of Medicare coverage, including cost, along with how and when to enroll in a plan.
• Medicare & You Handbook—Official government handbook with detailed information explaining the Medicare insurance program.

You can enroll in Medicare Part A and/or Medicare Part B in the following ways:

• Online at www.SocialSecurity.gov.
• By calling Social Security at 1.800.772.1213 (TTY users 1.800.325.0778), Monday through Friday, from 7:00AM to 7:00PM.
• In-person at your local Social Security office.

Coverage in the medical, dental, and vision plans will end on the last day of the month following your termination date. If you are currently enrolled in Loyola’s dental or vision benefit plans, you will have the option to continue your benefits under the provisions of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA).

If you under 65 years of age, you will be eligible for your medical insurance under COBRA until you turn age 65. If you are age 65 at date of termination, you are not eligible for medical insurance under COBRA.

For staff employees hired on or before March 1, 2003, you may have been a participant with frozen defined retirement benefits under the Loyola University Employees’ Retirement Plan (LUERP). For more information, see the LUERP page.

IMPORTANT: As of December 31, 2018, the Retiree Health Reimbursement Account (RHRA) was frozen and is not available to any future participants. The amount in your account as of December 31, 2018 will be available to you at retirement if you are at least 60 years of age with 10 years of continuous service. While this balance in your RHRA will no longer accrue 3% annual interest, the account balance as of December 31, 2018 will be available to use for qualified healthcare expenses at retirement.

• Contact benefits@luc.edu if you would like a RHRA balance statement or account enrollment form.
• The RHRA was calculated as follows: If eligible, you accumulated $2,750 for each year of full-time university service worked after age 50 (15 year maximum), including an interest credit of 3% for each year. No annual contributions or interest credits will be applied to RHRA accounts after December 31, 2018.
• Upon retirement, if you have met the eligibility requirements of Retiree Benefit Eligibility, you must contact the Benefits Department for the RHRA form.
• Via Benefits administers all reimbursements from the RHRA for approved qualified medical claims and expenses.

The following privileges are granted to any retired faculty or staff member who is at least sixty years of age and has completed ten or more years of continuous full-time service with Loyola University Chicago, immediately prior to their retirement date.

Privileges:

• Eligible retirees may keep their Loyola University Chicago Photo ID.
• Prices and discounts will be extended to eligible retirees at the campus bookstores, recreation centers, Loyola athletics and cultural events, with Loyola ID.
• Library privileges and access will be extended to eligible retirees, with Loyola ID.
• Annual invitations will be extended to University events such as Christmas Party, Picnic and Service Day.
• Tuition benefits will be extended to eligible retired faculty, staff, and their dependent children. Please consult the tuition benefit policy for more information.
• Loyola universal computing resources such as access to computing labs and Exchange (Outlook) email will be extended to eligible retirees UPON REQUEST. (Please contact benefits@luc.edu for a Retiree Computing & Confidentiality Agreement.)

The Loyola Chicago Retiree Association (LUCRA) is a voluntary association of Loyola University Chicago retired faculty and professional staff who want to continue scholarly work and participation in the mission of the University. LUCRA invites all emeriti and retired faculty and professional staff to join. More at: luc.edu/retireeassociation/.