Retiree Insurance FAQs

You must complete and submit a Retiree Insurance Election Form to the Benefits Division to continue your coverage into retirement. You will be billed for these benefits after your retirement date.

 For more information, please review our Retiree Benefits Handbook.

Your Optional Life insurance will be canceled upon your retirement. You can convert up to the total benefit amount to a whole life policy directly with the insurance carrier. For information about how to do so, please contact Minnesota Life at 833-505-3875.

Once the Benefits Division confirms your last payroll deduction, an Annual Retiree Billing Calendar and payment coupons will be emailed to your personal email address, provided you have submitted the Retiree Insurance Election Form. This billing calendar will include a monthly premium breakdown for the balance of the calendar year. You will be responsible for paying your insurance premiums through the current billing month. Thereafter, premiums are due on the first day of the month. For that reason, we recommend that you budget for approximately three months of insurance premiums, since your first pension check may not arrive approximately 60 days from the date of retirement.

If you or your covered dependent turn 65 subsequent to your retirement, there may be a change in your premium. If a plan election is required, you will receive information from us approximately 3 months prior to you/or your spouse’s 65th birthday. If no election is required, we will send you a new billing calendar prior to the month your premium changes.

Eligible retirees receive $7.50 per month for each year of service credit earned at retirement. The subsidy is at least $45 per month and no more than two hundred twenty-five dollars ($225) per month. It is intended to help offset the cost of your health insurance coverage. You may contact the Division of Retirement at (844) 377-1888 for any Subsidy questions, or write to:

You can cancel your medical, dental, and/or vision insurance coverage at any time by completing the Insurance Cancellation Request Form. The insurance companies or the County will not cancel your coverage unless:

• Premiums are not paid on a timely basis
• Coverage under the Master Contract is canceled
• You move out of the service area
• You are enrolled under the medical HMO and become eligible for Medicare
• Your covered dependent children reach the contract limiting age

Please note: Once coverage is canceled, it cannot be reinstated, and you will no longer be eligible to participate in a Miami-Dade County plan.

If you have a qualifying event, you may add your eligible dependent(s) to your medical, dental and/or vision insurance plan(s). A written request for the change must be received in our office no later than forty-five (45) days following the date of the qualifying event, or sixty (60) days for newborns or adoption/placement. To add a dependent, complete the Change in Status form and submit it to the Benefits Administration Unit with a copy of the applicable documentation (i.e., marriage certificate, certificate of domestic partnership, birth certificate or adoption papers, letter from spouse/DP's or dependent’s employer certifying involuntary termination of insurance benefits). Your premium will be adjusted to reflect the change in coverage.

Please note: The limiting age for dependent children is the end of the calendar year that the child reaches age 26 for medical, dental and vision. Medical coverage may be extended to age 30, under the conditions listed below.

Adult Dependent Children Age 26 to 30 (Florida Statute 627.6562)

Medical coverage may be continued for adult children age 26+ through the end of the calendar year the child turns 30, if the child:

• is not married and has no dependents (i.e. children, spouse/domestic partner), and
• is not provided or otherwise has available other major medical health insurance, and
• is either a resident of Florida or is a student in another state.

An Overage Dependent Affidavit will need to be filled out annually during open enrollment.

Dependent children who are incapable of sustaining employment because of mental or physical disability and are dependent upon the employee for support may continue to be covered beyond the limiting age, if enrolled prior to age 26. Proof of disability must be submitted to the plan on an ongoing basis.

If you die, dependents covered under your retiree medical, dental and vision insurance will be offered COBRA in accordance with Federal Law. Continuation of benefits may continue under COBRA for up to 36 months.

In order to cover eligible dependents, retirees must be enrolled in a Retiree Group Health plan. If you cancel your medical coverage upon becoming eligible for Medicare, dependents covered under your retiree medical will be offered COBRA in accordance with Federal Law. However, if you become Medicare-eligible and enroll in a County-sponsored Medicare plan, your dependent(s) may remain enrolled in the pre-65 retiree medical coverage. If you cancel your dental and vision coverage, your covered dependents will be offered COBRA. Continuation of benefits may continue under COBRA for up to 36 months. All cancellations are irrevocable; once cancelled, coverage will not be reinstated.