NEA^® Retiree Health Program

Get help paying for costs not covered by Medicare—plus discounts on dental, vision care and more

In partnership with

overview

Cover the gaps in your Medicare coverage

The NEA^® Retiree Health Program provides coverage for the roughly 20% of expenses not covered by Medicare. If you’re over 65, you and your spouse/domestic partner are guaranteed acceptance during open enrollment. Stay in control of your medical care with your choice of doctors and hospitals.

Get help paying for expenses not covered by Medicare
You’re covered for pre-existing conditions if you’re replacing an existing plan
You’ll receive nationwide coverage that keeps pace with Medicare’s annual changes
Your benefits automatically increase to cover Medicare’s gaps
Switch to the NEA Plan of your choice with no waiting period or lapse in coverage*
Get additional discounts on dental care, chiropractic care, vision care, hearing care and vitamins

how it helps

Have more control over your health care

Lower Group Rates

The NEA^® Retiree Health Program’s rates are, on average, lower than the nation’s most popular Medicare supplement program. That means if you already have a Medicare supplement policy, and you switch, you could get extra spending money every month. You can check rates by state with this interactive map.

Freedom of Choice

The NEA Plan is not an HMO. Choose your own doctors and hospitals.

Easy Eligibility

You cannot be turned down due to health reasons! No physical exam is ever required and you don’t have to answer any health questions when you sign up during open enrollment periods or when you’re enrolling in Medicare Part B for the first time.

Dependability

The NEA Members Insurance Trust selected United American Insurance Company to underwrite this program because of their reliable history serving policy holders with quality insurance since 1947 and their rating of A Excellent as of 7/20.

How It Works

Start your coverage and protect your future

Learn more about the NEA^® Retiree Health Program

Check Rates by State with this interactive map.
Learn about Eligibility & Guaranteed Acceptance and Read Additional Provisions.
For a summary of benefits and comparison of all Medicare supplement plans in the program, see the NEA Retiree Health Program: Summary of Benefits.
Learn about the Best Benefits Discount Program, Including Emergency Travel Service
Read about Medicare Advantage (Part C).
Glossary of insurance terms.

How to enroll

Make sure you’re signed in to your NEA Member Benefits account.
To apply by phone, call the NEA Retiree Health Program hotline at 1‑844‑213‑1556.
To download an enrollment kit, click “Print an Enrollment Kit” above.
Enroll during your Medicare Enrollment period, beginning three months before you turn age 65 and ending three months after you turn age 65 to be guaranteed issue.
Enroll anytime or during the Open Enrollment^* period, visit the NEAMB website under Medicare Supplement to view enrollment dates or sign up to receive e-mail communications.

^* Enrollment kits are sent periodically during open enrollment.

FAQs

Your questions, answered

If you have questions not covered here, please call the NEA Retiree Health Program hotline, toll-free at 1-844-213-1556 (Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT). Friendly service representatives will be glad to assist you.

No physical exam is required to get coverage under any plan option. During Open Enrollment periods or when you enroll in Medicare Part B for the first time, no health questions are asked and you cannot be turned down for health reasons.

Yes. As long as you remain a NEA member and a participant of this program and your spouse is eligible for Medicare and is age 65 or over, she/he may get this coverage.

You can switch to the NEA Retiree Health Program without ever losing a day of coverage.

Two considerations when selecting your Plan Option are: (1) how much out-of-pocket expense can you afford to pay, and; (2) how much do you want to pay for a supplement plan. Each of the plan options provides a different level of insurance protection. You should compare them and fit them to your personal needs and budget. We recommend you give special consideration to plan options F, G and N. To help you make an informed decision, a detailed benefit chart for all available options is on the Summary Page.

Rates can change once each year. The claims experience of the NEA Retiree Health Program is reviewed annually by the NEA Members Insurance Trust. If changes are needed in the premium rate schedules due to the overall claims experience of the program, your premium rate will change for this reason. For certain states, premium rates will also increase based on your attained age, up to and including age 80, regardless of the claims experience of the program. All claims experience premium rate changes and any applicable attained age premium increases are combined into one single rate change for your policy, once a year.

Yes, the NEA program’s exclusive premium rates are extremely competitive—we have lower rates on average than most popular Medicare Supplement Programs. The NEA Members Insurance Trust evaluates the plans offered and the premium rates annually to ensure these remain competitive. In most states, your premium rate is determined by your age when you enroll. Please review the applicable plans and premium rate schedules offered in your residence state to understand your cost when you enroll.^†

No. Most hospitals—inpatient or outpatient—and skilled nursing facilities file special forms directly with United American. Part B claims information is received directly from Medicare, virtually eliminating your need to file. And, with “Automatic” Claims Filing (ACF), most claims are handled automatically when doctors accept Medicare assignment. ACF is “paperless!” You do nothing!

The NEA Retiree Health Program is designed specifically to automatically match any increase in Medicare deductibles or co-payments.

Individual Medicare Supplement Plans C and F are no longer available to Medicare beneficiaries who become eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. However, those who are already enrolled in Plans C and F can keep them. Also, if you are an eligible NEA member, spouse or domestic partner not yet enrolled in the NEA Retiree Health Program, you can enroll in any of the Program’s plan options (including Plan F) even after January 1, 2020. Plan F will remain an available plan option under the NEA Retiree Health Program since it is a group plan, but is no longer available to newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries in the individual Medicare Supplement market.

Yes. Even if you’re healthy now, there’s always the chance you will be in an accident, or you’ll develop an illness later on.

Yes. There are no lists to limit your choices. You have the freedom to choose any doctor or medical facility that accepts Medicare.

No. As long as you pay your premiums, remain an eligible NEA member, and the Program remains in force, your coverage will continue regardless of your health or the number of claims you file. (Of course, you may cancel your coverage whenever you wish.)

Nothing. You can stay with the original Medicare and your NEA plan without lifting a finger.

Please see About Medicare Advantage (Part C) or visit Medicare.gov for a copy of the booklet “Medicare & You.”

NEA^® In-Hospital Indemnity Plan

A Voluntary Hospital Indemnity coverage issued by The Prudential Insurance Company of America. This coverage pays a benefit for hospital admission and daily ICU stays. This coverage is guaranteed and no medical exams are needed.

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NEA^® Dental and Vision Insurance Program

Get important dental coverage for you and your family with the option to add affordable vision care. Choose your own providers or save time and money by using the nationwide Preferred Provider Organization (PPO).

Learn More

NEA Long-Term Care Program

The cost of extended care is not covered by regular health insurance or even Medicare, which is why long-term care insurance exists. The NEA Long-Term Care Program can help you be better prepared for the consequences of needing extended care as you age.

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Terms & Conditions

* Members who switch to the NEA Plan could be subject to waiting periods if they do not enroll during an open enrollment period.

† Your rate depends on your particular circumstances and not all members will save. The NEA Members Insurance Trust provides this information to assist you in comparing the options that may be available. Please read the Summary of Benefit for additional details to help make an informed choice that works for you.

The NEA Retiree Health Program and United American Insurance Company are not associated with or endorsed by Medicare, Social Security or any other governmental agency.

Get Started

NEA^® Retiree Health Program

Get help paying for costs not covered by Medicare—plus discounts on dental, vision care and more

Cover the gaps in your Medicare coverage