Retiree Benefits Changes
As you likely know, Northwestern faces a very challenging financial environment, in part due to the increasing expenses related to benefits. To address these costs, Northwestern will be making changes to its Benefits programs for retirees as well as for current faculty and staff.
Summary of Important Changes
- The current Legacy medical, dental and vision plans for Retirees aged 65 or older will end on January 1, 2026. This group of retirees will need to find alternative coverage for medical, dental, and/or vision that is currently provided through the Legacy plans. One option is the group Medicare Advantage plan Northwestern offers through United Healthcare for medical, dental, and vision coverage. More information on other options can be found below. You do not need to do anything until Northwestern’s Open Enrollment, which will run from Monday, October 27, 2025 through Friday, November 14, 2025.
- Retirees under age 65 currently covered under the Legacy Plans will automatically continue coverage in 2026 under Northwestern’s new medical and dental insurance providers and a new prescription plan provider. More information is provided below. You do not need to do anything until Northwestern’s Open Enrollment for 2026, which will run from Monday, October 27, 2025 through Friday, November 14, 2025.
Details for Retirees Aged 65+
As noted above, the current Legacy medical, dental, and vision plans will end for anyone who is age 65 or older on January 1, 2026. If you or your covered spouse are or will be 65 or older before January 1, 2026, your Legacy coverage will end on December 31, 2025.
Those who are already 65 or older enrolled in the Legacy Retiree Medical Plans should have previously enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B. For those turning 65, Medicare offers a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) when you turn age 65.
Your Options and Next Steps
With the end of the Legacy Plans, Medicare-eligible retirees, Medicare-eligible spouses, and Medicare-eligible dependents are eligible to join the group Medicare Advantage plan through United Healthcare during Open Enrollment. Information sessions on the United Healthcare (UHC) Medicare Advantage plan will be held in August. A mailing will be sent to your home by UHC with more information closer to the date.
Retirees who do not elect the group UHC Medicare Advantage plan or would like to explore other Medicare supplemental, Medicare Advantage, or standalone dental and vision plans offered outside of Northwestern may contact the company, Via Benefits. Via Benefits provides personalized advice and enrollment assistance. Please be aware that Via Benefits cannot compare Northwestern’s plans to the plans they offer.
If you are currently covering a spouse under 65, your spouse may participate in the Legacy plans until they turn 65. Dependent children may continue coverage as long as one parent is covered on the pre-65 Retiree plan. Note: When a retiree is over 65 and a spouse who is under age 65 wants to remain on the Legacy plans, the under 65 spouse must enroll during Open Enrollment to continue coverage in 2026.
Details for Retirees Under Age 65
Northwestern will continue to offer pre-65 Retiree medical, dental, and vision coverage to help bridge individuals from retirement to Medicare eligibility. Starting January 1, 2026, Northwestern will be changing its insurance providers for the pre-65 medical and dental insurance as well as our prescription drug plan. In 2026, the medical plans will be administered by United Healthcare (UHC), the PPO dental plan will be administered by Delta Dental of Illinois (Delta), and the prescription drug plan will be administered by CVS Caremark (CVS). You will automatically be enrolled in these new plans.
Next Steps
The final plan details of the 2026 plans (e.g., rates, deductibles, etc.) have not yet been determined. More information will be mailed to your home in mid-September. Retirees under age 65 currently covered under the Legacy Plans will automatically continue coverage in 2026 under Northwestern’s new medical and dental insurance providers and a new prescription plan provider. If you do not want to continue with coverage in 2026, you must waive coverage during Northwestern’s Open Enrollment for 2026, which will run from Monday, October 27, 2025 through Friday, November 14, 2025. For those who plan to utilize the pre-65 Retiree medical plan with UHC, information on how you can verify your current provider(s) are in network is available at https://hr.northwestern.edu/benefits/eligibility-changes/open-enrollment/.
Questions?
For questions about changes to the Legacy Medical, Dental, or Vision plans, contact Northwestern at askHR@northwestern.edu or by calling 847-491-4700.
For questions about Medicare, including eligibility, enrollment, and coverage, visit www.medicare.gov or call 800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
For questions about Northwestern’s group United Healthcare (UHC) Medicare Advantage plan, contact UHC at 844-481-8822.
For questions about plans offered outside Northwestern, visit Via Benefits website at www.viabenefits.education or call 833-995-1383.