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Pre-65 Retiree Benefits

The Open Enrollment period for plans starting January 1, 2026, will begin October 27, 2025, and end November 14, 2025. No action is needed before Open Enrollment. Read the Announced Changes to Retiree Eligibility mailed to retirees' home address in June 2025.

 

2026 Resources

2026 Pre-65 Open Enrollment

Medical and Prescription Drug Coverage

For 2026, UnitedHealthcare will administer medical and prescription drug coverage offered to pre-65 retirees. See the tabs above for more information about the plans available.

Retirees under age 65 who carry coverage for themselves, a spouse who is under age 65, and eligible dependent children will automatically continue coverage based on the information below. Retirees can change plans or drop coverage by completing the Open Enrollment form mailed to their home address in mid-October. 

When a currently enrolled retiree turns 65, their coverage and their dependents' coverage ends at the end of that month. A spouse under the age of 65 who loses coverage because the retiree turned 65 can continue coverage for themselves and eligible dependents until they turn 65, but must enroll during Open Enrollment for 2026, or within 31 days of losing coverage after 1/1/2026. 


Continuing Medical Coverage

The table below shows which plan retirees under age 65 will be automatically enrolled in for 2026 if they take no action during Open Enrollment.  

2025 Plan 2026 Plan
Legacy Retiree PPO Pre-65 PPO
Legacy Retiree HMO Pre-65 HMO

 

Dental Coverage

For 2026, dental coverage offered to pre-65 retirees for the PPO Dental plan will be administered by Delta Dental of Illinois. Coverage under the Guardian DHMO will not change.

Retirees under age 65 who carry coverage for themselves, a spouse who is under age 65, and eligible dependent children will automatically continue coverage based on the information below. Retirees can change plans or drop coverage by completing the Open Enrollment form mailed to their home address in mid-October.

When a currently enrolled retiree turns 65, their and their dependents' coverage ends at the end of that month. A spouse under the age of 65 who loses coverage because the retiree turned 65 can continue coverage for themselves and eligible dependents until they turn 65, but must enroll during Open Enrollment for 2026, or within 31 days of losing coverage after 1/1/2026. 


Continuing Dental Coverage

The table below shows which plan retirees under age 65 will be automatically enrolled in for 2026 if they take no action during Open Enrollment. 

2025 Plan 2026 Plan
Legacy Retiree PPO Pre-65 PPO
Legacy Retiree HMO Pre-65 HMO

 

Vision Coverage

For 2026, vision coverage offered to pre-65 retirees will not change; but verify if your current provider will remain in-network with EyeMed. Retirees under age 65 who carry coverage for themselves, a spouse who is under age 65, and/or dependent children will automatically continue coverage. Retirees can drop coverage by completing the Open Enrollment form mailed to their home in mid-October.

When a currently enrolled retiree turns 65, their coverage and their dependents coverage ends at the end of that month. A spouse under the age of 65 who loses coverage because the retiree turned 65 can continue coverage for themselves and eligible dependents until they turn 65, but must enroll during Open Enrollment for 2026, or within 31 days of losing coverage after 1/1/2026.

2026 Resources

2026 Pre-65 Medical Plans

Northwestern offers four pre-65 retiree medical plans to eligible retirees, their spouses, and dependent children to bridge coverage until Medicare eligibility. Dependent children under 26, or disabled children over 26, may enroll only if the retiree or spouse is also enrolled. See the Via Benefits tab above for information on how to find plans offered outside of Northwestern.

At retirement, retirees may enroll in medical, dental, or vision plans matching their faculty and staff coverage and may only cover dependents enrolled at that time. You may switch plans at Open Enrollment. If the retiree is over 65 and the spouse is under 65, the spouse may enroll and cover dependents.

Enrollment in pre-65 health, dental, and vision plans must take place within 31 days of retirement. Annual Open Enrollment allows changing between plans only—no new enrollments or added dependents. 

Plan options include:

  • PPO
    • Plan website
    • Summary of Benefits Coverage (SBC) - Available closer to Open Enrollment 
  • HMO
    • Plan website
    • Summary of Benefits Coverage (SBC) - Available closer to Open Enrollment 
  • HDHP Plus
    • Plan website
    • Summary of Benefits Coverage (SBC) - Available closer to Open Enrollment 
  • HDHP Essential
    • Plan website
    • Summary of Benefits Coverage (SBC) - Available closer to Open Enrollment 

When a currently enrolled retiree turns 65, their coverage and their dependents coverage ends at the end of that month. If the retiree's spouse is carrying coverage, when the spouse turns 65, coverage for them and their dependents end at the end of that month. A spouse under the age of 65 who loses coverage because the retiree turned 65 can continue coverage but must enroll within 31 days.  Contact askHR at askHR@northwestern.edu or 847-491-4700 to request an enrollment form.

Retirees or spouses age 65 and older may enroll in the Post-65 Group Medicare Advantage Plan or seek outside coverage. Enrollment in the Group Medicare Advantage Plan requires Medicare Parts A & B, so plan enrollment accordingly. The Group Medicare Advantage Plan provides coverage for medical, prescription drugs, dental, and vision for one premium. The plan does not offer customizable medical, prescription drugs, dental, and vision. If you enroll in the Medicare Advantage plan and you have other coverage, this plan may pay primary. 

COBRA will not be offered to retirees or covered dependents when the retiree or spouse loses coverage due to turning age 65. COBRA is offered for other qualifying events such as divorce or a dependent child turning 26.

Retirees enrolled in the HDHPs are ineligible for Northwestern's Health Savings Account or matching University contributions.

2026 Resources

2026 Pre-65 Dental Plans

Northwestern offers two pre-65 dental retiree plans to eligible retirees, their spouse, and dependent children to help bridge coverage from retirement to Medicare eligibility. Dependent children under 26, or disabled children over 26, may enroll only if the retiree or spouse is also enrolled.

Northwestern offers two pre-65 dental retiree plans to retirees, their spouse, and dependent children to help bridge coverage from retirement to Medicare eligibility. Dependent children under age 26, or disabled children over age 26, may only enroll if the pre-65 retiree plans if the retiree or their spouse are also enrolled in the pre-65 retiree plan.  See the Via Benefits tab above for information on how to find plans offered outside of Northwestern.

Plan options include:

When a currently enrolled retiree turns 65, coverage for them and their dependents ends at the end of that month. If the retiree's spouse is the one carrying coverage, when the spouse turns 65, coverage for them and their dependents ends at the end of that month. month's end. A spouse under the age of 65 spouse who loses coverage because the retiree turned age 65 can continue coverage but must enroll within 31 days. Contact askHR at askHR@northwestern.edu or 847-491-4700 to request an enrollment form.

Retirees or spouses age 65 and older may enroll in the Post-65 Group Medicare Advantage Plan or seek outside coverage. Enrollment in the Group Medicare Advantage Plan requires Medicare Parts A & B, so plan enrollment accordingly. The Group Medicare Advantage Plan provides coverage for medical, prescription drugs, dental, and vision for one premium. The plan does not offer al a carte medical, prescription drugs, dental, and vision. If you enroll in the Medicare Advantage plan and you have other coverage, this plan may pay primary. 

COBRA will not be offered to retirees or covered dependents when the retiree or spouse loses coverage due to turning 65.  COBRA is offered for other qualifying events such as divorce or a dependent child turning age 26.

2026 Resources

2026 Pre-65 Vision Plan

Northwestern offers one pre-65 retiree vision plan to eligible retirees, their spouse, and dependent children to help bridge the retiree to Medicare eligibility. Dependent children under age 26, or disabled children over age 26, may only enroll if the pre-65 retiree plans if the retiree or their spouse are also enrolled in the pre-65 retiree plan.  See the Via Benefits tab above for information on how to find plans offered outside of Northwestern.

Plan option is:

When a currently enrolled retiree turns 65, coverage for them and their dependents ends at the end of that month. If the retiree's spouse is the one carrying the coverage, when the spouse turns 65, coverage for them and their dependents ends at the end of that month. A source under the age of 65 who loses coverage because the retiree turned 65 can continue coverage but must enroll within 31 days.  Contact askHR at askHR@northwestern.edu or 847-491-4700 to request an enrollment form.

Retirees or spouses age 65 and older may enroll in the Post-65 Group Medicare Advantage Plan or seek outside coverage. Enrollment in the Group Medicare Advantage Plan requires Medicare Parts A & B, so plan enrollment accordingly. The Group Medicare Advantage Plan provides coverage for medical, prescription drugs, dental, and vision for one premium. The plan does not offer al a carte medical, prescription drugs, dental, and vision. If you enroll in the Medicare Advantage plan and you have other coverage, this plan may pay primary. 

COBRA will not be offered to retirees or covered dependents when the retiree or spouse loses coverage due to turning 65. COBRA is offered for other qualifying events such as divorce or a dependent child turning age 26.

Assistance Shopping for Other Plans

Northwestern University provides personalized navigation support to retirees who wish to enroll in health, dental, or vision plans outside of what Northwestern offers. This service is available to retirees and their dependents who are not yet eligible for Medicare, as well as those over age 65. Via Benefits – the organization that will provide retirees with personalized advice and enrollment assistance – explains the steps retirees must take to select coverage and complete their enrollment. With the assistance and expertise of a licensed benefit advisor, retirees will be able to select coverage that fits their coverage needs, budget, and lifestyle. This navigation support is offered at no cost to retirees.

Via Benefits will only assist with shopping for plans outside of Northwestern's offerings. They cannot compare Northwestern's Medicare Advantage Plans, Pre-65 Retiree Plans, or active faculty and staff plans to their offerings. Additionally, Via Benefits does not have access to your current benefit enrollment information or benefit usage. You will need to share any pertinent information with them directly.

Retirees can go online at www.viabenefits.education. This website contains educational materials on Medicare and information on different medical and drug plan options. When retirees are ready, they can call +1-833-995-1383 to speak with a Via Benefit advisor who will be available to answer their questions and offer objective guidance. The advisor will work with retirees, one-on-one, to review the plans available in their geographic area and help them choose and enroll in a plan that fits their individual needs.

Tuition Plans

If you retire from the University and meet the specified age and service requirements, you may continue to receive benefits from select tuition plans. For faculty members, retirement is the point at which one ceases to work full-time at any institution, not merely ends his/her employment at Northwestern University.

Retirees are eligible for the following benefits:
  • Dependent Reduced
  • Dependent Portable
  • Note: only dependents who were your dependents prior to retirement are eligible for benefits.  New dependents (newborns, stepchildren due to marriage, etc.) are ineligible. 
Retirees are not eligible for the following benefits:
  • Employee Reduced
  • Employee Portable