All Sandia retirees will keep their employee medical coverage through the end of the month in which you retire. Unless you make changes to that coverage, you will automatically be defaulted into the same coverage you had before retirement. This means that you will use your existing medical ID card and number.
Under certain situations, PreMedicare Retirees may experience a temporary lapse in coverage. This may happen, for instance, when your retirement begins near the end of a month. Although carrier systems may not show as though you have coverage, when Sandia's and the carrier’s records are synchronized (within 7-10 days), you will have coverage retroactive to the first day of the month following retirement.
As an example, let’s say you officially retire on March 27 and are enrolled in Sandia Total Health UHC. You will keep your employee STH UHC coverage through March 31. Beginning April 1, as long as you have not made any changes to your coverage, you will begin your retiree coverage of STH UHC. You will not be sent a new ID card as you will continue to use your existing one. UHC may not have you listed in the records on April 1, however after approximately 7-10 days you will be back in their system with a coverage effective date of April 1. If you see a doctor during the period when you are not on UHC’s system, you will still be able to submit claims because of the coverage retroactive to the beginning of the month.
Pre-Medicare Retirees will receive a Welcome Packet from VIA Benefits approximately 7-10 business days after your retirement has been processed and approved by your HRPP. For changes in coverage, please contact VIA Benefits.
After you have received your Welcome Packet from VIA Benefits, PreMedicare Retirees may contact VIA Benefits at 1-888-598-7809 or at www.SandiaRetireeBenefits.com.
All Sandia retirees will keep their employee medical coverage through the end of the month in which you retire.
You and your Medicare-eligible dependents must also enroll in Medicare Part A & B to enroll in Medicare coverage options. New coverage will become effective the first day of the following month of retirement.
After you have received your Benefit Choices and Enrollment Guide from VIA Benefits, Medicare-Eligible Retirees may contact VIA Benefits at 1-888-598-7809 or my.viabenefits.com/sandia.