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Insurance

Idaho Code allows eligible retirees of the State of Idaho, school districts, and charter schools, to convert up to half of their unused sick leave to a sick leave account that can be used to pay qualifying insurance premiums. The specifics of the conversion depend on the employer that you retired from.

Insurance coverage options are specific to your individual needs, and PERSI staff is unable to answer questions relating to which coverages you need, what the monthly premium is, and what your insurance plan covers.

Retirees Insurance

Idaho Code 33-1228 allows eligible retirees to convert half of their unused sick leave to a sick leave account that is used to pay premiums for “group health, long-term care, vision, prescriptions drug, and dental programs as may be maintained by the employer”. Upon your retirement, your employer will provide PERSI with an accounting of your unused sick leave, and this accounting will be used to calculate the amount of unused sick leave credited to your account.

The coverage options available vary by district, so to determine the current list of insurance options available to you, you will need to contact the HR office at the employer you retired from. Once you decide on which coverage options, you are responsible for contacting the insurance carrier, enrolling in coverage, and instructing the carrier to add your name to the PERSI billing file. If you wish to change insurance plans or cancel your coverage, you must contact the insurance carrier directly. The insurance carrier will then end the deductions from your PERSI account.

Idaho Code 67-5333 allows eligible retirees to convert half of their unused sick leave to an account that can be used to pay premiums for “such health, dental, vision, long-term care, prescription drug, and life insurance programs as may be maintained by the state”. Upon your retirement, your employer will provide PERSI with an accounting of your unused sick leave, and this accounting will be used to calculate the amount of unused sick leave credited to your account.

The Office of Group Insurance is responsible for entering into agreements with insurance carriers to provide coverage to the State of Idaho retirees. Once you decide on coverage options, you are responsible for contacting the insurance carrier, enrolling in coverage, and instructing the carrier to add your name to the PERSI billing file. If you wish to change insurance plans or cancel coverage, you must contact the insurance carrier directly. The insurance carrier will then end the deductions from your PERSI account. “For the list of approved carriers and contact information, visit the website of the Office of Group Insurance.”

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Senior Health Insurance Benefits Advisors: SHIBA provides free, unbiased Medicare benefit information and assistance for all Idahoans with Medicare.

Phone: 1-800-247-4422

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