Rehired Retiree Information

The General Assembly passed legislation to create a new eligibility category for non-permanent full-time employees to comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  This legislation, North Carolina General Statute 135-48.40(e), directs: 

• The State Health Plan to offer a health benefit for non-permanent full-time employees that is not greater than the “bronze level” as defined under the ACA.
  • The High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) meets the bronze level requirements.
     
• Employing units to determine eligibility for the plan. 
  • This includes non-permanent employees who on average work at least 30 hours per week.

Employing units (state agencies or participating local governments, public schools, universities, or community colleges) are required to cover rehired state retirees as active employees if they are determined to meet the definition of full-time employee.

• Employing units are responsible for determining if rehired state retirees are eligible to be covered under health benefits options for Active Employees (70/30 Plan or 80/20 Plan; or will only offer the HDHP).
• Eligible rehired retirees are NOT eligible for retiree health benefit coverage through the State Retirement Systems.
• The State Health Plan will terminate the retiree from retiree group coverage under Retirement Systems.

If you leave employment or otherwise become no longer eligible, you will once again be eligible for coverage under the State Retirement Systems.

Loss of eligibility is a qualifying life event under the State Health Plan enrollment rules and you will have 30 days to re-enroll in State Health Plan coverage under the Retirement Systems.  You can re-enroll online via the ORBIT system or by calling 855-859-0966. If you fail to re-enroll within the 30 days, you will be unable to come back on the Plan under the Retirement Systems until the next Open Enrollment period.

To learn more about the High Deductible Health Plan click here. For more information on preparing for retirement, click here.