Frequently asked questions

A Medicare card will be received approximately 60 days prior to the 65th birthday. Medicare Part A (Hospitals) is automatic. Medicare Part B (Doctors) is optional. You must choose to enroll or not enroll in Part B. There is a monthly premium associated with Part B, which will be deducted from your Social Security payment. When you enroll in Part B, the NAU BCBS insurance becomes the secondary insurer. Medicare is the primary health insurer and your NAU BCBS premiums decrease.  BCBS covers copays when it is the secondary insurer.  If you decline Part B, you could become liable for additional costs.  Additionally, should you choose to enroll in Part B at a later date, there will be a premium surcharge.  If you are eligible for an ASRS health insurance benefit (subsidy), you must enroll in Medicate Part B to continue to receive the benefit,  which will be reduced when you become Medicare eligible.  If you are insured with a plan other than NAU BCBS, check with that plan as to the consequences of becoming Medicare eligible.

To receive the reduced premium, the retiree needs to write a letter to the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) notifying them of Medicare eligibility and attach a copy of the Medicare card:  ADOA Benefits, 100 N. 15th Avenue, Suite # 103, Phoenix, AZ 85007.  If you are an ASRS retiree and receive a health insurance benefit (subsidy), the ASRS should be notified also:  Arizona State Retirement Association, 3300 N. Central Avenue, P.O. Box 33910, Phoenix, AZ 85067-3910.

The ADOA must be informed of this loss of coverage within 31 days of the event. Call ADOA at 1-800-304-3687 and Press 3 for retiree assistance. Your spouse may be added to your health and dental insurance plans. This change in coverage will increase your premium costs from single to family and will also increase any subsidies, where applicable.

The NAU BCBS plan is available only to NAU retirees.  ADOA offers other plans which are detailed in the annual Benefits Enrollment Guide.  ASRS offers plans to its retirees detailed in their Open Enrollment Brochure. Those booklets should be consulted for options other than the NAU BCBS plan.

You and eligible dependents may take advantage of educational opportunities at any of the three Arizona Universities at reduced tuition rates. See the educational section for more information.

The NAU Administration has approved a plan for retirees to keep their email addresses New Computing Benefit for Retirees.

You may receive a free campus parking permit if you belong to NAURA. The link for becoming a member of NAURA is titled Enrollment Form.

Submit your suggestions on the NAURA web site or call one of the officers listed in our FLASH newsletter.

Send your new address, phone number, and e-mail address on the NAURA WEB SITE. This will notify ONLY NAURA of the changes. In the Retiree Benefits link are listed state and NAU agencies that also need to be notified.

Send your article or item to:

Sherry Markel
Newsletter Editor
PO Box 5601
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5601
or naura@nau.edu

The e-mail is listed in the newsletter. The article or item will then be submitted to the NAURA Executive Committee for approval before being published in the newsletter.