Retiree Benefits

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Retired City employees may choose to enroll in Health and Dental policies specifically designed to extend benefits into your retirement years. 

To learn more about the transition from your active employee to retired employee plans, please fee free to contact the Benefits Manager at benefits@newtonma.gov or 617-796-1263.

MEDICARE ELIGIBILTY

If you are 65 or over, you are required to enroll in Medicare A and B.  If you are not eligible for Medicare, valid proof is required to remain enrolled in the City’s health plan. Please contact Medicare 3 months prior to your 65th birthday. Upon receipt of your Medicare Card please contact the Human Resources Department to discuss your options.

Call Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 or use this link to learn more     https://www.medicare.gov/basics/get-started-with-medicare.

The City of Newton currently offers two Medicare Advantage Plans and one Medicare Supplemental Plan.

Please select your Medicare status below to access resources specific to your needs:

STAY INFORMED!

Click the box below to sign up for City of Newton Retiree updates from the Newton Human Resources Department.

retiree

Please review the provided Comparison Chart and Monthly Rates associated with the three health insurance plans offered by the city.  If you have any questions, please give Human Resources a call at 617-796-1262.

2025 Comparison Chart of Medicare Supplement Plans

Tufts Medicare Preferred HMO Plan:

For retirees living in Massachusetts only (excluding Franklin, Berkshire, Dukes, and Nantucket counties). Accepts any doctor in the Tufts Health Plan Medicare Preferred HMO network. Medical and prescription coverage with low co-pays.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO Blue Freedom:

Provides a national network of doctors and specialists giving you the flexibiltyto choose. Benefit from competitive cost-sharing options with 0$ co-pays for most services and no deductibles.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield Medex2 with PDP:

BCBS Medex2 offers nationwide coverage with every provider who accepts Medicare and comes with an integrated Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) that provides essential coverage for your medications.

  • BCBS Medicare PPO Blue Freedom Benefit Summary 2024 
  • BCBS Medicare PPO Blue Freedom Rx Enrollment Form

Pre-65 or non-Medicare eligible Retiree Health plans

  • Benefit Comparison chart for Union Advantage Plans (AFSCME 2443, AFSCME 2913, AFSCME 1703, Newton Police Association, Newton Superior Officers Association, Firefighters Local 863, Massachusetts Nurses Association, and Teamsters Local 25)

Summary of Benefits

Dental plan - Blue Cross Blue Shield dental coverage effective January 1, 2025

Life Insurance

 BCBSMA Transparency in Coverage 

Machine-readable files that include negotiated service rates and out of network allowed amounts between health plans and healthcare providers are made available in response to the federal Transparency in Coverage Rule.  The files are formatted to allow researchers, regulators and application developers to more easily access and analyze data.

There are currently two (2) files available here:

https://transparency-in-coverage.bluecrossma.com/:

The first shows negotiated rates for all covered items and services between the plan or issuer and in-network providers; the second shows both the historical payments to and billed charges from out-of-network providers. There is no restriction on access through sign in or other mechanism that would create a barrier to access. However, due to the scope of these files and the data format, they are not intended for an average consumer to access; the size and scope of data will require sufficient memory and tools to support access and review.