If you haven't already done so, start at Medicare - First step

Depending on age, years of service, and other factors, you may qualify for the "Pre-2003 HP Retiree Medical Program" -- as opposed to the current "HP Retiree Medical Program." ("2003" refers to the year when HP implemented the program, not necessarily your year of retirement.) We have a copy of HP's official "Pre-2003" criteria here:  hpalumni.org/Pre2003

Be sure to go through the critical info in your Enrollment Guide.

Critical points include: changing HP or HPE plans, dropping and re-enrolling, loss of spouse/partner's coverage, and dependent coverage following your death. (HP: See inside rear cover. HPE: See page 18.)

Tips:

- Lots packed into an Enrollment Guide. Even if you have a paper copy, download the file and use Adobe Reader's search feature to find specific words or phrases (Ctrl-F, F3, or Command-F.) hpalumni.org/EnrollmentGuides

- Carefully go through the Annual Enrollment Coverage Statement, the personalized cover letter mailed with the Enrollment Guide. The Statement gives critical details that are not covered in the Guide -- such as the amount of any subsidy. Unlike the Enrollment Guide, your Coverage Statement is not available on your myhpbenefits.com account.

Dependent coverage coordination. Unlike group Medicare plans, which may cover dependents (such as a spouse/partner), a standard Medicare plan covers one individual. This complicates the transition from a pre-Medicare group employee or retiree plan to Medicare, since you and your spouse/partner are probably not the same age. Study the Enrollment Guide and work with your Benefits Center to set up coverage. AARP article "Younger Spouse Losing Health Insurance, Now What?" https://www.aarp.org/medicare/faq/qualify-for-medicare-at-age-63/ 

Many companies will contact you. A couple of months before you reach 65 -- and during every Annual Enrollment -- you will start hearing from multiple companies selling Medicare plans.

You will receive mailings and phone calls from health systems, HMOs, insurance carriers (such as AARP/UHC) and insurance sales agencies. (They purchase lists, selected by age, from consumer data brokers.)

Medicare plan sales commissions are substantial:
- Advantage. First year $626-$780. Renewal $313-$390/year. Depends on the state.
- Medigap. Depends on state and company -- typical: First year 20%-27% of annual premium. Half that rate for five more years.
- Drug. First year $109. Renewal $55/year. Depends on the state.

Your postal address is provided by HP or HPE to the sales agency that they have selected to sell and administer company-subsidized standard open-market Medicare policies to employees and retirees -- Alight Retiree Health Solutions.

No sales agency, including Alight, offers all policies available in your area. You can compare benefits and costs for all open-market policies available in your ZIP code -- Advantage, Medigap, and Drug -- on the official Medicare site. Gives estimated cost -- and contact info -- for each policy. https://www.medicare.gov/plan-compare 

Well before you hear from your former employer, you will get a letter that refers to HP or HPE -- but is actually from Alight. (Alight is paid industry-standard sales commissions.)

Some members report getting attention-getting certified letters.

If you have a group plan that is no longer available via HP/HPE, the Alight letter will bluntly say that your plan has been "terminated."

In the past, you may have had two alternatives for your HP/HPE/DEC Medicare coverage -- group plans or standard open-market plans.

Group Medicare policies are purchased from insurance companies and administered by employers. Premiums reflect the cost of care only for the employer's retiree population -- and have been dramatically increasing for several years. Employers are moving to more cost-efficient employer-subsidized standard open-market plans.

HPInc: No group plans will be offered for 2026. (HP first offered subsidized standard Medicare plans for 2017.)

HPE: 2026 info to come.

What you pay.

Premiums for standard Medicare policies are based on the highly-competitive open market.

There are government specifications for Advantage and Medigap ("Supplement") policies. An insurance company may add additional features, but can't change the required basic coverage.

Each company decides how it sets prices. Key factors:

- How much you will pay in the future -- referred to as community-rated, issue-age, or attained age.

- May offer discounts based on how you pay. Multiple policies. High-deductible option. Other factors, such as non-smoker.

- May require medical underwriting or apply a different rate if you don't have a guaranteed issue right or aren't in your Open Enrollment Period.

More about costs on the excellent official Medicare site: https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/costs

Where you buy.

To purchase a health insurance policy, the transaction must be completed by an agent who holds an insurance sales license in your state.

Medicare policies are available from many sources -- including national and local insurance sales agencies -- and directly from insurance companies and health systems.

For a specific plan under the same terms, all insurance sales agencies charge the same price -- and are paid the same standard commission. (Initial sale -- Advantage ~$700; Medigap 20%-30%. Then monthly for the life of the policy.)

Members report that an experienced health insurance agent can make a big difference. For example:

- Knowing your personal situation, an agent can help position your application for the best price or coverage -- or deal with pre-existing conditions.

- A local independent agent should be familiar with the plans that work best with the health providers in your area.

If you have an HP or HPE subsidy, you must purchase through a specific nationwide sales agency -- Alight Retiree Health Solutions. Every month, you pay the list price for the plan, Alight is paid a monthly commission by the plan, and Alight notifies the Benefits Center -- which reimburses you until your annual subsidy is used up.

Member advice on Alight:

- Alight may call or send notices, sometimes via Certified Mail, implying that you have a subsidy -- or that HP or HPE endorse the Alight sales agency for those who don't have a subsidy. Wait for your authoritative information from the HP or HPE Benefits Center.

Deadlines The HP and HPE enrollment deadlines are much earlier than the Dec 7 national Medicare deadline to adjust your coverage for the next calendar year. (The national deadline does not apply if you have qualified life event during the year -- such as starting Medicare.)

If you won't be able to resolve your Medicare situation by the HP/HPE enrollment deadline -- for example, because you can't get an Alight advisor appointment in time, or you have an application pending for an individual Medicare plan through Alight -- HP and HPE recommend that you enroll in the best HP/HPE plan now and change later if necessary.

There is a confirmation and mop-up cycle after the stated HP/HPE deadline. However, members report that changes made too far after the original deadline may not be in place at your providers by January 1.

HPInc: "You must make corrections by December 15, 2023, at 6 p.m. Pacific Time (8 p.m. Central Time). After that date, you won’t be able to make changes for 2024 unless you experience a qualified status change and call the HP Inc Benefits Center within 60 days."

HPE: "If you need to correct your elections, notify the HPE Benefits Center before Dec 31, 2023."