Committee extends state retiree healthcare benefits

State retirees can sign up for the same Medicare benefits they’ve had in the past after an Oct. 17 decision by the State Employee Benefits Committee.

Medicare benefits for state retirees are at the center of a Supreme Court lawsuit filed after the state tried to change Medicare benefits for retirees for the upcoming year.

Under the SEBC decision, the Medicfill contract for state pensioners is extended for 12 months.

Pending the resolution of the litigation, the SEBC will consider its options for 2024, which include renegotiation of the Highmark BCBS Delaware Medicare Advantage PPO plan contract and rebidding of the state Medicare health plan, according to a press release from the Department of Human Resources.

In the coming weeks, officials said, all state of Delaware Medicare-eligible pensioners will receive additional information regarding Special Medicfill enrollment for the plan year that begins Jan. 1, 2023. Enrollment in the Special Medicfill with prescription plan will automatically continue for individuals currently enrolled. Benefit-eligible pensioners who are enrolled in the Special Medicfill without prescription plan or who have waived coverage for the current plan year will be given the opportunity to make changes effective Jan. 1, 2023, officials said.

A special session by the state Legislature was canceled following the SEBC decision. The session was going to consider creating a committee to handle Medicare insurance concerns.

Issues over the state’s new Medicare plan surfaced over the summer and came to a head this fall when a group, RiseDelaware, formed in opposition to changes they said would decrease benefits for state retirees. A Superior Court judge recently put a hold on changes to the state’s Medicare plan.

Officials said as more information becomes available, it will be posted on the DHR - Division of Statewide Benefits (delaware.gov) website and the Office of Pensions website.