Duke offers health insurance to eligible retirees. Your eligibility for retiree health insurance and associated premiums are determined by several factors including your Duke entity, most recent hire date, years of service, and transfer history. You and your covered dependents will either continue on your active employee health plan as an Early Retiree or you will transfer to the Duke Plus health plan. Please see the information below regarding which coverage you will have as a retiree.

Employees Less Than Age 65

If You Are Retiring

If you are eligible to receive retiree health insurance, you will remain on your existing health insurance plan but will be moved to the Early Retiree Group.*

After Retiring

You and any covered dependents on your current Duke medical insurance plan will be moved to the Duke Plus Health Plan automatically.

You will receive a letter from Human Resources explaining the move to Duke Plus and it will give you instructions on how to sign up for Medicare Part A, Hospital Insurance and Part B, Medical Insurance through the Social Security Office.

Employees Age 65 or Older

If You Are Continuing to Work

Your existing health insurance plan will continue as long as you are actively employed with Duke. You will NOT need to make any changes with your current benefit elections or contact the benefits office at this time.

If You Are Retiring

You will want to sign up for Medicare Part B, Medical Insurance through the Social Security office. At this time Medicare Part B will become your primary medical insurance. Since you will be signing up for Medicare after age 65 the Benefits office will supply you with a waiver letter to give to Social Security when signing up for Medicare Part B so you will not be penalized for late enrollment.

If you are eligible to receive retiree health insurance, you will be moved from your current Duke medical insurance plan to the Duke Plus Health Plan when you retire. Please contact the benefits office to facilitate this plan change when retiring.

*If you or one of your covered dependents become eligible for Medicare due to attainment of age 65 or disability, you are required by our plans to enroll in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B and contact our office at 919-684-5600.