Medical Benefits for Medicare-Eligible Retirees
Medicare-Eligible Retirees Open Enrollment is scheduled for
October 19 – November 13, 2026
For Plan Year January 1, 2027 – December 31, 2027
Eligible retirees will have an opportunity to cancel or make changes to their existing medical and/or dental insurance coverage.
Details on the specific plan changes and options will be posted at the Medicare Eligible Retirees Open Enrollment page.
If you need to update benefits due to a qualifying change in status, visit the Qualifying Change in Status webpage
About the Plans
The University of New Mexico offers the following plans for eligible retirees and their dependents. Review all plans in the 2027 Medicare-Eligible Enrollment Guide.
AARP Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans F, G, and N, underwritten by UnitedHealthcare with Medicare Part D Rx Preferred, Walgreens, and Saver Plus Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs).
Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO ESA (Extended Service Area) Plan: Providers nationwide and urgent/emergency care worldwide.
BlueCross BlueShield NM Medicare Advantage HMO Plan I (Enhanced) and Plan II (Standard): In-network providers in New Mexico only, urgent/emergency care worldwide.
Humana Medicare Advantage PPO Plan: In-network providers nationwide and urgent/emergency care worldwide.
Important Change to the UNM Presbyterian Medicare Advantage Plan
The UNM Presbyterian Medicare Advantage Plan will no longer be available beginning January 1, 2027. Current members will automatically transition to the UNM Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO Plan unless a different UNM Medicare plan is elected during Annual Enrollment. Click here to learn more about this change
Medicare-eligible retirees are responsible for paying a percentage of their premiums based on their VEBA service credits for UNM medical benefits elected at retirement for themselves and eligible dependents.
Learn more about Medicare plans from Medicare.gov.
Eligibility
Employees hired on or before June 30, 2015 who meet VEBA-eligibility criteria may elect to enroll in UNM retiree medical benefits at retirement. To access these benefits, a potential retiree must meet the criteria of University Administrative Policy 3600, Section 3.6.
Employees hired on or after July 1, 2015 are not eligible for UNM retiree medical and dental benefits.
2027 Plan Year
- Rates – 25+ Grandfathered VEBA Service Credits
- Rates – VEBA 5-9 Years
- Rates – VEBA 10-14 Years
- Retiree Open Enrollment Guide
- Medicare Plans Comparison
- UNM Notice of Privacy Practices
2026 Plan Year
- 2026 Rates – 25+ Grandfathered VEBA Service Credits
- 2026 Rates – VEBA 5-9 Years
- 2026 Retiree Open Enrollment Guide
- 2026 Medicare Plans Comparison
- 2026 UNM Notice of Privacy Practices
When and How to Make Changes to Your Medical Coverage
Medicare-Eligible Retirees have the following opportunities to make changes:
- During the annual Open Enrollment period, typically held in October/November, make changes to existing coverage by completing the Open Enrollment Change Form.
- When you experience a Qualifying Change in Status, make changes to existing coverage via the UNM Retiree Medical & Dental Benefits Change Form.
If you are enrolling dependents, be prepared to provide “proof documentation”. Some Examples of Dependent Proof Documents are available here. Deadlines for submission of these documents vary in accordance with the enrollment opportunities listed above. See the Medicare-Eligible Retiree Open Enrollment Guide for document submission options.
Contact Information
Need to speak with your medical plan representative? When calling, please specify that you are a “University of New Mexico” retiree covered by a University of New Mexico-sponsored Medicare plan.
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans
866-425-6523
Medicare Supplement Insurance Plans Website
Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans
888-556-7049
Medicare Prescription Drug Plans Website
Aetna Medicare Advantage PPO Extended Service Area (ESA) Plan
New Members: 800-307-4830, TTY 711
Members: 888-267-2637, TTY 711
aetnamedicare.com
BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Advantage HMO Plans
Customer Service: 877-299-1008, TTY 711
Education / Plan Information Line: 877-842-7564
bcbsnm.com/medicare
Humana Medicare Advantage PPO Plan
866-396-8810, TTY 711
humana.com
centerwellpharmacy.com
Benefits & Employee Wellness
505.277.6947
hrbenefits@unm.edu
See the HR Contact List for direct links to your designated HR Technician