Insurance - CIP FAQ

College Insurance Plan

• How do I change my address for my insurance carriers?

• When can I make changes to my CIP?

• Does the College Choice Health Plan cover nursing home services?
• If I´m traveling out of the country, will the College Choice Health Plan policy cover me?
• Is there a pre-existing condition clause?
• What does the CIP offer?

• I didn´t turn in my dependent recertification form before the deadline, can I submit it now? Is there a grace period?
• My child has an internship this semester are they a full-time student?
• My child is enrolled in Cosmetology school or a tech school (DeVry) are they eligible in the student category?
• My child is enrolled in two schools part-time; the hours in both are more than 12 hours. Are they a full-time student?
• What is dependent recertification?
• When is dependent recertification?
• Who mails the dependent recertification information to me?

• If I am receiving a disability benefit check from SURS, can I enroll in the CIP?

• My child is 19 or older, can they be a dependent on my health insurance?
• When can I enroll in CIP?
• When does my enrollment in the CIP begin?
• When will I receive insurance identification cards?

• Can I purchase life insurance?

• Who is the primary insurance carrier at retirement when a member is enrolled in Medicare?

• What happens if my insurance premium exceeds the amount of my monthly annuity?
• What is the cost of dental and vision insurance?
• What is the cost of dependent health coverage?
• What is the cost of retiree health insurance?

• Can dependents be added at retirement? If so what documents are required?
• Will I be eligible for CIP coverage when I retire?

• How can I terminate my enrollment or my dependents enrollment in CIP?

How do I change my address for my insurance carriers?
SURS requires that address changes be submitted in writing. Please indicate your new address, name, member ID or social security number, and include a signature and effective date. SURS will update the Central Management Services (CMS) database. CMS will in turn send the updated address information to all providers.

• The Benefits Choice period, commonly referred to as open enrollment. This is usually held every year during the month of May with changes effective July 1st. For more information, visit the Central Management Services (CMS) website.
• Within 30 days of a member or dependent turning age 65, or if a member or dependent experiences an involuntary loss of other insurance coverage, marriage, birth/adoption, divorce, or death.
• You can also change your health carrier if you are enrolled in an HMO within 30 days of your provider leaving the network or within 30 days of moving out of the HMO coverage area.

Does the College Choice Health Plan cover nursing home services?
A nursing home must be a licensed health care facility primarily engaged in providing skilled care. Notification is required at least seven days prior to admission. The services must be medically necessary and ordered by a physician. Custodial Care is not covered under the College Choice Health Plan.

If I´m traveling out of the country, will the College Choice Health Plan policy cover me?
Yes, College Choice Health Plan covers eligible charges incurred while the member is outside the country. You must obtain an itemized bill from the provider to submit for reimbursement.

Is there a pre-existing condition clause?
No.

What does CIP offer?
Health, dental, vision, and prescription coverage.

I didn´t turn in my dependent recertification form before the deadline, can I submit it now? Is there a grace period?
Yes, there is a grace period. If you turn in the signed recertification form with all documentation required the same month the insurance was terminated, your dependent will be reinstated retroactive to the date of termination.

If the forms are returned after one month, coverage is reinstated the date the recertification form was signed. There will be a break in coverage.

My child has an internship this semester are they a full-time student?
Most internships are full-time student status, but it is up to the school to indicate this. We cannot recertify a dependent if the document indicates internship but does not state full-time. We cannot assume the internship is full-time. The school must verify this.

My child is enrolled in Cosmetology school or a tech school (DeVry) are they eligible in the student category?
Yes, as long as we receive full-time student verification. The majority of cosmetology schools and tech schools are full-time.

My child is enrolled in two schools part-time; the hours in both are more than 12 hours. Are they a full-time student?
Yes, a student can be enrolled in more than one school. As long as the credit hours for all schools equals 12 or more hours, they are considered a full-time student.

What is dependent recertification?
Any dependent other than a spouse that is over age 19 must recertify at least once annually, or in the case of students, twice annually, that they still meet the qualifications of being a dependent in their category. These dependents must also recertify what dependent category, if any, they fall under, upon turning ages 19 and 23.

When is dependent recertification?
The annual recertification period for all dependents over age 19, except spouses, is the month of October, with terminations effective November 1st.

The semi-annual recertification is only for those dependents in the student category is the month of March with terminations effective April 1st.

Dependents must also recertify the month of their 19th and 23rd birthdays. Terminations will be effective the first of the month following their birthday.

Who mails the dependent recertification information to me?
SURS mails all CIP dependent recertification letters and forms. Age 19 and 23 as well as Annual and Semi-annual.

IfI am receiving a disability benefit check from SURS, can I enroll in CIP?
No, as a disability recipient you are not eligible for CIP. Only retirees and their survivors can enroll in CIP.

My child is 19 or older, can they be a dependent on my health insurance?
Illinois law only provides for certain clearly defined individuals to be qualified as dependents for insurance coverage. These individuals are, spouses, natural children, adopted children, step children, court ordered children wards, students, and the mentally or physically handicapped.

Once a dependent turns age 19 they can only qualify as students or handicapped.

• Student: Enrolled as full time student in an accredited school, eligible to be claimed for income tax purposes, and financially dependent upon the member.
• Handicapped: Age 19 or older, and eligible to be claimed for income tax purposes by the member, and is financially dependent upon the member and continuously disabled from a cause originating prior to age 19.

1. within 30 days of the member retiring with SURS,
2. if the member or dependent turns age 65,
3. if the member or dependent experiences an involuntary loss of other insurance coverage,
4. or during the annual Benefits Choice period.

1. turning age 65,
2. or an involuntary loss of coverage.

When does my enrollment in CIP begin?
Enrollments are effective at the beginning of the month. You cannot enroll mid-month in CIP. You also cannot enroll prior to the reason for the enrollment, i.e., if your insurance terminates 3/15, your enrollment in CIP cannot begin until 4/1.

When will I receive insurance identification cards?
The insurance carriers send all insurance identification cards. They are usually sent within three weeks of enrollment.

Can I purchase life insurance?
No, CIP does not offer life insurance.

Who is the primary insurance carrier at retirement when a member is enrolled in Medicare?
SURS does not counsel on Medicare. Please contact Medicare at 800-633-42273 or www.medicare.gov, or the Medicare COB Unit at Central Management Services at 217-782-7007 or CENTRAL MANAGEMENT SERVICES, Medicare COB Unit, 201 E Madison, Suite 1C, PO Box 19208, Springfield, IL 62794-9208.

What happens if my insurance premium exceeds the amount of my monthly annuity?
If your insurance premium exceeds your monthly annuity amount, SURS will send you a monthly bill. These bills will be generated the last week of the month for the next month. For example, your October bill will be generated and mailed the last week of September. The payment is due the 15th of every month. If you miss two payments, your insurance will be terminated retroactive to the last month in which payment was received.

What is the cost of dental and vision insurance?
There is no cost to retirees, survivors, and their covered dependents.

What is the cost of dependent health coverage?
Dependent rates vary depending on the dependents age, Medicare eligibility, and provider enrollment. Specific rate information can be found in the CIP Benefit Choice Booklet on the Central Managment Services (CMS) website.

What is the cost of retiree health insurance?
Retiree insurance rates are based on age, Medicare eligibility, and provider enrollment. Specific rate information can be found in the CIP Benefit Choice Booklet on the Central Managment Services (CMS) website.

Can dependents be added at retirement? If so, what documents are required?
Eligible dependents can be added at the time of retirement. If you wish to add an eligible dependent, we need a dependent beneficiary enrollment form within 30 days of your retirement, as well as a copy of their birth certificate, marriage certificate (if applicable), and Medicare card (if applicable).

If adding a child between the ages of 19 and 23, you must also complete a dependent recertification form and provide documentation of full-time student status. If the child is handicapped, you must complete a dependent recertification form and provide documentation from a physician that the child was disabled prior to age 19.

Will I be eligible for CIP coverage when I retire?
You must have been a full-time employee and eligible for benefits at one of the participating public community colleges in Illinois. Your employer must verify this information. City Colleges of Chicago does NOT participate in CIP.

How can I terminate my enrollment or my dependents enrollment in CIP?
Terminating enrollment in CIP is easy. You only need to send the request in writing. Termination will be effective the first of the following month.

NOTICE: Please note that re-enrolling in CIP is difficult and limited to only two instances. Once you terminate your enrollment in CIP or your dependent´s enrollment in the CIP, you can re-enroll within 30 days of the member or dependent turning age 65 or if the member or dependent experiences an involuntary loss of insurance coverage.

Involuntary termination does not mean non-payment of premium. It means you are no longer offered insurance due to age, retirement, etc. Your company will no longer allow you to remain enrolled.