Retirement Information

Special Services
Providing Health Insurance for Retired School Employees

Employees between the ages of 50 and 64 who have been participants in the EHA plan for at least five (5) years may now choose the $900 deductible retired plan immediately upon terminating employment (including retirement) with their school district, without having to take COBRA first.

1. IF YOU CHOOSE COBRA - for the first 18 months following retirement, the employee and eligible dependents can continue the school district’s group plan under COBRA.  The COBRA Election Form must be completed and returned by the employee within 60 days following retirement to be eligible for continuation of the group health plan.  The Election Form and further COBRA information is available from the school district.
   
   The employee does not have to be a member of NSEA, NCSA, or NASB to continue EHA health coverage under COBRA. You and your dependents can continue on the district’s health plan for up to eighteen months following retirement. You and your spouse can each enroll in a single plan unless you have dependent children. COBRA coverage will end the day you are entitled to Medicare.
   
   Remember, if you choose COBRA, you are not eligible to enroll in the EHA Direct Bill plan at a later date.
   
   
2. IF YOU CHOOSE DIRECT BILL - an employee may choose to continue EHA coverage under the Direct Bill program.  The Direct Bill program is a special service of these associations for retired members.  The insurance plan is a $900 deductible PPO plan; a $2,000 deductible PPO; a $3,500 High Deductible, Health-Savings-Account eligible plan (HSA-eligible); or a $4,000 High Deductible Health-Savings-Account-eligible plan.  This program is available only to members of the NSEA, NCSA, or the NASB.
   
   Direct Bill Eligibility:
   
   • You must become a Special Services Member of NSEA, NCSA, or NASB.
   • The school district from which you retired must be participating in the EHA plan.
   • You must be at least 50 years old, or disabled, or the surviving spouse and/or dependent of a deceased school retiree.
   • At the time of your retirement, you must have been covered by the EHA plan for at least the previous five years. 
   • You are eligible only until you reach age 65, unless your dependents need family coverage.
   If you meet these eligibility requirements, the school district will notify Blue Cross/Blue Shield. The Direct Bill and member enrollment form will be mailed to you by Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

Special Services Membership:

You must be a Special Services member to continue EHA coverage after COBRA. The NSEA administers the Special Services program for NSEA, NCSA, and the NASB.

The NSEA collects all Special Services dues and enrollment forms and then remits the respective membership dues to NCSA and NASB.  Special Services applicants should use the form appropriate for their respective association.

Special Services Dues:

The Special Services membership is annual - from September 1 to August 31 of each year.  You must be a member each year to be eligible for retiree coverage until you reach age 65.  Your initial year of membership and your final year at age 65 will be prorated on a quarterly basis.

• If you are a member of NARSA, or are an NSEA-Retired member, or an NASB member when you left the board, the annual dues will be $125 each for you and your spouse.
• If you were an NSEA member at retirement (but not a member of NSEA-Retired), the annual dues will be $180 for you and $125 for your spouse.
• If you were not a member of NSEA at retirement, or NASB when you left the school board, or you do not join NARSA, the annual dues will be $250 each for you and your spouse.

After Direct Bill/Age 65:

At age 65, the Direct Bill plan ends and you become eligible for Medicare.   Retiree coverage is available for NSEA members through the NSEA-R or the NEA. 

For Further Information:

NSEA, NCSA, or NASB Special Services: Call NSEA at 1-800-742-0047 or (402) 475-7611.  Ask for Special Services Membership.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield: Call 1-800-642-6004

COBRA Enrollment:Contact your local school district.