leaving chevron

Leaving or your retirement from Chevron is an enrollment milestone for retiree health benefits.

Milestone highlights and considerations

• If you choose to enroll in retiree health coverage, you cannot also enroll in COBRA coverage, including subsidized COBRA, at the same time.
• If you choose to enroll in retiree health coverage, your dependents must also be enrolled in retiree health coverage. You cannot split enrollment between COBRA and retiree health coverage.
• If you enroll in Chevron pre-65 eligible retiree medical coverage in the same medical plan you're enrolled in as an employee, any amount you’ve already paid toward your annual deductible for the plan year will carry over to your pre-65 retiree plan.

Dependent enrollment requirements at this milestone

• You can add eligible pre-65 and/or post-65 dependents to Chevron retiree health benefits at this milestone.
• You can add eligible dependents even if they are not currently covered under your Chevron employee health plans. You may be required to complete the dependent verification process if you enroll new dependent(s).
• If you will enroll pre-65 dependents, you must be enrolled in Chevron pre-65 group health coverage (medical only, dental only or both medical and dental) for your pre-65 dependents to also be eligible for Chevron pre-65 retiree health benefits.
• If you will enroll post-65 dependent(s), you must be enrolled in at least Chevron group medical coverage for your post-65 dependents to be eligible for Chevron post-65 retiree health benefits (which includes the Retiree HRA Plan). 

Enrollment highlights

More detailed enrollment instructions are provided here, but keep the following in mind:

• If you (and any eligible dependents) are already enrolled in medical and dental coverage as an employee, this coverage will automatically continue for eligible pre-65 retiree health coverage participants. However, we strongly encourage you to review your coverage and make any necessary changes during this enrollment milestone. This is one of the few milestones that allows you to make changes that will otherwise be limited or restricted in the future, so you don't want to miss this opportunity.
• If you aren't currently participating in employee health benefits, or you need to make a change, you must make pre-65 retiree health benefit elections within 31 days of your termination date; you can also pre-enroll for pre-65 health benefits before you leave Chevron.
• If you plan to participate in COBRA coverage, you must make an election with the HR Service Center or on the BenefitConnect website to cancel/decline your pre-65 retiree coverage within 31 days of when your employment ends. 
• If you will cover post-65 dependents, this is one of the few enrollment milestones that allows you to enroll a post-65 dependent in retiree health coverage; the opportunities to add a post-65 dependent to coverage in the future is very limited. Remember that you typically need to start enrollment in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B at least four months in advance of your termination date. If your dependent(s) aren’t enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B or don’t have the information, Via Benefits cannot complete their enrollment. Please review the complete post-65 enrollment instructions for further information. 

What if I die?

Under current plan rules, Chevron generally provides access to survivor health benefits for your eligible dependent(s) if, on the date of your death: 

• You’re enrolled in Chevron retiree health benefits and your dependents are also enrolled in Chevron retiree health benefits. Your surviving dependents have within 60 days of the date of your death to report the event to the HR Service Center to be eligible to participate in Chevron survivor health benefits.
• If your dependents are not enrolled in Chevron retiree health benefits on the date of your death, they lose all eligibility for Chevron survivor health benefits.
• If your dependents do not timely enroll in Chevron survivor health benefits, they lose all eligibility for this coverage.

Key decision questions to ask yourself

• Are any post-65 dependents already enrolled in Medicare or will they be enrolled by the date you leave Chevron?
• If a dependent is not already enrolled in Medicare, is there enough time to complete the approximately four-month process before the date you leave Chevron?
• If there's not enough time to complete Medicare enrollment, is there another enrollment milestone available to you - such as loss of Chevron COBRA coverage - that you can use to add your post-65 dependent to retiree coverage?

The loss of Chevron COBRA coverage, including subsidized COBRA coverage, is an enrollment milestone for retiree health benefits.

Milestone highlights and considerations

• As a pre‑65 eligible retiree, you can enroll at the end of Chevron subsidized COBRA or at the end of your Chevron COBRA eligibility period (generally 18 months). 
• If you choose to enroll in COBRA coverage, you cannot also enroll in retiree health coverage, including subsidized COBRA, at the same time.
• If you choose to enroll in COBRA coverage, your dependents must also be enrolled in COBRA coverage (if eligible). You cannot split enrollment between COBRA and retiree health coverage.
• If you enroll in Chevron pre-65 eligible retiree medical coverage in the same medical plan you're enrolled for COBRA, any amount you’ve already paid toward your annual deductible for the plan year will carry over to your pre-65 retiree plan, when you enroll.
• Keep in mind, if any enrolled COBRA participants turn age 65 during the COBRA coverage period, COBRA coverage (including subsidized COBRA coverage) will end at age 65 for that participant. See the COBRA section for important considerations regarding this situation as this may affect your enrollment milestone decisions.

If you choose to waive pre-65 retiree coverage and enroll in COBRA coverage ...
If you (and any eligible dependents) are already enrolled in medical and dental coverage as an employee, this coverage will automatically continue for eligible pre-65 retiree health coverage participants. If you plan to waive retiree health coverage and instead participate in COBRA coverage, you must make an election with the HR Service Center or on the BenefitConnect website to cancel/decline your pre-65 retiree coverage within 31 days of when your employment ends. 

Participants who are age 65 at the time of COBRA enrollment ...
If a participant is already age 65 at the time of COBRA enrollment, the participant is permitted to enroll in COBRA coverage for the full eligibility period. However, if an enrolled COBRA participant is eligible for Medicare, Medicare will be the primary payer of your medical claims*. Your Chevron medical COBRA coverage will be secondary. As the secondary payer, your Chevron medical plan will subtract the amount that Medicare Part A and Part B should pay toward your services before paying your medical claims. Your claims are paid in this manner even if you choose to not enroll in Medicare while you're enrolled in COBRA coverage. 

* Your Chevron medical COBRA coverage pays primary in the event you have Medicare due to End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). 

Dependent enrollment requirements at this milestone

• You can add eligible pre-65 and/or post-65 dependents to Chevron retiree health benefits at this milestone; however your dependents must also be covered under Chevron COBRA coverage to be eligible. As a reminder, post-65 dependents must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B to enroll in individual health coverage through Via Benefits and to activate the Retiree HRA Plan.
• If you will enroll pre-65 dependents, you must be enrolled in Chevron pre-65 group health coverage (medical only, dental only or both medical and dental) for your pre-65 dependents to also be eligible for Chevron pre-65 retiree health benefits.
• If you will enroll post-65 dependent(s), you must be enrolled in at least Chevron group medical coverage for your post-65 dependents to be eligible for Chevron post-65 retiree health benefits (which includes the Retiree HRA Plan).
• Will an enrolled dependent turn age 65 during your COBRA period? Be aware that COBRA coverage will end at age 65 for your dependent, so you'll need to plan ahead. See the COBRA section for important considerations regarding this situation as this may affect your enrollment milestone decisions.

Enrollment highlights
More detailed enrollment instructions are provided here, but keep the following in mind:

• You must enroll yourself and any eligible dependents in retiree health benefits within 31 days of the loss of Chevron COBRA coverage (or the end of subsidized COBRA coverage) by contacting the HR Service Center. (This event cannot be initiated online).
• Coverage is not automatic. If you encounter this enrollment milestone, you must act to enroll yourself and any eligible dependents in retiree health coverage, if desired. You will not be notified or reminded when an enrollment milestone occurs.
• If you are eligible to cover post-65 dependents, this is one of the few enrollment milestones that allows you to enroll a post-65 dependent in retiree health coverage; the opportunities to add a post-65 dependent to coverage in the future is very limited. Remember that you typically need to start enrollment in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B at least four months in advance of your termination date. If your dependent(s) aren’t enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B or don’t have the information, Via Benefits cannot complete their enrollment. Please review the complete post-65 enrollment instructions for further information. 

What if I die?
Under current plan rules, Chevron generally provides access to survivor health benefits for your eligible dependent(s) if, on the date of your death: 

• You’re enrolled in Chevron COBRA or Chevron subsidized COBRA and your dependents are also enrolled in this same coverage. Your surviving dependents have within 60 days of the date of your death to report the event to the HR Service Center to be eligible to participate in Chevron survivor health benefits. Learn more about this situation in the COBRA section.

Key decision questions to ask yourself

• Are you enrolled in Chevron medical, dental and other health plans as an employee? If not, you will not be eligible for Chevron COBRA coverage and this milestone will not be available to you.
• Are your dependent(s) currently enrolled in Chevron medical, dental and other health plans? If not, they cannot be enrolled in Chevron COBRA coverage and therefore would not be eligible to enroll in Chevron retiree health benefits for this milestone.
• Will you turn age 65 during your COBRA period? Be aware that COBRA coverage (including subsidized COBRA coverage) will end at age 65 for you, so you'll need to plan ahead at least four months in advance of turning age 65. Turning age 65 is an enrollment milestone for you to enroll yourself and your eligible dependents in Chevron retiree health benefits. See the COBRA section for more about this special situation and review the Turning Age 65 enrollment milestone above for more information.
• Will an enrolled dependent turn age 65 during your COBRA period? Be aware that COBRA coverage will end at age 65 for your dependent, so you'll need to plan ahead. See the COBRA section for more about this special situation.

Turning age 65 and becoming Medicare-eligible is an enrollment milestone for retiree health benefits.

Milestone highlights and considerations

• When you — the Chevron eligible retiree — turn age 65, you may enroll yourself and eligible dependents in Chevron retiree health benefits at that time.
• As a reminder, the enrollment milestones, including turning age 65, follow the retiree and not the dependent. For example, if you are not currently participating in Chevron retiree coverage and your eligible dependent turns age 65, this is not an enrollment milestone; you will not be able to enroll in Chevron retiree benefits simply because your dependent turns age 65. 
• As a reminder, you and any post-65 dependents must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B to enroll in individual health coverage through Via Benefits and to activate the Retiree HRA Plan.
• You’ll start coverage in a new plan, so you will have to start over and meet a new deductible (if applicable) under your new plan. 

Dependent enrollment requirements at this milestone

• When you enroll yourself, you can add eligible pre-65 and/or post-65 dependents to Chevron retiree health benefits at this milestone.
• If you are already enrolled in Chevron pre-65 retiree coverage, you can still add eligible pre-65 and/or post-65 dependents to Chevron retiree health benefits at this milestone. This is one of the few milestones left  that allow you to make dependent changes that will otherwise be very limited or restricted in the future. If you need to add an eligible dependent to coverage, this is an important milestone to prepare for. 
• You must be enrolled in at least medical coverage through the Via Benefits private health exchange for Chevron for your dependents to be eligible to enroll in Chevron retiree health benefits.

Enrollment highlights
More detailed enrollment instructions are provided here, but keep the following in mind:

• You must contact the HR Service Center to add eligible pre-65 dependents to Chevron retiree coverage within 31 days of when you turn age 65. (This event cannot be initiated online).
• Remember that you and any post-65 dependents typically need to start enrollment in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B at least four months in advance of turning age 65. If post-65 participants aren’t enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B or don’t have the information, Via Benefits cannot complete enrollment. Please review the complete post-65 enrollment instructions for further information. 
• As a reminder, post-65 participants must enroll in at least medical coverage through Via benefits to participate in the Retiree HRA Plan. 
• If you are currently enrolled in Chevron pre-65 retiree coverage, you'll receive enrollment information and instructions from the HR Service Center and Via Benefits in advance of turning age 65. Enrollment in post-65 coverage is not automatic, even if you are already enrolled in pre-65 retiree benefits. Your action is required to enroll.
• If you are currently waiving Chevron retiree coverage at the time you turn age 65, you must act to enroll yourself and any eligible dependents in retiree health coverage at this milestone, if desired. Coverage is not automatic. You will not be notified or reminded when an enrollment milestone occurs.

If you choose to waive Chevron retiree coverage to enroll in Chevron COBRA coverage ...
If a COBRA participant turns age 65 during their COBRA period, COBRA coverage ends. In addition, the turning age 65 enrollment milestone applies to the retiree and not the dependent. Your dependent turning age 65 is not an enrollment milestone that allows you to start Chevron retiree coverage. Why does this matter? If an enrolled dependent turns age 65 during your COBRA period, COBRA coverage will end at age 65 for your dependent. Depending on your age, you may need to plan ahead to ensure your dependent has coverage after COBRA ends. See the COBRA section for more considerations about this special situation.

If you choose to waive pre-65 retiree coverage and intent to enroll later when you turn age 65 ...
If you (and any eligible dependents) are already enrolled in medical and dental coverage as an employee when you leave Chevron, this coverage will automatically continue for eligible pre-65 retiree health coverage participants. If you plan to waive retiree health coverage when you leave Chevron and instead enroll during the turning age 65 milestone, you must make an election with the HR Service Center or on the BenefitConnect website to cancel/decline your pre-65 retiree coverage within 31 days of when your employment ends. 

What if I die?
Under current plan rules, Chevron generally provides access to survivor health benefits for your eligible dependent(s) if, on the date of your death: 

• You’re enrolled in Chevron retiree health benefits and your dependents are also enrolled in Chevron retiree health benefits. Your surviving dependents have within 60 days of the date of your death to report the event to the HR Service Center to be eligible to participate in Chevron survivor health benefits.
• If your dependents are not enrolled in Chevron retiree health benefits on the date of your death, they lose all eligibility for Chevron survivor health benefits.
• If your dependents do not timely enroll in Chevron survivor health benefits, they lose all eligibility for this coverage.

Key decision questions to ask yourself

• As a reminder, as a post-65 retiree, if you chose to not enroll eligible dependents at this enrollment milestone, you must wait until the next enrollment milestone - if any - to add dependents to your coverage. This also means you can no longer add new dependents - of any age - during open enrollment. 
• Remember, the milestones follow the retiree, not your dependent. Be sure to review all the enrollment milestones carefully prior to making a decision to decline coverage for your eligible dependents during this milestone event.

The loss of Chevron or other employer group health plan coverage is an enrollment milestone for retiree health benefits.

What's an employer group health plan?
An employer group health plan is defined as an employee health benefit plan established or maintained by an employer or by an employee organization (such as a union), or both, that provides medical care for participants or their dependents directly or through insurance, reimbursement, or otherwise. Retiree health insurance and COBRA continuation coverage from a former employer or union, are not considered coverage based on current employment and therefore do not qualify as an employer group health plan for purposes of Chevron’s retiree health benefits and the enrollment milestones.

Milestone highlights and considerations

• This milestone occurs when you — the Chevron eligible retiree — are covered (whether as a primary or as a dependent) under Chevron or another employer’s group health coverage and you lose that coverage — regardless of your age.
• You will be asked to provide proof of loss of employer group health coverage for you and any eligible dependents. 
• You and any post-65 dependents must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B to enroll in individual health coverage through Via Benefits and to activate the Retiree HRA Plan.
• You’ll start coverage in a new plan, so you will have to start over and meet a new deductible (if applicable) under your new plan. 

Dependent enrollment requirements at this milestone

• You can add eligible pre-65 and/or post-65 dependents to Chevron retiree health benefits at this milestone as long as they are also losing the same employer group health coverage.
• If you are a pre-65 retiree enrolling at this milestone:
  • You must be enrolled in Chevron pre-65 group health coverage (medical only, dental only or both medical and dental) for your pre-65 dependents to also be eligible for Chevron pre-65 retiree health benefits.
  • You must be enrolled in at least Chevron group medical coverage for your post-65 dependents to be eligible for Chevron post-65 retiree health benefits (which includes the Retiree HRA Plan).
• If you are a post-65 retiree enrolling at this milestone:
  • You must be enrolled in at least medical coverage through the Via Benefits private health exchange for Chevron for your dependents to be eligible to enroll in Chevron retiree health benefits.

Medicare Special Enrollment Period (SEP)
The loss of Chevron or other employer group health plan must be a qualifying event that triggers a Medicare Special Enrollment Period (SEP). A SEP must be triggered in order for you to enroll in Chevron post-65 retiree health coverage. Contact Medicare directly or go to www.medicare.gov to learn more about Medicare SEPs and the kinds of qualifying events that trigger a Medicare SEP.

If you choose to waive pre-65 retiree coverage to enroll in other employer group health coverage ...
If you (and any eligible dependents) are already enrolled in medical and dental coverage as an employee when you leave Chevron, this coverage will automatically continue for eligible pre-65 retiree health coverage participants. If you plan to waive retiree health coverage when you leave Chevron and instead participate in another employer's group health coverage, you must make an election with the HR Service Center or on the BenefitConnect website to cancel/decline your pre-65 retiree coverage within 31 days of when your employment ends. 

Enrollment highlights
More detailed enrollment instructions are provided here, but keep the following in mind:

• Pre-65 participants must enroll in Chevron retiree health coverage within 31 days of the loss of other employer group health coverage by contacting the HR Service Center. (This event cannot be initiated online).
• Post-65 participants typically need to start enrollment in Medicare Part A and Medicare Part B at least four months in advance of the loss of other employer group health coverage. If post-65 participants aren’t enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B or don’t have the information, Via Benefits cannot complete enrollment in Chevron post-65 retiree benefits. Please review the complete post-65 enrollment instructions for further information.
• Coverage is not automatic. If you encounter this enrollment milestone, you must act to enroll yourself and any eligible dependents in retiree health coverage, if desired. You will not be notified or reminded when an enrollment milestone occurs.

What if I die?
Under current plan rules, Chevron generally provides access to survivor health benefits for your eligible dependent(s) if, on the date of your death: 

• You’re enrolled under another employer’s group health plan and your dependents are also enrolled in this same coverage. Your surviving dependents have within 31 days of the date of your death to report the event to the HR Service Center to be eligible to participate in Chevron survivor health benefits.
• COBRA or retiree health insurance from a former employer or union is not considered an employer group health plan. 
• If your dependents are not enrolled the same employer group health coverage as you on the date of your death, they lose all eligibility for Chevron survivor health benefits.
• If your dependents do not timely enroll in Chevron survivor health benefits, they lose all eligibility for this coverage.

Key decision questions to ask yourself

• Is your other health coverage a retiree health plan or COBRA coverage through a former employer or your spouse's employer? If so, these are not considered employer group health coverage and this milestone will not be available to you.
• Are your dependent(s) enrolled in the other employer group health coverage? If not, they cannot enroll in Chevron retiree health benefits during this milestone.