Fall 2009 Open Enrollment for Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS)

The open enrollment period for health and dental plans offered by the Arizona State Retirement System begins shortly. The ASRS Open Enrollment Packet will be mailed around the end of September or the first part of October. The Open Enrollment period will be from October 19, 2009 through November 13, 2009. Coverage on these plans will commence January 1, for the calendar year 2010. The Open Enrollment Guide, schedule of ASRS's Open Enrollment informational meetings, and other relevant information is available on the ASRS Web site.

It should be noted that their open enrollment brochure will be mailed to all eligible retirees served by the Arizona State Retirement System. Yes -- even those retired members who retained either health or dental coverage under ADOA Benefit Options and who have just completed thier open enrollment process will receive the ASRS open enrollment packet.

The ADOA retirees are eligible to enroll in the ASRS plans during the open enrollment period. If they choose to do so, they are required to advise the ADOA Benefits Options Office of their desire to cancel their health and/or dental insurance through the ADOA plans effective January 1, 2010. If the ADOA retiree retains either their health or dental insurance with ADOA while transferring the other to the ASRS plans, they may return to the ADOA plan during a subsequent open enrollment period.

It is anticipated that retirees satisfied with the ADOA Secure Horizon Plan (which will end December 31, 2009) may be interested in the ASRS Secure Horizon Plan due to its anticipated low premium. Just remember that if you wish to elect the ASRS Secure Horizon Plan you must advise the ADOA office of your decision to change to the Secure Horizon plan offered by ASRS. Even though both the ADOA and the ASRS plan are titled the same, they are different plans with different coverage administered by separate Agencies, and dis-enrollment and re-enrollment procedures must be followed.

Dick Murra
September 9, 2009

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