Medicare & Retired Employees

Make Your Meetings More Active

  • Include items on your meeting agenda that require participants to get out of their seats (breakout groups, stand and write ideas on an easel).
  • Choose movement friendly meeting locations (walkable neighborhoods, on-site gym, nearby park).
  • Hire a professional instructor (pilates, yoga, tai chi, stretching, Zumba) to lead a class before or during the meeting.
  • Point out the stairs and encourage attendees to use them. Consider including the location of stairs in meeting directions or putting arrows to the stairs in front of elevators.
  • Organize a group walk early in the morning, during a break or before/after dinner.
  • Consider incorporating standing ovations after each speaker to encourage participants to stand and stretch.

Standing Breaks

  • At least once an hour, participants should be encouraged to stand up to improve blood circulation, boost metabolism, and relieve physical discomfort from sitting for prolonged periods of time.
  • Announce that it is fine to stand up and move around, as needed. If possible, provide raised tables for those electing to stand during the meeting.

Stretch Breaks

  • Stretch breaks help participants wake up their bodies and minds.
  • Encourage people to stand up and stretch in place.
  • Try playing a Healthy UC Davis WakeBreak video! These instructor-led stretch videos range from 4 to 15 minutes. 

Breathing Exercise

  • Focused breathing is an energizing activity that can help relax and clear your mind. Simply inhale for four seconds, hold it for seven seconds, and exhale for eight seconds.

Suggested Activity Agendas

LENGTH OF MEETINGSTANDING BREAKSTRETCH BREAKSBREATHING BREAKSMOVEMENT BREAKSWALKING BREAKS
50 - 60 minx x  
2 - 4 hoursxxxx 
All Dayxxxxx

Medicare is the federal program that most retired Americans age 65 or older use as their primary medical insurance.

Medicare for UC Retirees

It is very important for UC retirees to coordinate Medicare with their UC retiree health plans. However, that coordination is not automatic. Eligible retirees will receive instructions that state "Action Required" from the Retirement Administration Service Center starting three months prior to the month that they (and their covered family members) turn 65.

Retirees (and covered family members) who qualify for Medicare Part A for free at age 65 (or earlier due to disease or disability) must enroll in Part B and coordinate Medicare with their UC medical coverage unless:

  • They live outside the U.S.A., and/or
  • Retired at age 65 or older prior to July 1, 1991 and were not enrolled in Medicare at that time.

Local assistance with Medicare

For local assistance from UC health plan specialists, particularly when you need to coordinate Medicare with UC retiree health insurance for the first time, call your HCF—ideally three months prior to the month that you turn 65.

 

The Medicare Fact Sheet: UC's Medicare policies for retirees [PDF] describes UC's policies around Medicare for UC retirees.