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Health Insurance Subsidy (HIS)


The HIS is an additional benefit under both plans that can help you pay for a portion of the cost of your health insurance premiums after you retire. Your HIS amount is based on your length of service with FRS employers.
 
FRS Pension Plan FRS Investment Plan
You may be eligible to receive a HIS benefit in addition to your Pension Plan benefit, regardless of whether you take a normal or an early retirement benefit, provided you have proper documentation certifying that you have health insurance coverage accompanying your application.
 
The HIS subsidy, which is paid monthly, is $7.50 for each year of creditable service, with a minimum HIS of $45 and a maximum HIS of $225 per month. The payment will be made as part of your monthly retirement benefit check.
 
The HIS is available after you attain 6 years of FRS service credit (if enrolled in the FRS prior to July 1, 2011) or 8 years (if enrolled in the FRS on or after July 1, 2011), have reached normal retirement eligibility, and have retired from the FRS. The required years can be a combination of Pension Plan and Investment Plan service. To be eligible to receive the HIS under the Investment Plan, you must meet the normal retirement age or service requirements under the Pension Plan for your class of membership and provide proper documentation certifying that you have health insurance coverage.
 
For example, if you enrolled in the FRS prior to July 1, 2011, normal retirement is age 62 with 6 years of service or 30 years of service, regardless of age. For Special Risk Class members, normal retirement is age 55 with at least 6 years of Special Risk service, or 25 years of Special Risk service, regardless of age, or age 52 with 25 years of Special Risk service and military service.
 
If you enrolled in the FRS on or after July 1, 2011, normal retirement is age 65 with 8 years of service or 33 years of service, regardless of age. For Special Risk Class members, normal retirement is age 55 with at least 8 years of Special Risk service, or 25 years of Special Risk service, regardless of age, or age 52 with 25 years of Special Risk service and military service.
 
If you leave employment with an FRS employer and take a distribution from your Investment Plan prior to your normal retirement age or date, you must wait until you reach normal retirement age to begin receiving your HIS benefit. It is your or your surviving spouse's responsibility to apply to the Division of Retirement for the HIS. HIS Payments are retroactive up to a maximum of 6 months. This allows you up to 6 months from the date you attain normal retirement to apply without missing any benefits.
 
If you elect the Hybrid Option, you will receive your HIS payment once you begin receiving your Pension Plan benefit. Unlike under the 100% Investment Plan option, the HIS payment is available immediately, even if you have not reached normal retirement.
 
The HIS subsidy, which is paid monthly, is $7.50 for each year of creditable service, with a minimum HIS of $45 and a maximum HIS of $225 per month.