Considering Retirement

• Contact Tufts Support Services (TSS) to request retirement planning information. Any questions you may have will be addressed through your TSS case.
• Meet with representatives from TIAA (800-842-2252) and/or Fidelity (800-343-0860) to review your retirement savings and distribution options.
• Contact Social Security to make sure you understand your Social Security income options. Elect option at least 4 months prior to retirement.

Assess your Retiree Health, Retiree Dental, and other benefit plan options:

Under age 65: Retiree health and dental plan options same as active employees (see Health Plan, Retiree Health Plan and Retiree Dental Plan pages).

• Age 65 and over: Contact Via Benefits to assess health plan options. Dental plan design options are the same as for active employees. Same dental plan option as active employees (see Retiree Dental Plan).

• Provide written notification to your manager of retirement date (the last day of a month is recommended to streamline the transition).
• Age 65 and over: Apply for Medicare Parts A & B (No earlier than 3 months, at least 8 weeks prior to retirement.)

Elect your Retiree Health Plan, Retiree Dental Plan and other benefit plan options:

Under Age 65:

• Submit Under Age 65 Retiree Health & Dental Enrollment Form to TSS

Age 65 and Over:

• Submit Age 65 and Over Retiree Dental Enrollment Form to TSS
• Enroll in a Retiree Health plan through Via Benefits

• Log into eServe to confirm/update home address, email, and vacation balance
• Check with manager to confirm they have submitted your separation in eServe
• Wrap up any "loose ends" and personally prepare for your retirement

Set up HRA subsidy with Via Benefits if eligible with Via Benefits if Age 65 and Over, and eligible.

Employees hired prior to 1/1/94 are eligible for a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) subsidy provided they enroll in a health plan through Via Benefits within 31 days of retirement (or within 31 days of their 65th birthday). Waiving a health plan at any time through Via Benefits forfeits current and future rights to a health plan subsidy.

• 2025 Over age 65 retiree health plan subsidy: $84/month
• 2024 Over age 65 retiree health plan subsidy: $82/month

For subsidy details, visit Retiree Health Plans.

If enrolled in the active employee health plan, coverage will end at 11:59 p.m. on your last day of employment.

Per federal regulations, EBPA, our COBRA administrator, will mail notification of your rights to continue your coverage under COBRA for up to 18 months. To elect COBRA, you must enroll within 60 days from the date of notification. Enrollment is complete once EBPA receives your first premium payment. For more information on enrollment and billing contact EBPA at 888-232-3203. The election of health or dental coverage under COBRA forfeits current and future enrollment rights Tufts retiree health and dental plans.

Health coverage will end at 11:59 p.m. on your last day of employment. You may be able to continue coverage through the Tufts Retiree Health Plan or through the Tufts COBRA vendor.

You may be eligible for university's Retiree Health Plan if:

• You are age 60 or older and have five years of eligible service with the university
• OR your age plus your years of eligible service with the university equals 75 or more

At the time of your retirement, EBPA, the university's COBRA vendor, will also send you rates and enrollment information for continuing your health coverage under COBRA. If you enroll in COBRA benefits, you forfeit your right to enroll in the Tufts Retiree Health Plan.

If you have questions about choosing the right option for yourself and your family, or if you do not receive a COBRA notice within two weeks of your retirement date, call EBPA at 888-232-3203.

If enrolled, Dental coverage will end at 11:59 p.m. on your last day of employment. If you are eligible for Retiree Health, you and your eligible family members may enroll in dental coverage through the Tufts University Retiree Dental Plan offered through Delta Dental, starting on your retirement date.

If enrolled in the active employee dental plan, coverage will end at 11:59 p.m. on your last day of employment.

Per federal regulations, EBPA, our COBRA administrator, will mail notification of your rights to continue your coverage under COBRA for up to 18 months. To elect COBRA, you must enroll within 60 days from the date of notification. Enrollment is complete once EBPA receives your first premium payment. For more information on enrollment and billing contact EBPA at 888-232-3203. The election of health or dental coverage under COBRA forfeits current and future enrollment rights Tufts retiree health and dental plans.

If enrolled in the active employee vision plan, coverage will end at 11:59 p.m. on your last day of employment.

Per federal regulations, EBPA, our COBRA administrator, will mail notification of your rights to continue your coverage under COBRA for up to 18 months. To elect COBRA, you must enroll within 60 days from the date of notification. Enrollment is complete once EBPA receives your first premium payment. For more information on enrollment and billing contact EBPA at 888-232-3203. There is no retiree vision plan option.

Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance will end on your last day of employment. There is no provision for continued coverage.

If enrolled in a Flexible Spending Account, you may incur expenses for reimbursement from your Health Care FSA and/or Dependent Care FSA accounts up to your last day of employment. You must submit eligible expenses for reimbursement within the 120-day run-out period following your date of retirement. Salary reduction ends on the date of your last paycheck.

If you are enrolled in the Health Care FSA you may continue it through COBRA until the end of the current plan year if you have contributed more than you have been reimbursed in the year so far. However, your COBRA contributions will be on an after-tax basis. Contact EBPA for FSA COBRA information and to help you decide whether to continue Health Care FSA coverage. Please call EBPA at 888-232-3203 if you have any questions.

Life Insurance coverage will end on the 31st day following your last day of employment. You have conversion rights during this 31-day period.

For more information about conversion or portability, call Unum at 800-421-0344.

Long-Term Disability Coverage will end on your last day of employment. If you are retiring, there is no provision to continue your coverage.

If you have met the requirements to be fully vested*, this means that you own the funds that have been contributed by Tufts University on your behalf. Your account will continue to be invested as directed until you choose to withdraw/transfer your retirement plan accumulations. You will continue to have online access to view your statements and change your investments. Please contact TIAA at 800-842-2776 or Fidelity Investments at 800-343-0860 for information and/or distribution options.

Please note that, depending on your age when you separate from service with the university, you may be required to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). Your termination date is the last day on which you are actively at work. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules for RMDs are complex; we suggest you contact your accountant to verify whether you are required to take an RMD and the timing of such a distribution. The details on the amount of RMD required can be obtained from your investment vendor (Fidelity and/or TIAA). Additional information is available at https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-required-minimum-distributions-rmds.

RMD Exception: If you are still actively working at Tufts University, you are not required to take an RMD from your Tufts University Retirement Plans (401(a) or 403(b)), regardless of your age. This exception does not apply to other employer-sponsored retirement plans or IRAs.

*You are 100% vested in the Tufts University-Funded Retirement Plan once you have completed three years of eligible service. If you have not met the requirements to be fully vested, your account will be forfeited. However, if you become re-employed with Tufts University within 5 years, your account will be reinstated. Please see the Summary Plan Description (PDF) for details on vesting.

For additional details see the Retirement Savings Plan page.

If you were enrolled in the 403(b) Plan, your participation ends your last day of employment at Tufts University. You are always 100% vested in the 403(b) Plan. Your account will continue to be invested as directed until you choose to withdraw/transfer your retirement plan accumulations. You will continue to have online access to view your statements and change your investments. Please contact TIAA at 800-842-2776 or Fidelity Investments at 800-343-0860 for information and/or distribution options.

Please note that, depending on your age when you separate from service with the university, you may be required to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). Your termination date is the last day on which you are actively at work. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules for RMDs are complex; we suggest you contact your accountant to verify whether you are required to take an RMD and the timing of such a distribution. The details on the amount of RMD required can be obtained from your investment vendor (Fidelity and/or TIAA). Additional information is available at https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-required-minimum-distributions-rmds.

RMD Exception:  If you are still actively working at Tufts University, you are not required to take an RMD from your Tufts University Retirement Plans (401(a) or 403(b)), regardless of your age.  This exception does not apply to other employer-sponsored retirement plans or IRAs.

For additional details see the Retirement Savings Plan page.

If enrolled, Farmers will automatically send you information about your options for continuing your coverage. You have the right to convert your plan for 31 days from your last day of employment. If you are interested in continuing your coverage, please call Farmers at 800-438-6381.

Your commuter benefit ends on your last day of employment or for the last time period you have purchased the benefit, whichever is later.

When you leave the university, your contribution to the Parking & Transit Program will be discontinued. You can submit a paper reimbursement request for expenses you incurred before your retirement date.

If you wish to discontinue your commuter benefit before your final day of employment, remember that you must cancel your EBPA enrollment before the 4th of the month so that funds will not be withdrawn from your paycheck for the subsequent month. If this occurs and you have funds on your EBPA card that you cannot use before your final day at Tufts, you can purchase a Charlie Card or other MBTA pass by your last day of employment. Please call EBPA directly at 800-258-7298 if you have questions.

If you were enrolled in the MetLife Legal Plans, your coverage ends on your last day of employment. This will not affect any current legal claim that is in process. You have the right to convert this plan for 30 days from your last day of employment. For more information about conversion, please call MetLife at 800-821-6400.

If enrolled, Nationwide will automatically send you information about your options for continuing your coverage. You have the right to convert your plan for 30 days from your last day of employment.

If you are interested in continuing your Nationwide coverage, please call Nationwide at 877-738-7874.