Healthcare insurance plans cover a portion of (or sometimes all of) the costs of maintaining your health and treating illness and accidents. Below are the options available to retirees under 65.

COBRA

COBRA allows you to continue your current healthcare insurance coverage for up to 18 months after your last month of employment.

The monthly cost of maintaining your current coverage through COBRA depends on your current plan. When you retire, the HealthCare Trust will send you a letter outlining your cost to continue your healthcare insurance coverage through the COBRA program. If you would like information before then, contact the HealthCare Trust.

City of Seattle Healthcare Plans

The City of Seattle offers retiring fire fighters under age 65 a range of healthcare insurance options. Visit the LEOFF Fire page on the City of Seattle Human Resources website to learn about the currently available plans for LEOFF members.

Note that you can only enroll in the City of Seattle healthcare plans at specific times:

• When you retire before age 65 and do not choose COBRA coverage.
• When your COBRA coverage ends.
• When you have a “qualifying event,” typically the loss of your group coverage provided by your spouse or partner.

The City of Seattle healthcare plans remain an option as long as there is no gap in your healthcare coverage and you maintain qualified group coverage. Contact the City of Seattle Benefits Unit at least 30 days before any planned coverage change to learn how to enroll in their healthcare plans. You can email the Benefits Unit at benefits.unit@seattle.gov.