TRS-Care for Texas retirees: do you qualify, and which plan is yours?

Who is eligible for TRS-Care?

You're eligible for TRS-Care as a service retiree if you have at least 10 years of TRS service credit and either your age plus years of service total at least 80 or you have 30 or more years. That's true even if your pension was reduced for early age. Meeting the pension's Rule of 80 isn't enough on its own.

Eligibility details

• Your 10 years of TRS service may include up to five years of military service credit but no other purchased credit. For the age-plus-service-of-80 test and the 30-year test, purchased service credit does count.TRS Benefits Handbook (Sept. 2025), p. 53, Eligibility: Service Retirees
• Eligibility for retiree health benefits is not the same as eligibility for the TRS pension, and it is subject to change. Review your TRS-Care eligibility before you quit.TRS Benefits Handbook (Sept. 2025), p. 53, Eligibility
• A disability retiree is initially eligible for TRS-Care regardless of years of service. With at least 10 years of TRS service on the date of disability retirement, coverage continues as long as premiums are paid on time; with fewer, it may continue until the disability retirement benefit ends.TRS Benefits Handbook (Sept. 2025), p. 53, Disability Retirees

Buying service to reach the 80 test? See buying TRS service credit. Thinking of a refund? Cashing out ends your TRS-Care eligibility; see leaving teaching.

What the plans cover in 2027

• TRS-Care has four plans: TRS-Care Standard for retirees without Medicare, TRS-Care Medicare Advantage for retirees with Medicare, TRS-Care Dental and TRS-Care Vision. The 2026 vendors are Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, UnitedHealthcare, Express Scripts and MetLife.TRS Benefits Handbook (Sept. 2025), p. 52, Retirees (TRS-Care) Overview
• TRS-Care Standard in 2027 (Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas): an in-network deductible of $1,750 for one person or $3,500 for a family, then 20% coinsurance, with an in-network out-of-pocket maximum of $5,650 for one person or $11,300 for a family.TRS-Care 2027 Plan Highlights (rev. July 17, 2026), p. 1, 2027 TRS-Care Standard Plan Details
• TRS-Care Medicare Advantage in 2027 (UnitedHealthcare): a $400 deductible, then 5% coinsurance, with a $3,500 out-of-pocket maximum. You must enroll in and keep Medicare Part B.TRS-Care 2027 Plan Highlights (rev. July 17, 2026), p. 1, 2027 TRS-Care Medicare Advantage Plan Details
• Any retiree eligible for TRS-Care can enroll in dental, vision or both, without TRS-Care medical coverage. Coverage runs Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, and changes are allowed only during open enrollment.Ready to Retire (FY27), slide 38, TRS-Care Dental and TRS-Care Vision
• TRS-Care is funded by contributions from active employees and by retiree premiums. The contributions come out of every employee's paycheck, even if the employer doesn't take part in TRS-ActiveCare, so any eligible employee can enroll in TRS-Care at retirement.TRS Benefits Handbook (Sept. 2025), p. 52, Retirees (TRS-Care) Overview

When to enroll, and what happens at 65

• TRS must receive your TRS-Care Initial Enrollment Application by the later of 90 days from your retirement date or 90 days after the month TRS receives your Application for Service Retirement (TRS 30). Coverage starts the first day of the month after TRS receives the enrollment application, or the date on the application, whichever is later.Ready to Retire (FY27), slide 36, TRS-Care Enrollment
• All TRS-Care participants who are eligible for Medicare must buy and keep Medicare Part B to keep TRS-Care coverage. If you can get premium-free Part A, you must enroll in it; if you can't, TRS doesn't require it. Medicare enrollment is automatic if you already get Social Security benefits.Ready to Retire (FY27), slide 37, What to do at Age 65?
• Send TRS your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI). TRS can't enroll you in TRS-Care without it, and once you're eligible and TRS verifies your Medicare coverage, it enrolls you in TRS-Care Medicare Advantage.Ready to Retire (FY27), slide 37, What to do at Age 65?

Your TRS-Care application is one of the steps in the retirement countdown. Going back to work after you retire can add a TRS-Care surcharge for your employer; see working after retirement.

Questions

Check your Rule of 80 date →