Short answer: DRS doesn't provide retiree health care. The Health Care Authority's PEBB program offers medical and dental coverage to people retiring from school districts, and you must enroll soon after you retire (the deadline is below). See also early retirement, working after retirement and payment options. Estimate your pension.
The basics
HCA offers state-sponsored medical and dental coverage to people retiring from school districts, higher education employers and state agencies; you must enroll within 60 days of retirement. If you leave employment but delay your pension, you keep PEBB eligibility by electing coverage within 60 days of termination if you meet early-retirement age and service (Plan 2: 55 with 20 years; Plan 3: 55 with 10 years). Premiums can be deducted from the pension. DRS TRS23RAPP 11/2022, p. 11, Am I eligible for medical and dental coverage?; DRS Health Care page, Enrolling in PEBB after separation if delaying PERS, SERS, or Washington TRS retirement
Who to call
Health Care Authority: 800-200-1004. DRS Washington TRS Plan 1 page, Health insurance options
PEBB retiree premiums and any state help with them come from the Health Care Authority, not DRS. Our sources have no amounts.
What we use: no premium amounts. Ask the Health Care Authority.
What the sources say
- DRS doesn't provide retiree health coverage. The Health Care Authority's PEBB program offers medical and dental coverage to people retiring from school districts, colleges and state agencies, and you must enroll within 60 days of retirement.DRS Health Care page; DRS TRS23RAPP 11/2022, p. 11, Am I eligible for medical and dental coverage?
- If you leave your job but wait to start your pension, you can keep PEBB eligibility by electing coverage within 60 days of leaving, as long as you meet early-retirement age and service (Plan 2: 55 with 20 years; Plan 3: 55 with 10 years).DRS Health Care page, Enrolling in PEBB after separation if delaying PERS, SERS, or Washington TRS retirement
- Check with DRSPEBB premium amounts and any state subsidy aren't in DRS materials. Ask the Health Care Authority (800-200-1004).DRS Washington TRS Plan 1 page, Health insurance optionsNo subsidy amounts in the saved sources.
Questions
Does Washington TRS provide health insurance in retirement?
No. DRS doesn't. The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) runs retiree coverage through its PEBB program.
When do I have to sign up?
Within 60 days of retiring. If you leave your job but wait to start your pension, elect coverage within 60 days of leaving.
What does it cost?
Our sources don't have PEBB premium amounts. Ask the Health Care Authority at 800-200-1004. Premiums can be taken out of your pension.
Source: DRS plan pages for Washington TRS Plan 1, Plan 2 and Plan 3 (the DRS member handbook is now published as these web pages), retrieved Nov. 11, 2026, DRS plan page (Plan 1); DRS Health Care page; TRS23RAPP (11/2022) p. 11. Last reviewed .