Welcome, IBM Retiree Benefits Participant

The annual enrollment window runs from October 15 through December 7. IBM offers two exclusive Medicare plan options designed specifically for eligible IBM retiree benefit participants. These plans provide comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage.

2026 Pre-Recorded Presentation

For the 2026 plan year, there are no changes to the overall plan design, except for two CMS-mandated updates:

The catastrophic drug coverage threshold will increase from $2,000 to $2,100.
The chiropractic cost share on the Essential plan will decrease from $20 to $15. This change applies only to the Essential plan.

Looking ahead to 2026, medical and prescription coverage will be administered through two separate plans. This is an administrative change only, and retirees must be enrolled in both plans to maintain full coverage.

Manage your plan and your health

Understanding your HRA video

Video transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING IN BACKGROUND THROUGHOUT]

FEMALE VOICEOVER: What is a health reimbursement arrangement,

[Text On Screen – Health Reimbursement Arrangement]

or HRA?

[Text On Screen – HRA]

An HRA is an account funded by your employer. You can use it to pay for qualified medical, dental, or vision expenses

[Text On Screen – medical, dental, vision]

that you’d normally have to pay for with personal funds.

[Text On Screen – personal funds]

Some examples of qualified expenses include doctor visits, chiropractic services, diagnostic devices and lab fees, eye exams, dental treatment, prescription medication, hearing aids, and even certain Medicare premiums. You can also use your HRA

[Text On Screen – pay for expenses

to pay for expenses

[Text On Screen – for your spouse or eligible dependents]

for your spouse or eligible dependents.

It’s easy to use.

[Text On Screen – easy to use]

You can access your HRA funds by using your Optum payment card

[Text On Screen – Access Your HRA, Optum payment card]

or you can pay with personal funds and reimburse yourself by submitting a claim online.

[Text On Screen – Personal funds, Submit a claim online]

You can also set up recurring expenses

[Text On Screen – recurring expenses]

reimbursement during each plan year. Just remember to save your receipts

[Text On Screen – save your receipts]

in case you need to submit documentation to verify the purchase. You can also access your information on the go, with our secure mobile application.

[Text On Screen – secure mobile application]

You can view account details, enter a new claim,

[Text On Screen – account details, enter a new claim]

and even take a photo of your receipt with your mobile device and upload it directly to the system.

[Text On Screen – take a photo of your receipt, upload it directly to the system]

Just download the Optum bank mobile app through the App Store or Google Play to get started.

[Text On Screen – Download on the App Store, Get it on Google Play]

So take advantage of your HRA. It’s a great way to pay for healthcare and with Optum at your side, it’s easy and secure.

[Text On Screen – Optum]

[Text On Screen – Questions? Call 866-882-0397 (8 a.m. – 8 p.m. ET, Monday -Friday) Online support: IBM.optum.com]

[Text On Screen – Optum Financial®, Health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) are administered on behalf of your plan sponsor by Optum Financial, Inc. and are subject to eligibility and restrictions. Employer-Sponsored Plans are not individually owned and amounts available under the Employer-Sponsored Plan are not FDIC insured. This communication is not intended as legal or tax advice. Federal and state laws and regulations are subject to change. Please contact a legal or tax professional for advice on eligibility, tax treatment, and restrictions. Please contact your plan administrator with questions about enrollment or plan restrictions. ©2023 Optum, Inc. All right reserved.]

[END MUSIC]

Understanding your HRA video

This video explains what a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) is and how it helps cover qualified medical, dental, and vision expenses using employer-funded accounts. It also highlights how easy it is to access and manage HRA funds through Optum’s payment card, online claims, and mobile app.

Enrolled in one of the IBM-sponsored Group Medicare Advantage plan options?

It is time to register for your secure online account. Your member website has been designed to help you do more, giving you 24/7 access to everything your plan has to offer. Watch this short video to learn how to register.

Sign in or register

How to register video

Turning 65 or New to Medicare?

IBM offers two Medicare plans just for retirees: the Enhanced Plan and the Essential Plan, both from UnitedHealthcare.

To get IBM’s help paying for your plan, you must choose one of these two options - the Essential or Enhanced.

Important: Enroll within 3 months after your Medicare Part B starts. If you miss this, you’ll have to wait for the next open enrollment.

Need help or ready to enroll?

Call 1-877-852-0641 (TTY 711).

Already in a Medicare Supplement plan? Be sure to cancel it after you get confirmation of your new IBM plan.

Questions? We're here to help. Find the right resources to contact with your questions.

Contact us

(1-877-852-0641) 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., CT Mon - Fri. TTY users, call 711.

Frequently asked questions

If any conflict should arise between the content of this communication (including accompanying material) and the legal Plan documents, or if any point is not discussed in this communication or is only partially discussed, the terms of the legal Plan documents (as interpreted by the plan administrator) will govern in all cases. As always, IBM reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend and/or terminate the Plan and any of IBM’s other benefit plans.