Welcome, IBM Retiree Benefits Participant

IBM offers two exclusive Medicare plan options designed specifically for eligible IBM retiree benefit participants. These plans provide comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage.

Start exploring your 2027 plan information using the resources available on this site. Additional information, including the 2027 Retiree Educational Meeting Presentation, is expected to be available in October 2026. Please check back for plan updates and key enrollment information.

Learn more (pdf)

IBM Open Enrollment

Open Enrollment starts October 15

Open Enrollment (October 15–December 7) is your chance to review your healthcare coverage and 2027 health plan options as an IBM retiree.

No action is needed if you want to keep your current 2027 coverage. You only need to enroll if you want to change plans or join an IBM-sponsored Group Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan.

A message from your IBM Benefits Team (pdf)

What you can do during Open Enrollment:

Review your current health plan elections
Compare available 2027 plan options
Make changes that best fit your healthcare and budget needs
Enroll in an IBM-sponsored Group Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan if you are not currently enrolled
Already in a Medicare Supplement plan? Be sure to cancel it after you get confirmation of your new IBM plan

Learn More About Your 2027 Coverage Options

Live webinars will be held
October 20 - October 22.

Need additional details about the upcoming webinars? If you missed the information previously mailed, you can view it by clicking the link(s) below or by visiting the Enrollment Information page for session details and access links.

Additional details on the upcoming webinars:

Retirees currently enrolled in the IBM-sponsored Retiree Plan
Retirees currently not enrolled in the IBM-sponsored Retiree Plan

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.

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).

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.