For Retirement

Review the Changes.

Make Your Plan.

Choose Your Benefits.

Annual Enrollment Dates for 2027 Benefits:

Retirees: Thursday,
Oct. 1 – Friday, Oct. 30

Thank you for considering Partners for Health for your insurance needs. We look forward to continuing to provide comprehensive, affordable, dependable and sustainable benefits to our members.

Annual Enrollment is when you can make changes to your Partners for Health benefits for the following Jan. 1-Dec. 31. Your Annual Enrollment period for 2027 benefits is Oct. 1-30, 2026. If you’re still eligible and choose to remain enrolled as of Jan. 1, 2027, you can also enroll your eligible dependents. See the Enrolling Eligible Dependents section below for documentation needed to enroll new dependents.

Maybe your family or benefit needs have changed. Now is the time to review your options to make sure they make sense. Keep in mind that networks, providers and benefits may change and impact you. It’s a good idea to review your enrollment selections each year, including your network options for health, dental and vision care.

Important! If you don’t want to change your benefit selections, NO ACTION is needed on your part during Annual Enrollment. You’ll continue enrollment in the same plan options you’re enrolled in now, subject to eligibility, and you’ll pay 2027 premium amounts.

Go to the Retiree Benefits Guide for information on all available retiree benefits.

 

Health Insurance Premiums

For 2027, health insurance premiums will increase due to rising healthcare costs; however, they are lower than both the national and state averages.

  • State and higher education retirees: Average health plan monthly premium increase is 7.9%
  • Local education retirees: Average health plan monthly premium increase is 8.7%
  • Local government retirees: Average health plan monthly premium increase is 10.5%

Your specific increase may be different based on the health plan, network and coverage tier you choose.

Visit the Premiums webpage for details.

Visit the Publications webpage to find the 2027 Comparison Charts:

 

Health Plans

In 2027, you’ll have the choice of the same three health plan options: Premier Preferred Provider Organization, Standard PPO and Consumer-driven Health Plan. For the PPOs, there will be no increase in health plan copays, deductibles or coinsurance. For the CDHP, there will be an increase in deductibles but no increase in coinsurance. These are your “cost shares” for the out-of-pocket costs you pay when you get care.

In 2027, you’ll have the choice of five different health plan options, including the new Copay Preferred Provider Organization:

  • With the Copay PPO, enrolled members will have lower premiums and no deductible. 
  • Copay PPO members will pay simple, predictable copay costs, so they’ll know what care will cost ahead of time.
  • Copay PPO members will use BlueCross BlueShield Network S providers. These providers will be in two different tiers—members will pay less when they choose providers in Tier 1 versus Tier 2.
  • Copay PPO members will use the CVS Value Formulary for prescription drugs. This formulary is more selective in the medications it covers and only includes two tiers — generic drugs and most preferred brand-name drugs. Coinsurance for weight-loss and specialty drugs will apply with this plan.
  • Copay PPO behavioral health and substance use services are covered and administered by Optum Behavioral Health.
  • With the Copay PPO, there are out-of-pocket maximums to protect members from high costs.
  • Details about the new Copay PPO are found on the Health webpage, and you can watch a video to learn more.   

With the other four health plan options for local education and local government retirees, Premier PPO, Standard PPO, Limited PPO and the Local Consumer-driven Health Plan, there will be no increase in health plan copays, deductibles or coinsurance. These are your “cost shares” for the out-of-pocket costs you pay when you get care.

 

 

Networks

BlueCross BlueShield and Cigna will stay as your health insurance carriers and will offer the same four provider networks. Note: Local education and local government Copay PPO members will use BlueCross Network S providers.

  • BCBST Network S and Cigna LocalPlus: These are efficient networks, and you will save money with them. If your providers are in these networks, either one may be your best choice. 
  • BCBST Network P and Cigna Open Access Plus: These are expanded networks, which include more hospitals and facilities than the efficient networks. However, the premiums are higher for the expanded networks, and you may pay more for services you receive from network providers. Visit the Premiums page > Health Insurance premiums to see the monthly premium charts and the increased cost if you select either of these networks.

 

Weight-loss Surgery

In 2027, weight-loss surgery will only be covered through the Carrum Health centers of excellence program. PPO members will have no cost share, and CDHP members will have no cost after meeting their deductible. Weight-loss surgery performed by any other provider will not be covered.  

 

Other Benefits News

  • Dental and vision premium rates and benefits will not change next year. The same carriers will administer these benefits.
  • Optum Behavioral Health: Enrolled health plan retirees and eligible dependents will now get up to eight short-term counseling visits, per problem, per year, per individual at no cost. This is up from five visits.

 

 

How to Make Changes to Your Benefits

To make changes to your insurance coverage online, you can use Employee Self Service in Edison at www.edison.tn.gov. You can make changes to your insurance coverage, unless otherwise noted.

Look for the green Benefits Enrollment button:

  • Click the green Benefits Enrollment button, then click the Login button to log in to Edison using your Access ID. This is not your eight-digit Edison employee ID. To get your Access ID, go to Edison, click the green Benefits Enrollment button, and then click the Retrieve Access ID button.
  • Once logged in, choose the Annual Enrollment tile to start your enrollment.
  • All the insurance plans you are currently enrolled in, or that are available to you, are listed in Edison.
  • You can enroll on your computer or mobile device. Use the device’s built-in web browser.
  • In Edison, set up an account with a password if you haven’t done so. Find step-by-step instructions: Retirees: How to Enroll.

You can also fill out the Annual Enrollment application found here: [insert 2027 retiree form]

  • Submit the form to Benefits Administration by mail. Mailed applications must be postmarked no later than Oct. 30, 2026.
  • Submit by email to retirement.insurance@tn.gov by 11:59 p.m. CT on Oct. 30, 2026.
  • Submit by fax at 615.741.8196 by 11:59 p.m. CT on Oct. 30, 2026.

Important! You may have an old employee email address in Edison. If you try to reset your password to enroll, the password reset email may be sent to this old email account. If you don’t receive an email after trying to set up your account, you can enroll by mailing or faxing the application or you can call Edison Help Desk at 866.376.0104 for help with your password reset.

If you don’t want to make any enrollment changes, NO ACTION is needed on your part.

 

Enrolling Eligible Dependents

  • You can add eligible dependents to medical, dental and/or vision coverage if you, the retiree, will be covered on the plan in which you want to enroll them as of Jan. 1, 2027.
  • Find a list of required dependent verification documents online under Dependent Verification Eligibility Documents.
  • Upload documents in Edison if enrolling through ESS, mail copies along with your Annual Enrollment application or email to retirement.insurance@tn.gov. You must include your Edison employee ID or Social Security number on each document.
  • Dependent verification documents MUST be submitted by Nov. 9, 2026, which is 10 days after the annual enrollment period ends.  

Enrollment Materials and Password Reset

  • Find your Annual Enrollment benefits guide, insurance comparison charts and more on the Enrollment Materials page.
  • For password reset help, call Edison at 866.376.0104.

 

This document walks you through how to enroll in Edison:  

Retirees: How to Enroll LINK TO COME

ID Cards & Debit Cards
Newly enrolled members and members who change their medical, dental or vision plans will receive new ID cards for 2027. State and higher education retirees enrolled in the Consumer-driven Health Plan will get new medical ID cards. If you do not change your medical, dental or vision plan, you will not get a new ID card.

Medical plan members: Those who are newly enrolled, members who changed their last name and members who change plans will receive new medical, behavioral health and pharmacy ID cards.

Debit Cards
Current consumer-driven health plan/health savings account members will use their same debit cards. Newly enrolled CDHP members will get a new debit card from TASC.

When Cards Will Mail

  • BlueCross BlueShield: ID cards will mail by Dec. 15, 2026.
  • Cigna (both medical and dental): ID cards will mail between Dec. 9-18, 2026.
  • CVS Caremark: ID cards will mail between Dec. 11-31, 2026.
  • MetLife Dental: ID cards will mail between Dec. 9-18, 2026.
  • EyeMed: ID cards will mail by Dec. 17, 2026.
  • Optum Behavioral Health: ID cards will mail by Dec. 15, 2026.
  • TASC: HSA debit cards will mail between Dec. 10-31, 2026, and arrive in an unmarked envelope.

Members can request additional cards by contacting their vendor(s) or by using a vendor’s mobile app. Find vendor contact information on the Benefits Contact Information webpage.

Change your health insurance option*. Annual Enrollment is also your chance to enroll or re-enroll in a health savings account if you chose a consumer-driven health plan. Please consult your tax advisor for advice and to learn about any tax consequences.

Change your health insurance carrier and network

Enroll in or cancel health insurance for your eligible dependents (retiree must be enrolled in the health insurance plan to add a dependent to coverage)

Enroll in, cancel or transfer between retiree dental options** 

Enroll in, cancel or transfer between retiree vision options*** 

*The Limited PPO and Copay PPO are available to local education and local government retirees only. If enrolled in a consumer-driven health plan/health savings account as a retiree or a COBRA participant, you do not qualify for state health savings account funds.

All eligible retirees who have some level of group health coverage for themselves or covered dependents are sent general information on available healthcare options, premiums and a listing of benefit changes for the upcoming year.

If you change your mind after the annual enrollment period has ended: You have one opportunity to revise your Annual Enrollment elections as described in the Plan Document, Section 2. The state, local education and local government plan documents are posted on the Publications page. 

**Retired employees may be eligible for dental insurance if the agency from which the employee retired is participating in these programs. Go to the Dental webpage to find complete retiree eligibility rules for the Dental PPO and Dental HMO – Prepaid Provider.

***Retired employees may be eligible for vision insurance if the agency from which the employee retired is participating in these programs. Go to the Vision webpage to find complete retiree eligibility rules for Vision Insurance.

If you decline enrollment on the retiree group health plan for yourself or your dependents, including your spouse, because of other health insurance or group health plan coverage, you may be able to enroll yourself and your dependents in this plan later if you or your dependents experience an event that results in losing eligibility for that other coverage or if the employer stops contributing toward the other coverage. However, you must request enrollment within 60 days after the other coverage ends or after the employer stops contributing toward the other coverage.

If you have a new dependent as a result of marriage, birth, adoption or placement for adoption, you may be able to enroll yourself and your dependents. However, you must request enrollment within 60 days after the marriage, birth, adoption or placement for adoption. Application must be made within 30 days of a birth, adoption or placement for adoption for the coverage to be retroactive to the date of birth, adoption or placement for adoption.

In addition, if you or your dependents become newly eligible for a premium subsidy under a State Children’s Health Insurance Program or Medicaid, you may be able to enroll yourself and your dependents. You must apply within 60 days of receiving notice of eligibility for the premium subsidy.

To request special enrollment or obtain more information, contact Benefits Administration. Please note that any future enrollment request will be subject to plan provisions in effect at the time of the request.