Vision Insurance

Retired employees may be eligible for vision insurance if they meet the eligibility rules. See below for new rules effective January 1, 2026.

1/1/26 - State Retiree means an individual who:

1. was hired before July 1, 2015, has left active employment as a State Employee, and is drawing retirement benefits through the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System based on their own service, or is a participant in a Higher Education Optional Retirement Plan (ORP), as permitted by TCA 8-27-205. Employees whose employment with the State commenced on or after July 1, 2015, are not eligible for coverage as a Retiree unless they were employed by the State or a participating local education agency, as defined in TCA § 8-27-301, before July 1, 2015, and did not accept a lump sum payment from the TCRS before July 1, 2015; or
2. is enrolled in the state’s vision insurance program for active Employees and is a former governor or retired state of Tennessee senator or representative first elected to office prior to July 1, 2015, and meets the requirements set forth in TCA 8-27-208.

1/1/26 - Local Education Retiree means:

(A)  an individual who was hired before July 1, 2015, has left active employment as a Local Education Employee and:

(1)   if vested in the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS), is drawing retirement benefits through TCRS based on their own service, as permitted by TCA 8-27-305; or

(2)   if not vested in TCRS, is at least age 55 at the time of termination with 10 or more years of service with a participating local education agency or 10 or more years of combined service with a participating local education agency and the State.

(B) Employees whose first employment with a participating local education agency commenced on or after July 1, 2015, are not eligible for coverage as a retiree unless they were employed by the State or a participating local education agency as defined in TCA  § 8-27-301, before July 1, 2015, and did not accept a lump sum payment from the TCRS before July 1, 2015.

(C)  Effective January 1, 2026, and thereafter, eligibility to participate in the state retiree vision plan is only open to Retirees of an LEA that is participating in the state vision plan at the time of retirement. If the LEA subsequently terminates participation in the state vision plan, its retirees are no longer eligible to continue retiree vision coverage.

1/1/26 - Local Government Retiree means:

(A)     An individual who has retired from the participating employer and:

(1) if vested in the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS), receives a monthly benefit through TCRS based on their own service, as permitted by TCA 8-27-705; or

(2) if not vested in TCRS, is at least age 55 at the time of termination with 10 or more years of employment with the participating local government agency from which they retired.

(B) An individual who has retired as a utility district commissioner with 20 years of service with the same utility district and is at least age 55 at the time of termination.

(C) An individual who has retired as a member of the chief legislative body of the county or municipal government (defined as only those elected officials who have the authority to pass local legislation) and is at least age 55 at the time of termination with 10 or more years of service with the participating local government agency from which they retired.

(D) An individual who has retired as a county official as defined in TCA 8-34-101(9)(A) and (B) and is at least age 55 at the time of termination with 10 or more years of service with the local government agency from which they retired.

(E) Effective January 1, 2026, and thereafter, eligibility to participate in the state retiree vision plan is only open to Retirees of an LGA that is participating in the state vision plan at the time of retirement. If the LGA subsequently terminates participation in the state vision plan, its retirees are no longer eligible to continue retiree vision coverage. This restriction does not apply to county officials as defined in TCA 8-34-101(9)(A) and (B).