A monthly update for Stanford retirees
A monthly update for Stanford retirees
December 2017

Winter Closure Reminders

Winter Closure: Benefits Reminders

Stanford's 2017 winter closure is Monday, Dec. 25, 2017, through Friday, Jan. 5, 2018, for areas designated to close, including University Human Resources. Regular operations resume on Monday, Jan. 8, 2018. Below are reminders and information you may need this time of year.

Benefits Support During Winter Closure

The University HR Service Team has a modified schedule during winter closure:
  • Open from 8 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays and Thursdays: Dec. 27 and 28, 2017; Jan. 3 and 4, 2018
  • Closed, with voicemail only: Dec. 29, 2017; Jan. 2 and 5, 2018. Voicemail will be monitored for urgent matters and callbacks will be made by the next business day.
  • Closed on the designated university holidays: Dec. 25 and 26, 2017; Jan. 1, 2018
  • In-office appointments and online chat will not be available during the winter closure

Benefits Updates & Deadlines

Medical ID Cards for New Plan Members Coming Soon

If you switched medical plans for 2018 during Open Enrollment or are newly enrolled in a plan, you should receive your new medical ID card by the end of 2017. If you do not receive your new card and need medical care on or after Jan. 1, keep a copy of your benefits Confirmation Statement as proof of coverage until you receive your new card; alternatively, some providers will allow you to download and print a copy of your card from their website. View a complete list of health benefits provider contacts on the Cardinal at Work website. 

IRS Form 1095 Mailed by the End of January

Stanford is required to send an IRS Form 1095 to any retiree who worked full time in 2017 or was under age 65 and enrolled in a Stanford self-insured medical plan. The Form 1095 shows how you were covered for medical insurance in 2017. You’ll receive the Form 1095 at the end of January by U.S. Mail. The 1095 Form is informational only, and is not required to be filed with your income taxes. Additionally, you do not need to wait to receive the form before filing your taxes. 

Retirement Distributions Request Deadline is December 13

The deadline to submit retirement distribution requests is Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017. Distributions will not be processed during the winter closure. To request your retirement distribution, contact your investment provider (Fidelity and/or TIAA) for the required forms and instructions. Note: Fidelity and TIAA are closed on Dec. 25, 2017 and Jan. 1, 2018. In addition, TIAA will close by 11 a.m. PST on Dec. 22 and 29, 2017.

Medicare Updates & Deadlines

Medicare Advantage Form Deadline is December 15

If you enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan for 2018, or changed from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, you should have received a Medicare Advantage form via U.S. mail. The deadline to submit this for to the University HR Service Team is Friday, Dec. 15, to ensure coverage is effective on the first day of January. Learn more on the Cardinal at Work website.

Social Security Administration Issuing Redesigned Medicare Cards

The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, part of the Social Security Administration, will begin issuing redesigned Medicare cards starting in April 2018. To reduce identity theft, your SSN will not appear on the card; instead, you will be assigned a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier, a series of both letters and numbers in a randomized format. If you need to correct your address with Social Security prior to the new cards being mailed in April, contact them directly at ssa.gov/myaccount or 1-800-772-1213. TTY: 1-800-325-0778. 
The Stanford Retiree Insider publishes monthly to keep you informed throughout the year.
Let us know what you'd like to see in future issues by emailing HR Communications.

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