TRS outreach staff summarized the Teachers’ Retirement Insurance Program (TRIP) and its Medicare subset TRAIL, explaining who is eligible, how to enroll, and how premiums are collected.

TRS told webinar attendees that members with at least eight years of TRS service credit have lifetime access to TRIP (pre‑Medicare) and TRAIL (Medicare‑age) and that new retirees receive a TRIP/TRAIL participation election form as part of the retirement packet. TRIP/TRAIL itself is administered by the state’s Central Management Services (CMS) through the my benefits service center; TRS verifies eligibility and acts as a premium withholding agent.

“TRIP is, for most of our members, their primary coverage before they turn 65,” Stabler said. He described the range of plan types (HMO, open access, PPO) and noted prescription drug coverage is included; dental and vision coverage is being added to TRAIL beginning July 1, 2025.

Stabler reviewed premiums current through June 30, 2025 (figures in webinar): a managed-care (HMO/open access) plan for a non‑Medicare retiree was listed at $347.20 per month; a PPO option was $810.30 for the member. Dependent and spouse premiums are charged a la carte (examples given in webinar: spouse premiums and per‑child premiums). TRS said TRAIL premiums for Medicare‑age members are considerably lower (example cited: $7.35 for a single member on the Medicare Advantage plan), because Medicare covers most costs.

Enrollment rules: TRIP/TRAIL generally begins the first of the month after other coverage ends; TRIP annual open enrollment is in May (effective July 1), and TRAIL open enrollment is typically Oct. 15–Nov. 15 (effective Jan. 1). TRS emphasized that though TRS collects premiums, members must work with the my benefits service center to select carriers, add dependents and submit proof of Medicare or dependency documentation.

Attendees were provided the my benefits service center phone number for enrollment assistance and were reminded to return the participation election form within 60 days of retirement if they intend to enroll immediately.