Fall 2024 Retire Well Sessions

AU Retiree Benefits

Learn about benefits for AUÌýretireesÌýand get answers to common retirement questions.

Thursday, October 17
12:00–1:00±è³¾
Joselino Cruz-Perez, AU Director of Employee Benefits
Melissa Jimeno, Aptia

Medicare & Medicare Private Exchanges

Learn about Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans, how to enroll, and more.

Monday, October 21
12:00–1:00±è³¾
Joselino Cruz-Perez, AU Director of Employee Benefits
Melissa Jimeno, AptiaÌý

What Retiring Minds Want to Know

Discuss pre-retirement concerns, how to stay connected to AU after retirement, and more.

Monday, November 4
12:00–1:00±è³¾
Dale Rampell, Retired AU Faculty & Staff Assistance ProgramÌýCounselor
Ìý

Mid-Career Retirement Check-In

Give your retirement savings a checkup and learn steps to help you get back on track if you’re behind.

Wednesday, November 20
12:00–1:00±è³¾
Hank Conway, TIAA

Social Security Basics

If you anticipate that Social SecurityÌýwill be a source of income in retirement learn when and how to claim your benefit.

October 30
12:00–1:00±è³¾
PresentedÌýby Fidelity

Social Security Resources

Retire Well

American University's Retire Well programÌýcan help articulate your vision of retirement, consider factors that may impact your satisfaction in retirement, and provide tools to design a strategy for a successful retirement.

Retire Well is open to all university faculty, staff and their families. The information on this website is not intended to advise you on which particular retirement choices are most appropriate for you and your family. Those decisions should be made by you, in consultation with your family and financial advisors.

It's Never too Early or too Late to Start Planning

There are real advantages to start saving for retirement when you're young because you have the one resource that everyone else wants . . . time. Compounding earnings happens when your savings are reinvested to generate their own earnings, which also get reinvested to create more earnings, and so on. Over time, compounding really adds up.

Beyond the financial considerations,Ìýthere are a lotÌýof other factors to consider as retirement age nears. How will you spend your time? Will you relocate to a new community or move to a smaller home? Can you stay connected to the university? The longer you have to think about these questions, the more options you have to explore and ensure a successful retirement.Ìý

AU's Retire Well program offers live, interactive workshops and information sessions, on-demand videos, printed and online resources fromÌýexperts in insurance, financial retirement planning, work-life, and AU retirement benefits.Ìý

Register to attend any of our workshops this fall or sign-up toÌýÌýfor session reminders and program updates.

One-on-One Consultations with TIAA or Fidelity

Schedule a one-on-one appointment with our TIAA or Fidelity consultants, regardless if youÌýin the early, mid, or late phase of your career. Consultants are on-site twice a month and you can discuss all aspects of financial planning.

Woman smiling

Q & A with Sharon Metcalf

Iris Krasnow interviews Sharon Metcalf, anÌýSOC retiree, to learn about her retirement process and plans after AU.

View Sharon's Interview

Consultations with TIAA

TIAA participants,
call (800) 732-8353 or visit

Consultations with Fidelity

Fidelity participants,
call (800) 642-7131 or visitÌýÌý

The Benefits Extension Plan, commonly referred to as the BEP, is the university's benefits program for faculty and staff members who are eligible to retire from the University (age 55 or older). Here are some key highlights:

  • BEP participants canÌýcontinueÌýtheir existing medical and/or dental coverage for the duration of their life.
  • BEP participants can also continue coverage for their spouse or domestic partner and/orÌýdependent children.
  • If the retireeÌýpre-deceasesÌýtheir spouse/partner and/or covered dependent children, thenÌýthe spouse/partner would be eligible to continue theirÌýcoverage under the BEP for the remainder of their life, andÌýthe covered dependent children would be eligible to continue their coverage under the BEP up to the plan's dependent child eligibility age limit.
  • If BEP coverage is discontinued by the participant,Ìýit cannot be reinstated at a later time.Ìý

To be eligible for the BEP coverage, participants must be actively enrolled in medical and/or dental coverage through American University just prior to retirement.

Health and Prescription Drug coverage are offered to retirees and their spouses/partners who are Medicare-eligible, exclusively through a private Medicare exchange provided by Mercer Marketplace 365+ Retiree. For more information, call Mercer Marketplace 365+ Retiree at 855-871-0436.

Supplemental Health and Prescription Drug coverage through AARP/United Healthcare is also available for retirees and their spouses/partners who are Medicare-eligible.Ìý

You should consult directly with insurance carrier representatives, the Social Security Administration and Medicare, as applicable, for more comprehensive information regarding your benefits.

Benefits Enrollment Guide BEP EditionÌý

Education Benefits

Retirees meeting certain age and service requirements are also eligible for educational benefits for themselves and their dependents.  

General information on signing up for Medicare can be found at theÌý.

Medicare While Still Working /ÌýSpecial Circumstances (Special Enrollment Periods)

Once your Initial Enrollment Period ends, you may have the chance to sign up for Medicare during a Special Enrollment Period. If you're covered under a group health plan based on current employment, you have a Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part A and/or Part B any time as long as you or your spouse (or family member if you're disabled) is working, and you're covered by a group health plan through the employer or union based on that work. You also have an 8-month Special Enrollment Period to sign up for Part A and/or Part B that starts the month after the employment ends or the group health plan insurance based on current employment ends, whichever happens first. Usually, you don't pay a late enrollment penalty if you sign up during a Special Enrollment Period. For more information, visit Medicare'sÌý.

You should also consult directly with insurance carrier representatives, the Social Security Administration and Medicare, as applicable, for more comprehensive information regarding your benefits.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244-1850
800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)ÌýTY users can call 1-877-486-2048

Social Security Administration