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 can continue their existing medical and dental coverage until they become eligible for Medicare.
• BEP participants can also continue coverage for their spouse or domestic partner and/or dependent children.
• If the retiree pre-deceases their spouse/partner and/or covered dependent children, then the spouse/partner would be eligible to continue his/her coverage under the BEP for the remainder of his/her life, and the 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, it cannot be reinstated at a later time. 

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. If at retirement:

• You are under age 65 and your spouse or domestic partner are age 65 or older, you may continue your existing AU medical and/or dental coverage until you turn age 65 and become eligible for Medicare. Your spouse or domestic partner must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B, and may purchase Medicare Supplemental and Part D prescription plans or a Medicare Advantage Plan through Mercer Marketplace 365+ Retiree to ensure they have comprehensive health coverage.
• You are age 65 or older and your spouse or domestic partner are under age 65, you must enroll in Medicare Parts A and B, and may purchase Medicare Supplemental and Part D prescription plans or a Medicare Advantage Plan through Mercer Marketplace 365+ Retiree to ensure you have comprehensive health coverage.  Your spouse or domestic partner may continue their existing AU medical and/or dental coverage, until they turn age 65 and become eligible for Medicare.
• You have an eligible dependent child who is under age 26, they may continue their existing AU medical and/or dental coverage, subject to the eligibility requirements of the plan, until they reach age 26. When your dependent child turns age 26, they will be covered through the end of the year they turn age 26 and will then become eligible to continue coverage through COBRA for up to 36 months.

AU BEP Contribution
If you are eligible for a subsidy from the university towards the cost of your health coverage, the subsidy will reduce your monthly premium if you retire before reaching age 65. If you are age 65 or older at retirement, your subsidy will be available to you via a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) account administered by Mercer Marketplace 365+ Retiree and you must purchase Medicare Supplemental and Part D prescription plans or a Medicare Advantage Plan through Mercer Marketplace 365+ Retiree to receive the AU contribution.

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.

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

Additional information on the Benefits Extension Plan (BEP) and educational benefits can be found in the Faculty/Staff Benefits Manual.