Retiring from Princeton
For faculty and staff considering or who have decided to retire from Princeton University, this page offers everything they need to know about the process and the steps they need to take for a smooth transition to retirement.
As always, members of the Benefits Team are here to answer questions and guide employees through this significant stage in their life and career.
Congratulations on reaching this important milestone, and sincerest thanks for working and contributing to Princeton University.
For faculty and staff considering or who have decided to retire from Princeton University, we invite you to join us to learn everything you need to know about the process and the steps needed for a smooth transition to retirement. This session will also be helpful if you are turning 65 and plan to continue to work.
The Benefits Team will answer questions and guide employees through this significant stage in their life and career.
- July 22, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
- August 26, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
- September 23, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
- October 28, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
- November 25, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
- December 16, 2024 at 3:00 p.m.
(Please choose one session – approximately 90 minutes each)
Eligibility & Enrollment
The University provides benefits-eligible faculty and staff who meet certain age and service requirements access to various benefits in retirement. Learn more about eligibility conditions and how to enroll.
Faculty considering retirement should also refer to the Office of the Dean of Faculty website.
Retiree Healthcare Plans
Princeton's retiree healthcare plans are categorized into two groups based on the retiree's age:
- Under age 65
- Age 65 and over
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Employees under age 65* at the time of retirement may elect to participate in a retiree medical plan for oneself and one’s eligible dependents. The medical plans offered are the Princeton Health Plan (Aetna and United) and the Aetna HMO Plan, and both include prescription coverage.
- 2024 Retiree Aetna Princeton Health Plan
- 2024 Retiree UnitedHealthcare Princeton Health Plan
- 2024 Retiree Aetna HMO Plan
- 2024 Retiree Aetna Consumer Directed Health Plan
A vision plan is also available. A dental care plan may be purchased separately through MetLife.
Upon attainment of age 65, the pre-65 coverage options end. At that time, retirees are offered the Princeton Medicare Plan, with Medicare becoming the primary insurance. To elect the Princeton Medicare Plan, contact the Benefits Team. Retirees must actively elect the Princeton Medicare Plan to retain retiree medical coverage with Princeton University. Retirees are not permitted to elect retiree medical coverage at a future date.
Approximately three months prior to age 65, retirees and/or their eligible spouse should enroll in Medicare Parts A and B. Contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) at (800) 772-1213 or visit the SSA website.
*Retirees eligible for Medicare prior to 65 should notify Human Resources. Similarly to turning 65, continued medical coverage is available under the Princeton Medicare Plan, with Medicare becoming the primary insurance.
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Currently, retirees 65 and over who retired after January 1, 2003, and retirees eligible for Medicare prior to 65 have one health plan option, the Princeton Medicare Plan, which is secondary to Medicare Parts A and B. Prescription Drug Plan coverage is provided with the Princeton Medicare Plan.
A vision plan is also available. A dental care plan may be purchased separately through MetLife.
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Additional Information
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Access to certain University benefits end upon retirement. Read more about the status of these benefits.
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Princeton University’s billing service provider ECSI bills retirees monthly for retiree medical coverage and/or retiree vision care. Retirees can work directly with ECSI and/or the University’s billing office at (609) 258-1825 or [email protected] to arrange for automatic payments. Delinquent payments or non-payments of applicable premiums result in the termination of health coverage.
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Coverage as an active employee in a medical, dental, or vision plan terminates at the end of month in which one retires.
Under the COBRA federal law, all former employees receive information directly from Inspira Financial to notify them that they and/or their dependents enrolled in medical, dental, or vision plans may continue to participate in active medical and dental coverage for up to 18 months at the full cost of the plan plus a two percent administrative fee.
Princeton retirees also receive COBRA information directly from Inspira Financial. Retirees who enroll in a Princeton University retiree medical plan should disregard it.
Retirees who want dental and/or vision coverage throughout their retirement should disregard the COBRA notification unless there are unusual circumstances. Contact the Benefits Team for guidance.
Retirement Income
To help faculty and staff reach their retirement goals, the University offers financial planning tools and advisors for guidance as well as the following retirements plans and program:
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The University has been making contributions to an individual retirement account at TIAA. Upon retirement, retirees may access all or a portion of their account balances or defer until April 1 of the calendar year in which the participant attains the required beginning date age as set forth here:
- If your date of birth is before July 1, 1949, your required beginning date age is 70 ½.
- If your date of birth is on or after July 1, 1949 and before January 1, 1951, your required beginning date age is 72.
- If your date of birth is on or after January 1, 1951 your required beginning date age is 73.
TIAA offers a range of payment options, including a monthly annuity payment for life with a benefit to a designated beneficiary upon death.
Contact TIAA at 1-800-842-2252 for additional information on payment options and for overall retirement planning assistance.
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Employees who participate in this plan have made voluntary pretax or after-tax (Roth) contributions to an account managed at TIAA. Upon retirement, retirees may access all or a portion of their account balances or defer until April 1 of the calendar year in which the participant attains the required beginning date age as set forth here:
- If your date of birth is before July 1, 1949, your required beginning date age is 70 ½.
- If your date of birth is on or after July 1, 1949 and before January 1, 1951, your required beginning date age is 72.
- If your date of birth is on or after January 1, 1951, your required beginning date age is 73.
TIAA offers a range of payment options including a monthly annuity payment for life with a benefit to a designated beneficiary upon death. Contact TIAA at 1-800-842-2252 for additional information on payment options and for overall retirement planning assistance.
To view the accounts online, visit the TIAA website.
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Under this plan, the University made contributions on behalf of each faculty and monthly-paid staff member to Retirement Annuity (RA) contracts with TIAA until December 31, 1993.
Contact TIAA at 1-800-842-2252 for distribution options.
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Participants in this plan who elected a deferred annuity when the plan terminated in June 2000 should contact AIG Life Insurance Company at (800) 842-3068. AIG can provide information about retirement income options. The earliest annuity payments can begin is at age 65. There is no cash option with this plan.
Retiree Wellness Resources
The following healthcare and financial resources are available to support retirees.
For information regarding all other benefit plan changes as result of ending employment with Princeton, refer to the Benefits at Termination webpage as well as the Other Relevant Information section below.
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2nd.MD
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Retirees and eligible dependents are eligible for 2nd.MD services except for the Medical Certainty Consult incentive. For more information, contact 2nd.MD directly at (866) 841-2575.
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Children's Educational Assistance Plan
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Retiree dependent children are eligible for the Children's Educational Assistance Plan tuition grant as long as they meet the definition of an eligible dependent for the program as of the employee’s retirement date. Eligibility terminates if the child no longer meets the program’s eligibility criteria. Dependent children need to be dependent certified at the time of the employee’s retirement. Participation in consecutive semesters is not required.
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Retirees are eligible to begin confidential, free in-person or telephonic counseling services within 90 days of their retirement date. Retirees continue to have access to other EAP resources, available 24/7, after the 90 days. Call (800) 437-0911 or go online at www.myliferesource.com using the access code TW8AE.
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Health Advocate
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Retirees who elect a University retiree medical plan are eligible. For more information, contact Health Advocate directly at (866) 695-8622.
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Isles Financial Solutions
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Retirees can work directly with Isles for their financial needs by calling (609) 341-4740.
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MSK Direct
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Retirees and their dependents have access to MSK Direct for cancer diagnosis support by calling (844) 303-2123.
Other Relevant Information
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Retirees may be eligible to begin receiving a benefit at age 62. Individuals should contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) at (800) 772-1213 to:
- Verify their earnings record
- Receive a personalized benefit calculation
- Obtain information about Medicare
- Obtain the address and hours of the nearest Social Security office.
Individuals can find additional information on the SSA website.
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Retirees who move must notify in writing or by email:
- HR to continue to receive Princeton University publications and open enrollment information. Contact HR.
- TIAA directly by calling (800) 842-2776 to update their addresses or complete the address update on their online accounts at www.tiaa.org.
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Contact the Office of Information Technology Support and Operations Center (SOC) by email at [email protected] or call (609) 258-HELP (4357) for specific information about rules and eligibility regarding netID and email maintenance and/or deactivation, transition periods, and forwarding services.
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University retirees and their spouses or partners may continue to have a University ID card. Refer to the rules and procedures on the TigerCard website, email [email protected], or call TigerCard Services at (609) 258-8300.
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This program is administered by the Mortgage Services Team. Call (609) 258-6357 for more information.
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Princeton University publications continue to be mailed to retirees’ home addresses.
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The Princetoniana Committee of the Alumni Association preserves and disseminates the University’s history, lore, and traditions. Individuals can examine transcripts of past interviews online.
For more information, refer to the Princetoniana website.
Retiree Benefits Plan Documents
Detailed plan information is provided in the Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs) and Summary of Benefits Coverages (SBCs) below.
For questions and/or assistance, contact the Benefits Team.