Learn about important benefit changes for 2025.
View Aetna Health Plan Comparison Sheet.
Preparing today for a healthier tomorrow.
Healthcare costs appear to be going nowhere but up. And Medicare may not
be enough for you. The Southern Methodist University RHSP can help you save for
medical expenses in retirement.
The Southern Methodist University RHSP provides:
Save money by paying no taxes on money contributed by SMU.
Get tax-free reimbursement for qualified medical expenses.
Take comfort in knowing group coverage is backed by SMU and underwritten by Aetna.
Counting on Medicare to cover the bulk of your healthcare expenses could be a mistake. It’s unlikely that Medicare will keep pace with the increasing costs of healthcare.
View & DownloadDownload your 2024 Medicare
Overview booklet today
*Medicare does not cover vision, hearing, dental and long-term care.
SMU begins contributing for you at age 40. SMU also requires that eligible employees make a mandatory contribution of $961 per year (deducted from your salary on a monthly, pre-tax basis) starting at age 40.
You may also make voluntary “after-tax” employee contributions at any time.
Please consult your financial advisor before making any investment decision.
Your voluntary after-tax contributions are always 100% vested, but if you die without a spouse, same-sex or opposite-sex domestic partner, or dependents and without using your accumulating balance, any remaining assets are subject to forfeiture.
You can manage your account on TIAA.org. Check your account balance, review investment options, make allocation changes and transfer assets within your account.
As with all mutual funds, the principal value of a lifecycle fund isn’t guaranteed. Also, please note that each fund’s target date is an approximate date when investors may reach age 65. Lifecycle funds share the risks associated with the types of securities held by each of the underlying funds in which they invest. In addition to the fees and expenses associated with the lifecycle funds, there is exposure to the fees and expenses associated with the underlying mutual funds.
Once you have separated from employment at SMU with at least seven years of service, you may use the reimbursement benefit for qualified medical expenses. You can be reimbursed for a wide range of expenses included in IRC Section 213(d) medical expense guidelines.
Please refer to IRS Publication 502 to learn more.
Reimbursements are paid from the TIAA-CREF Money Market Mutual Fund. It’s easy to transfer funds into your health account.
REQUIRED STEP: Transfer funds into TIAA-CREF Money Market Mutual Fund Lifecycle Mutual Fund
A TIAA representative will be happy to assist you in transferring money into the TIAA-CREF Money Market Mutual Fund or setting up monthly transfers.
1-866-363-7484 (Select #3)
You can set up recurring accumulation transfers for retiree health insurance and Medicare Part B and/or Part D premiums, as well as long-term care and COBRA premiums. Please review the Reimbursement Benefit frequently asked questions for details.
We offer three easy ways for you to get reimbursed. For the fastest results, use your debit card to pay for all qualified healthcare purchases or submit claims at MyEmeritiBenefits.org
Use your debit card to pay for all your qualified healthcare purchases.
Register at MyEmeritiBenefits.org to submit and track your claims quickly and easily.
Register Today
Complete the necessary documentation and mail it with your receipts. You may also fax the documentation and receipts to
215-563-9943.
You will be eligible for retiree health insurance if you meet SMU’s requirements of age 60 and 10 years service while being enrolled in the SMU medical plan for 5 consecutive years preceding retirement.
You will be eligible to enroll in the health insurance underwritten by Aetna if you satisfy the above criteria and are age 65 and enrolled in Medicare or if you become permanently disabled prior to age 65.
A spouse is eligible only if married to an SMU employee for at least 5 years immediately preceding the insured’s retirement.
Premium rates vary by ZIP Code.
To learn more about rates or to enroll, call the Emeriti Service Center at 1-866-EMERITI (1-866-363-7484),
Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5:30pm (ET).
If you retire from SMU before becoming eligible for Medicare at age 65, SMU will pay 55% of your Blue Cross Blue Shield medical & prescription coverage. You only pay 45%.
When you turn 65, you may transition into the plans described below.
Questions? Email benefitsu@smu.edu.
Any SMU employee hired before January 1, 2008, who has been enrolled in the SMU medical plan for at least five years prior to separation from employment is eligible for an age-based health insurance subsidy. The subsidy is available only if you choose the Aetna retiree health insurance through Emeriti.
Below are 2021 retiree subsidies (SMU):
$139 total per month for you and your spouse
$163 total per month for you and your spouse
$195 total per month
for you and your spouse
Effective January 1, 2023, the monthly subsidy for Aetna insurance will freeze at the 2023
levels for everyone in the Emeriti Plan.
Call 855-212-5666 for private, one-on-one guidance with an Aetna specialist.
Choose the Aetna medical and prescription drug plan that best fits your situation. You may also add the Aetna dental plan. Keep in mind, you can change coverage each fall during annual enrollment.
Premium rates vary by ZIP Code. To learn more about rates or to enroll, call the Emeriti Service Center at 1-866-EMERITI (1-866-363-7484), Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 5:30 pm, ET.
Go to MyEmeritiBenefits.org to enroll anytime, 24/7.
Call the Emeriti Service Center Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 5:30 pm, ET.
1-866-363-7484 (Select #2)
Between November 22 and December 27, we are pausing all claim processing and reimbursements. During this period, we will switch over all back-end administration to OneBridge Benefits to create a more convenient experience for you.
No information will be lost, claim processing and reimbursement will resume after December 27.
If you have claims to make, within this period, simply wait until December 27 to submit.
