What EGID's guide says
HealthChoice is the health plan for Oklahoma state and education employees and retirees and other participating employer groups, run by the Employees Group Insurance Division (EGID), now part of the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. For people on Medicare, EGID offers two HealthChoice Medicare supplement plans, a High Option and a Low Option, both with Part D drug coverage. EGID's 2027 Medicare Options Benefit Guide says that to join them you must be entitled to Medicare Part A, that you are not required to be enrolled in Part B but the plan pays benefits as if you are, and that to get the most from the plan you need Part B.
What happens without Part B
Medicare Part B covers doctor visits, outpatient care, tests and medical equipment. With Part B, Medicare pays first and HealthChoice pays after it. Without Part B, nobody pays Medicare's share. EGID's 2026 guide for former employees says HealthChoice will estimate Medicare's benefits, pay secondary, and leave you responsible for the primary share of the claim. For most Part B services, Medicare's share is all but 20% of the approved amount after the deductible, so that's most of the bill.
| EGID Medicare option | Part A | Part B |
|---|---|---|
| HealthChoice Medicare supplement (High or Low Option) | Required | Not required, but the plan pays as if you have it |
| Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plans through EGID | Required | Required, and you keep paying the Part B premium |
The Part B penalty risk
Retiree coverage, including HealthChoice as a retiree, isn't coverage from current employment. Medicare says that means you don't get a Special Enrollment Period for Part B when you retire or later. If you skip Part B when you're first eligible and sign up later, you may wait for the General Enrollment Period (January 1 to March 31) and pay a late penalty of 10% of the standard premium for each full 12 months you could have had Part B, for as long as you have it. In 2026 the standard Part B premium is $202.90 a month; the 2027 amount hasn't been published yet.
Tip: If you're still working for an EGID employer at 65, your active coverage is based on current employment, so you can usually delay Part B without a penalty. See working past 65 and sign up before that coverage ends.
Related questions
What should state retirees on HealthChoice do at 65?
The steps and EGID's packet.
Do OTRS retirees need Part B?
Retired educators and their plans.
What Medicare options do state retirees have?
Supplement and MAPD choices for 2027.
EGID Member Services: 405-717-8780 or 800-752-9475 (TTY 711). For the full picture, see state and teacher retirees and Medicare. To compare EGID's options with plans from the companies they work with, you can request a call from a licensed insurance agent.
Sources
- OHCA Employees Group Insurance Division — 2027 Medicare Options Benefit Guide (eligibility requirements, Part D)
- EGID — Planning for Your Insurance Needs as a Former Employee, 2026
- HealthChoice — Medicare supplement plans
- Medicare.gov — Enrolling in Medicare Part A & Part B (retiree coverage and the Special Enrollment Period)
- Medicare.gov — Working past 65
More questions in this guide
- Do Oklahoma Teachers' Retirement (OTRS) retirees need Medicare Part B?
- Does the OTRS health insurance supplement pay toward any Medicare plan?
- What Medicare options do Oklahoma state and education retirees have?
- What do Oklahoma state retirees on HealthChoice need to do when they turn 65?
Part of the guide: Oklahoma State and Teacher Retirees: HealthChoice and Medicare · All questions
Frequently asked questions
What does "pays as if you are enrolled in Part B" mean?
EGID's 2026 retiree guide says that if you don't have Part B, HealthChoice estimates Medicare's benefits and pays as if Medicare were primary. HealthChoice pays only its secondary share, and you are responsible for the share Medicare Part B would have paid.
Can I drop Part B later and keep HealthChoice?
You can stay in a HealthChoice Medicare supplement plan with Part A only, but you would start paying Part B's share of your outpatient claims. You could also face a Part B late enrollment penalty if you sign up again later, because retiree coverage doesn't give you a penalty-free Special Enrollment Period.
Does the HealthChoice Medicare supplement include drug coverage?
Yes. EGID's 2027 guide says its Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage plans include Part D coverage and are creditable. Don't join a separate Part D plan: Medicare would end your EGID Part D coverage.
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