The State of Illinois TRAIL Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) open enrollment period for participating annuitants and survivors is October 14 through November 14, 2025.
The 2026 plan year will begin Jan. 1, 2026, and will run through Dec. 31, 2026.
The State of Illinois offers retirees, annuitants, and survivors of the State Employees Group Insurance Program (SEGIP), the Teachers’ Retirement Insurance Program (TRIP), and the College Insurance Program (CIP) a healthcare program entitled Total Retiree Advantage Illinois (TRAIL). This program provides Medicare-eligible members and their covered dependents comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage through TRAIL Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (commonly referred to as MAPD) plans.
Members who are newly eligible for Medicare have two opportunities for enrollment:
Initial Enrollment: this is offered to all Medicare-eligible retirees and their Medicare-eligible dependents within 60 days of the 65th birthday (of the youngest enrollee). Initial enrollment is a one-time offering.
Open Enrollment: an annual enrollment period held in the fall of each year. This enrollment period is open for Medicare-eligible retirees, survivors, and their dependents to change their elections, or for anyone who previously waived or canceled coverage to re-enroll.
To be eligible for coverage under a Total Retiree Advantage Illinois Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan, members and their eligible dependents must:
- Live in the United States or the U.S. Territories, AND
- Be covered under a retiree plan and enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, due to age or disability.
Retirees and survivors eligible for the TRAIL MAPD Program will receive an Enrollment Guide in the mail, notifying them of their eligibility and the requirement to enroll or waive coverage, during the TRAIL MAPD Open Enrollment Period.
Note: Members who are currently enrolled in TRAIL MAPD do not need to do anything during the Open Enrollment Period unless they want to add or drop a dependent, opt-out of coverage, or make changes to their current TRAIL MAPD coverage for the 2026 plan year.
For questions or to make changes during the open enrollment period, members should visit MyBenefits.illinois.gov or contact MyBenefits (toll-free) 844-251-1777.