Health Insurance Subsidy (HIS)

The HIS is an additional benefit under both plans that can help you pay for a portion of the cost of your health insurance premiums after you retire. Your HIS amount is based on your length of service with FRS employers.

FRS Pension PlanFRS Investment Plan
You may be eligible to receive an HIS benefit in addition to your Pension Plan benefit, regardless of whether you take a normal or an early retirement benefit, provided you have proper documentation certifying that you have health insurance coverage accompanying your application.
 
The HIS subsidy, which is paid monthly, is $7.50 for each year of creditable service, with a minimum HIS of $45 and a maximum HIS of $225 per month. The payment will be made as part of your monthly retirement benefit check.
 		The HIS is available after you attain 6 years of FRS service credit (if enrolled in the FRS before July 1, 2011) or 8 years (if enrolled in the FRS on or after July 1, 2011), have reached normal retirement eligibility, and have retired from the FRS. The required years can be a combination of Pension Plan and Investment Plan service. To be eligible to receive the HIS under the Investment Plan, you must meet the normal retirement age or service requirements under the Pension Plan for your class of membership and provide proper documentation certifying that you have health insurance coverage.
 
For example, if you enrolled in the FRS before July 1, 2011, normal retirement is age 62 with 6 years of service or 30 years of service, regardless of age. For Special Risk Class members, normal retirement is age 55 with at least 6 years of Special Risk service, or 25 years of Special Risk service, regardless of age, or age 52 with 25 years of Special Risk service and military service.
 
If you enrolled in the FRS on or after July 1, 2011, normal retirement is age 65 with 8 years of service or 33 years of service, regardless of age. For Special Risk Class members, normal retirement is age 55 with at least 8 years of Special Risk service, or 25 years of Special Risk service, regardless of age, or age 52 with 25 years of Special Risk service and military service.
 
If you leave employment with an FRS employer and take a distribution from your Investment Plan before your normal retirement age or date, you must wait until you reach your normal retirement age to begin receiving your HIS benefit. It is your or your surviving spouse’s responsibility to apply to the Division of Retirement for the HIS. HIS Payments are retroactive up to a maximum of 6 months. This allows you up to 6 months from the date you attain normal retirement to apply without missing any benefits.
 
If you elect the Hybrid Option, you will receive your HIS payment once you begin receiving your Pension Plan benefit. Unlike under the 100% Investment Plan option, the HIS payment is available immediately, even if you have not reached normal retirement.
 
The HIS subsidy, which is paid monthly, is $7.50 for each year of creditable service, with a minimum HIS of $45 and a maximum HIS of $225 per month.
 
DROP Advisory Council is not endorsed, affiliated with, or a subsidiary of the Florida Retirement System. Investment advisory services are offered through Brookstone Capital Management, LLC (BCM), a registered investment advisor. BCM and Richard Harrison are independent of each other. Insurance products and services are not offered through BCM but are offered and sold through individually licensed and appointed agents. DROP Advisory Council is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other government agency.