Retired Teachers in Illinois: Is TRS Really the Best Option In 2025?

As a retired Illinois teacher, your healthcare comes through the Teachers' Retirement Insurance Program (TRIP). But the program has changed over the years.

TRIP used to offer nearly all-inclusive benefits. Now, it only offers Medicare Advantage plans, which come with new factors to consider.

In this article, we’ll break down what those changes mean—and what you can do to ensure you’re making the best decision for your healthcare.

Disclaimer: We are not part of or affiliated with the TRS. Please confirm your TRS plan options and benefits. If you do meet with a Sams/Hockaday agent, we will ask for more information on the benefits offered to you for a fair comparison of your options. All of the TRAIL benefit information published here is publicly available via Illinois.gov.

The Changing Landscape of TRIP Benefits

The Teachers’ Retirement Insurance Program (TRIP) in Illinois used to be a top-notch benefit for retirees.

Before 2014, it functioned like a Medicare Supplement Plan F, covering nearly all out-of-pocket costs—no deductibles, no copays, no coinsurance for any Medicare-approved services.

However, things have changed. Not only is Medicare Plan F being phased out for new enrollees, but TRIP now offers only Medicare Advantage plans, which means retirees face deductibles, copays, coinsurance, and—perhaps, most importantly—provider networks.

Unlike traditional Medicare and Medigap plans (like the old Plan F), which allow you to see any provider that accepts Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans have networks. That means you need to be extra careful that your doctors and preferred healthcare facilities are in-network, or you could face higher costs or denied coverage.

What Is TRS?

The Teachers' Retirement System (TRS) is a pension and retirement system specifically for public school teachers in the state of Illinois.

TRS provides retirement, death, and disability benefits to its members, which include active and retired teachers in Illinois public schools outside of the City of Chicago, as well as their beneficiaries.

It is funded through contributions from teachers, school districts, and the state.

TRS plays a significant role in helping educators plan for retirement by offering pension benefits based on factors like years of service and salary.

What Is TRIP?

In addition to pension benefits, TRS also offers health insurance plans through the Teachers’ Retirement Insurance Program (TRIP) for retired teachers and their dependents. TRS is designed to ensure that retired educators can maintain financial stability after their years of service.

Members of TRS are required to contribute a portion of their salary towards the system, and upon retirement, they receive a lifetime pension based on their years of service and final average salary.

Retirement benefits are determined by a formula in state law that includes age, final average salary at retirement, and total creditable service time. As of 2023, TRS has 448,000 members and assets of $66.3 billion (Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois).

One of the benefits available to retired teachers, annuitants, and survivors in Illinois is TRAIL, or the Total Retiree Advantage Illinois (TRAIL) Program. This is essentially a few Medicare Advantage plans you can choose from.

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.

TRIP and TRAIL – Understanding Your Options As a Retired Teacher

The State of Illinois offers members of the Teachers' Retirement Insurance Program (TRIP) a healthcare program called Total Retiree Advantage Illinois (TRAIL). In order to join TRIP, you must be receiving a monthly benefit from TRS and have at least eight years of creditable service.

Once enrolled, you get coverage for health, prescriptions, and behavioral health services. You can also add dependents for an extra cost, and they’ll be on the same plan as you.

The TRAIL Program

TRIP gives its members access to a healthcare option called TRAIL (Total Retiree Advantage Illinois).

This program offers Medicare-eligible members and their dependents complete medical and prescription drug coverage through a Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan.

To qualify for this coverage, both you and your eligible dependents must:

• Reside in the United States or U.S. Territories, AND
• Be retired and enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, either due to age or disability.

If you're a new participant in the TRAIL MAPD Program, you'll be enrolled in the Aetna Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) PPO Plan, a Medicare Advantage plan that includes prescription drug coverage. You can view those details and premiums here.

Note: We’ve heard from some retirees who were concerned that they needed to enroll in a plan before even knowing the details. However, it’s important to understand that enrolling in the TRIP system does not mean you are automatically enrolled in a specific health plan. Enrolling in the system simply gives you access to view and compare the different plan options available to you, so you can make an informed choice.

Starting in 2025, the TRAIL Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) Program will now include vision and dental coverage.

A Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) plan through TRAIL isn’t your only option. You can choose to opt out of TRAIL and go with your Original Medicare benefits instead, paired with a Medicare Supplement plan for added coverage.

TRIP/TRAIL vs. Medicare Supplement

If you choose TRAIL MAPD for 2025, you’ll be enrolled in the Aetna Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) PPO Plan which is a Medicare Advantage plan that has prescription drug coverage built-in.

We see four major differences when comparing the Aetna Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) PPO Plan to a Medicare Supplement:

1. Networks
2. Out-of-pocket costs
3. Drug coverage
4. Managed care

Networks

Medicare Advantage PPO plans usually have a network of preferred providers, and if you choose to go out of network, you may pay higher out-of-pocket costs compared to in-network services.

You can go to Aetna's website and see which providers and establishments are in network.

While many teachers are satisfied with the coverage they receive under TRIP’s Medicare Advantage plans, we’ve found that some retirees encounter challenges when they need specialized care. For example, certain high-profile medical centers, such as Mayo Clinic or Barnes-Jewish Hospital, may not accept Medicare Advantage plans.

If you have a preferred doctor or facility, especially for significant health concerns, it’s critical to ensure they are in-network. These are often the clients we can help the most—guiding them through their options to ensure they don’t face unexpected coverage limitations during critical moments.

A Medicare Supplement also allows you to see any doctor who participates in Medicare, which is over 90% of all doctors in the United States.

Out-of-pocket Costs

Medicare Advantage typically promises low, or even $0 premiums in exchange for more out-of-pocket costs when you do utilize the plan.

The Aetna Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) PPO Plan does have a premium, though it seems relatively low. You can view that information here.

However, the Medicare Advantage plan offered through TRAIL does have a unique benefit structure with a lower out-of-pocket maximum than other MA plans offered. They also have better coverage for hospitalizations and skilled nursing facility stays.

While the benefits offered through TRAIL are better than options offered to anyone eligible for Medicare, they aren't very comparable to a Medicare Supplement.

Plan G, for example, requires you to pay the Medicare Part B deductible, which is $240 in 2024. After that, all Medicare-approved expenses are covered 100%. You will have no out-of-pocket costs for any medical bills approved by Medicare.

With a Medicare Advantage plan, you have copays and coinsurance, meaning every time you need medical care, you will be paying money out of your own pocket.

Drug Coverage

The 2025 prescription drug benefit offered through the Aetna MAPD PPO Plan can be viewed in the 2025 TRAIL Open Enrollment Guide.

Overall, the drug coverage is pretty solid in our opinion.

Medicare Supplements do not offer drug coverage, so you will need to purchase a separate Medicare Part D drug plan.

The average nationwide monthly premium for a Part D plan is approximately $55, though there are options in central IL with $0 monthly premiums. While you would need to purchase a separate drug plan, you have the advantage of choosing one that fits your needs.

You can select the pharmacy you love and select the current drugs you take, and Medicare’s Plan Finder will tell you which plan is best for you at the lowest price available.

Managed Care

Many don’t realize that Medicare Advantage plans are managed care plans. Your insurance plan can override your doctor’s recommendations in the interest of saving money.

For example, Dr. Sams, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at Decatur Orthopedic Center (DOC), explains he has to go through a lengthy and difficult pre-approval process when a patient has Medicare Advantage.

“I’ll never forget a patient that was told a bunch of misleading things, and when the time came for surgery, their MA plan basically said they hadn’t suffered enough and had to do several more weeks of therapy,” Dr. Sams explains.

Original Medicare is Fee-For-Service, and your supplement fits right alongside that. You don’t need any pre-approvals with a Medicare Supplement. You get the treatment you need when you need it, and the plan pays. It’s as simple as that.

When Is TRAIL the Best Choice?

A large percentage of seniors are satisfied with TRAIL. However, the clients we help the most are the ones who face network issues.

Some clients find out they can't go to a certain doctor or hospital, such as the Mayo Clinic. When you have a significant issue, you don't want to be told you can't go to the place where you feel you'll get the best treatment.

It's also important that we compare out-of-pocket costs. You can come in and an agent will help you figure out the potential network issues, and we can compare your potential out-of-pocket costs.

Essentially, we can help you make the most informed decision for your needs and budget.

Conclusion

So many just get used to having the same insurance. I’d encourage you to really take a look at what you’re paying for. Even if you’ve been happy with it in the past, is it still serving you? Are you going to be taken care of if you have a medical concern?

Please reach out to us here at Sams/Hockaday. We’d be happy to compare your current or upcoming TRAIL benefits to that of a Medicare Supplement. You may find TRAIL is the best coverage for you, but there’s a chance we could offer you significant savings while securing more robust coverage.

Make sure you’re doing what’s best for you in retirement!

Disclaimer: We are not part of or affiliated with the TRS. Please confirm your TRS plan options and benefits. If you do meet with a Sams/Hockaday agent, we will ask for more information on the benefits offered to you for a fair comparison of your options. All of the TRAIL benefit information published here is publicly available via Illinois.gov.