Calvert County Public Schools will give Medicare-eligible retirees a second medical plan option starting in 2027, reversing a mandatory switch that has drawn months of complaints from retirees over delayed care, denied procedures, and rising costs.
The district announced this week that retirees can choose, during the 2026 Open Enrollment period, to remain on the CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage PPO Plan they were moved to last year, or elect a previously available supplemental medical plan option, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
The announcement follows a Board of Education vote in October 2025 that moved all Medicare-eligible retirees onto the single CareFirst Medicare Advantage plan, eliminating the supplemental-plan option retirees had previously used. In the months since, retirees have repeatedly told the school board the change has caused real hardship. At an Aug. 13 board meeting, retired teacher Joella Boggs described a medical procedure that was scheduled for Feb. 12 but wasn’t completed until March 19 because of prior-authorization delays, calling it “a major health hardship for me as well as my family.” Other retirees described denied prescriptions and procedures, restricted provider networks, and higher out-of-pocket costs. Retiree Nancy Wolf-Fisher told the board in writing that retirees had been informed in late 2025 they had no choice in the matter.
Retirees also circulated a petition asking the district to restore plan choice, arguing a single mandatory option didn’t account for the range of medical needs, existing providers, and financial situations among retirees — noting that nationally, close to a third of Medicare-eligible retirees choose Medicare Advantage plans voluntarily rather than being required into one.
CCPS Superintendent Dr. Marcus Newsome framed this week’s announcement as a direct response to that feedback. “Our retirees dedicated their careers to serving the students and families of Calvert County, and we remain committed to supporting them in retirement,” Newsome said, adding that the district is “responding to the valuable feedback we have received” by restoring a choice of plans.
The district said the decision followed a formal review of retiree feedback and public comments submitted since the original transition. Additional information and enrollment materials will go out to Medicare-eligible retirees in October 2026. The change applies to medical coverage only; dental and vision benefits are unaffected and will remain the same as they currently are.
It’s not yet clear how many retirees are expected to switch back to the previously available supplemental plan, or whether the district will still realize the cost savings it cited when it originally moved to a single mandatory plan.
