As a member of the United Nations Staff Mutual Insurance Society against Sickness and Accident (UNSMIS), you may have the option to apply for After-Service Health Insurance (ASHI) coverage upon retirement. This coverage is governed by Rule V of the Society’s Internal Rules. Here are the key points to know:

Eligibility and Enrolment

To be eligible for ASHI, it is essential that your active-service coverage in a contributory health insurance plan of the United Nations continue without interruption between your active service and retirement. This means you must be insured at the time of retirement. ASHI is available to members who are 55 years or older, hold a fixed-term or permanent appointment, and are eligible to receive a retirement, early retirement, or deferred retirement benefit from the Pension Fund. Additionally, for staff recruited on or after 1 July 2007, a 10-year vesting period on a fixed-term or permanent appointment is required. For those recruited before 1 July 2007, a 5-year vesting period under the same conditions is necessary.

ASHI is also available to insured members receiving a disability pension under the Regulations of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund or compensation for disability awarded under appendix D to the Staff Rules.

Important to note:

Enrolment in ASHI is not automatic.

An application must be submitted to unsmisaffiliations@un.org within 31 days following separation from service. Failure to apply within this period will result in ineligibility for ASHI.

Premium rates during retirement

The calculation of the contribution is based on a total pension (including the lump sum) representing 20 years of service for staff members recruited before 1 July 2007 and 25 years of service for staff members recruited on 1 July 2007 or thereafter. The organization will pay two-thirds of the total premium, while one-third will be deducted from your pension. For the applicable percentages and flat rates for Specially Protected Persons (SPP), please see the article 'Premium Contributions'

The monthly ASHI premium will be automatically deducted from your pension benefit.

Provisions for deferred pension

If you choose to defer your pension, your coverage may be extended only if UNSMIS is contacted to request it and the premium is paid in advance. During the extension period, 50% of the premium is paid by the insured member, and the other 50% is covered by the organization. The premium must be paid to UNSMIS in advance via bank transfer.

Coverage details

The benefits under ASHI are the same as those received during active service, with no exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Two-thirds of the premium cost is covered by the organization.

You will also retain access to your member profile on both the eClaims portal and the UNSMIS mobile app, enabling you to submit claims just as you did during active service – using the same online platforms and procedures.

Please note that only family members who are enrolled at the time of separation are eligible for continued coverage under the ASHI plan. Specially protected persons (SPP), such as non-dependent spouses, secondary dependents, and children over a certain age, may continue to be covered if affiliated for at least one year prior to retirement.

Dependents’ eligibility

Family members may not be added to the plan after retirement. Children may remain covered as long as they qualify as Specially Protected Persons, which means they are under 30, unmarried, in full-time education, or not in regular employment.

As a member, it is your responsibility to inform UNSMIS about any changes that may impact your child(ren)’s eligibility for coverage (e.g., children completing their studies, starting regular employment, becoming married, etc.). Once you retire, if insured family members are disaffiliated, they cannot be re-enrolled in the plan.

Both spouses working for the UN

If your spouse is an active staff member of a UN Agency and you retire before them, your spouse may become the main subscriber to the health insurance plan, adding you under their coverage. This is applicable even if you were the subscriber up to your retirement and are eligible for after-service health insurance (ASHI) coverage. In this scenario, your child should also be transferred to your spouse’s coverage. However, there are important details to consider:

• Enrolment: If you choose to enroll under your spouse’s health insurance plan upon retirement, you may not request ASHI with UNSMIS later. Your continued coverage depends on your spouse’s eligibility for ASHI at their separation.
• Eligibility Risks: If your spouse separates before qualifying for ASHI, neither of you will have ASHI coverage.
• HR Consultation: We recommend consulting with your HR focal point to understand how you can be recorded under your spouse’s affiliation. Note that a retired staff member cannot have a non-dependent former UN staff (i.e., an SPP) under their ASHI coverage.

If you wish to become a dependent of your spouse, please liaise with your HR focal point before your retirement, ideally when you begin the administrative preparations for your separation from service.

Divorced spouses

If a divorce occurs while you are still in active service, your spouse may be covered for a maximum of 12 months at the SPP premium rate applicable for non-dependent spouses, paid in advance. If the divorce happens after retirement, the spouse may continue to be covered for life as an SPP at the same premium rate.

Disaffiliation

ASHI coverage is for life, as long as the member wishes to keep it. Otherwise, if the main member requests the disaffiliation of a dependent or their own withdrawal from ASHI during retirement, the main member must inform us with three months’ notice and sign a form provided by us upon request.

It is crucial to keep banking and contact details updated, especially upon retirement.

Family members should be informed about the medical insurance procedures and benefits.

Additionally, UNSMIS should be notified if retired members start a new employment.

For further details, refer to administrative instruction ST/AI/2007/3, dated 1 July 2007, or contact UNSMIS directly.