TRS-Care Surviving Spouse Coverage

The Health Insurance Deadline Most Families Miss

When a TRS member or retiree dies, the surviving spouse faces an immediate question beyond pension benefits: what happens to health insurance? TRS-Care — the retiree health plan administered by the Teacher Retirement System of Texas — can continue covering surviving spouses and eligible dependents, but only if you enroll within a strict window.

The Enrollment Window: 90 Days, Not 31

The initial enrollment period for a surviving spouse ends on the last day of the month that is three consecutive calendar months after the date of death — a minimum of 90 days. If a member dies on March 15, the enrollment window closes June 30.

You may see references to a 31-day window in older TRS materials or on other websites. That 31-day period applies to special enrollment events like marriage or loss of other coverage, not to the initial survivor enrollment. The survivor window is the full three-month period.

The initial window closes on that date. Later enrollment may be available at age 65, through an eligible Special Enrollment Event, or through TRS-Care's limited-time Medicare Advantage opportunity for certain eligible survivors of deceased retirees. TRS lists that opportunity as open from October 1, 2026, through March 31, 2028; contact TRS-Care to confirm whether you qualify.

Coverage Cannot Be Backdated

TRS-Care coverage takes effect on the first day of the month following TRS-Care's receipt of your written enrollment application. It does not backdate to the date of death. If the retiree died on March 15 and you submit enrollment paperwork received by TRS-Care on April 20, coverage begins May 1 — leaving a gap from the death date through April 30 that you must cover through COBRA, a marketplace plan, or out of pocket.

File the enrollment application as soon as possible after the death to minimize the gap.

TRS-Care Standard vs. Medicare Advantage

Surviving spouses who are not yet eligible for Medicare (under 65) enroll in TRS-Care Standard, a high-deductible health plan. Premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums are published annually by TRS and change each plan year.

Surviving spouses age 65 and older who are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B enroll in TRS-Care Medicare Advantage, which coordinates with Medicare to cover medical and prescription costs. Since January 1, 2026, Medicare-eligible TRS-Care participants must enroll in and pay for Medicare Part B to enroll in or remain in a TRS-Care plan.

If you are approaching 65 and not yet enrolled in Medicare Part B, contact SSA to sign up during your Initial Enrollment Period or Special Enrollment Period. Delaying Part B enrollment can trigger a lifetime late-enrollment penalty and leave a gap in TRS-Care Medicare Advantage coverage.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility for TRS-Care survivor coverage depends on the deceased member's status and service history:

• For a surviving spouse of an active member who died on or after September 1, 1986, the member must have had at least 10 years of actual service credit for Texas public-school service and made TRS-Care contributions at the last Texas public-education employer
• For a surviving spouse of a retiree, the retiree must have been enrolled in TRS-Care or met (or would have met) TRS-Care eligibility rules at the time of death
• The surviving spouse must have been married to the member or retiree at the time of death. Eligible dependent children may also qualify under TRS-Care's dependent rules, including children under 26 and some children with disabilities regardless of age

What Remarriage Changes

A surviving spouse enrolled in TRS-Care who remarries can continue their own coverage. However, the new spouse cannot be added to TRS-Care. TRS-Care eligibility is tied to the relationship with the deceased TRS member, and that relationship does not extend to a subsequent spouse.

Steps to Enroll

1. Call TRS-Care at 1-888-237-6762 to report the death and request enrollment forms
2. Complete the enrollment application and submit it to TRS-Care as quickly as possible
3. Include a certified copy of the death certificate and proof of marriage
4. If Medicare-eligible, confirm your Part B enrollment with SSA
5. TRS-Care confirms coverage effective date — first of the month after receipt

The Texas TRS Survivor Benefits Guide includes a TRS-Care enrollment tracker with the exact deadlines calculated from the date of death, along with a Medicare coordination checklist for spouses approaching 65.

See more Texas guides →