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Bureau of Benefits
The CMS Bureau of Benefits is the primary health care and insurance administrator for State universities, community colleges, teachers, State employees and retirees. In addition, the Bureau of Benefits administers a wide range of other programs including the State dependent and medical care assistance program for State workers, retirees, and their qualified dependents, the State commuter savings program, the Illinois workers’ compensation program, and the State of Illinois Deferred Compensation Plan (“Plan”).
Bureau of Benefits administers the programs listed below, with information for each also featured on this site;
The State of Illinois offers a web-based platform entitled MyBenefits. All plans administered by the State of Illinois, including the State Employees Group Insurance Program (SEGIP), the College Insurance Program (CIP), the Teachers’ Retirement Insurance Program (TRIP), and the Local Government Health Plan (LGHP), all listed and linked below, have access to their benefits and dependents information online. The site is designed specifically for you to access your benefit options through a one-stop shop for all your insurance needs. This includes learning more about your current insurance benefits, making enrollment decisions, changing your current coverage, and finding contact information for all your plan administrators.
The State Employees' Group Insurance Program
This program provides health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to all full-time and eligible State employees of Illinois State government and the university system, along with retirees and annuitants who are eligible to participate in any of the five State retirement systems. Coverage also is extended to their eligible dependents. Active employees make premium contributions based on salary and plan selection.
Teachers Retirement Insurance Program
This program offers various health plans for eligible retired teachers who are members of the Teachers' Retirement Insurance Program and extends to their eligible dependents. The program is funded by participant premiums, contributions from active eligible employees, their employing school districts, and the State.
The Community College Insurance Program
CMS provides and oversees health, dental, and vision benefits for eligible downstate public community college retirees and their eligible dependents. The program began on July 1, 1999, and is funded by participant premiums, contributions from active eligible employees, their employing community colleges, and the State.
The Local Government Health Plan
The Local Government Health plan offers units of local government health, dental, and vision insurance plans like coverage offered to State members. Any interested, qualified unit may participate. While CMS administers the plan, the plan itself is funded solely by premiums paid by participating units.
Total Retiree Advantage Illinois (TRAIL) MAPD Program
The TRAIL Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) Program provides comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage through MAPD plans for Medicare-eligible members of the State Employees Group Insurance Program (SEGIP), College Insurance Program (CIP), and Teachers’ Retirement Insurance Program (TRIP). These are Medicare-approved plans that combine the different parts of Medicare into one plan. Since these plans are a type of Medicare, enrollees must continue to pay federal Medicare premiums in order to remain enrolled in a TRAIL MAPD plan.
State of Illinois Deferred Compensation Plan (“Plan”)
The State of Illinois Deferred Compensation Plan (“Plan”) is an optional 457(b) retirement plan open to all State employees. The payroll deferrals, together with any earnings, accumulate tax-deferred until the employee terminates service, dies, or incurs unforeseeable financial hardship. Contributions and earnings are not taxed by the State of Illinois.
The Risk Management Division is responsible for the administration of workers' compensation claims for work-related accidents of state employees. Additionally, it administers auto liability and insurance procurements for all property, casualty, and liability expenses. CMS acts as the paying agent for indemnification claims brought against State employees.
The Dependent Care Assistance Plan Program
The DCAP program allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay their qualified dependent care expenses.
The Medical Care Assistance Plan Program
The MCAP program allows employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay their eligible out-of-pocket healthcare expenses.
CMS enables employees to use pre-tax dollars to pay for qualifying transportation expenses including mass transit fares and parking expenses.