Health insurance

Keep your UN health insurance.

After-service health insurance (ASHI) is optional and not automatic.

Which plan are you on?

New York-administered plans

Secretariat in New York, UNDP, UNICEF, UNOPS, UNFPA, UN Women and others.

Apply within 31 days before or after separation.

UN Health and Life Insurance

UNSMIS (Geneva)

UN staff in Geneva, including UNHCR.

Email unsmisaffiliations@un.org within 31 days after separation. Same age and 10 (or 5) year rules.

UNSMIS: Soon to retire

Other agency plans

WHO, ILO and ITU, FAO and WFP, and Vienna-based staff have their own plans.

Rules and deadlines differ. Ask your plan or HR now.

UN HR Portal: Health insurance

31

days

New York plans: before or after your separation date. UNSMIS: after it. Processing can take up to 90 days. Once approved, cover is backdated, so keep your receipts.

ST/IC/2026/2, para 66 · Soon to retire

Who qualifies

Age 55 or older

At separation.

Enrolled on your last day

Cover only continues, it cannot start fresh.

Choose a monthly pension

Deferred is fine. A withdrawal settlement makes you ineligible.

10 years in a UN plan

Hired before 1 July 2007: 5 to 10 years can join without subsidy.

The detail below is for New York-administered plans. UNSMIS uses the same age and years rules; other agency plans can differ. Checked 2026-10-23.

Easy to miss

Geneva, ages 50 to 54: bridging option
If your post is abolished or you take an agreed termination at 50 to 54, with at least 10 years in a UN system plan, UNSMIS has a bridging mechanism. Apply before separation or within 30 days after. Open until 31 December 2026. UNSMIS FAQ
Staying in Switzerland: 3-month deadline
Take Swiss basic insurance (LAMal), or, if you keep equivalent UN cover, ask the cantonal health insurance service for an exemption within 3 months of the day your functions end. The deadline is strict. Swiss Mission
Set money aside
Your first pension can take months. If deferred or too small, premiums are paid in advance, in US dollars for New York plans. UNSMIS asks for an advance payment in Swiss francs.
Arrears can take 70% of your pension
If deductions are delayed, up to 70% of the monthly pension can go to arrears.
US Medicare Part B
Since 2011, eligible retirees on US-based plans must enrol in Part B, or the UN plan pays as if they had.
Family members and ALD years
Family can only be covered if covered on your last day. If you were hired on or after 1 July 2007, they also need 5 years of UN cover (2 years if they were covered by a government or private plan), unless they became your dependants recently. Years on a limited duration appointment (ALD) do not count. Dismissal makes you ineligible. A UNJSPF disability benefit waives the age and years rules.

Sources