The Plan provides health care coverage to more than 695,000 teachers, state employees, retirees, current and former lawmakers, state university and community college personnel, and their dependents. The Plan is self-insured and exempt from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act as a government-sponsored plan. The Plan offers three Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans. Our membership includes: •More than 480,000 active employees and dependents. Dependents include spouses and children up to age 26 •More than 950 COBRA participants and their dependents. •More than 58,000 Non-Medicare eligible retirees and their dependents. •More than 146,000 Medicare eligible retirees and their dependents. Through healthy living initiatives, such as NC HealthSmart, the Plan seeks to empower members to make healthier lifestyle choices and to become partners in addressing their health care needs.