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Leaving Pfizer (including Retirement)

Your life and career may lead you elsewhere. Whether you’re changing employers, making a career change or are retiring, consider how your Pfizer benefits are impacted. If you are being terminated under a Pfizer separation plan, visit Fuse for information about how your benefits are impacted as different rules may apply.

Report Your Termination

Generally, your manager must start the process by entering your last date into Workday (Note: managers do not enter termination information for colleagues leaving under a Pfizer separation plan.) You and/or your manager will receive information, such as a vacation payout link, which must be completed on a timely basis. Refer to the Colleague Separation Off-Boarding Checklist for additional items you need to complete prior to your last day, such as turning in Pfizer equipment and submitting final expense reports.

moving or relocating

Consider Emotional Support

Changing or leaving a job can be emotionally challenging. Take advantage of no cost, confidential mental health services offered through Pfizer’s Healthy Pfizer Living Program, Pfizer’s employee assistance program (use company code, Pfizer). Visit the Mental Health and Substance Use page to review the mental health resources available to you through Pfizer.

Understand the Impact of Different Termination Dates on Your Retirement Benefits

Pfizer’s retirement benefits include Pfizer retiree medical coverage, the Pfizer 401(k) savings plan, and if applicable, the Pfizer pension plan. Each of Pfizer’s retirement benefits have different definitions for retirement eligibility and each benefit recognizes service differently. Visit My Future Rewards on Pfizer’s Total Rewards site to help you understand how your retirement benefits are impacted by comparing different retirement dates.

If you are eligible for retirement, once you have confirmed the date you will leave Pfizer, and you are within six months of that date, call the Pfizer Benefits Center at 1-866-476-8723 and follow the prompts to speak with a Retirement Benefits Coordinator (RBC). An RBC can provide information about your Pfizer retirement benefits and your other Pfizer benefits administered by Fidelity including helping you understand options for your 401(k) and pension plans, compare Pfizer retiree medical options and understand any required benefit forms. To reach an RBC, call the Pfizer Benefits Center at 1-866-476-8723 and follow the Colleague Services prompts for Benefits at Fidelity. When you reach a representative, let them know your expected retirement date and ask to be assigned to an RBC.

If you are not retirement eligible, Fidelity service representatives can continue to help you with many of these same things. The RBC service is for those who are commencing retirement.

Prepare for Changes to Your Health & Insurance Benefits

Upon your termination, your Pfizer benefits coverage generally ends. Review the Benefit Impact Upon Termination list to understand how your Pfizer benefits are impacted and understand which coverages may be continued on a direct bill basis. Some important deadlines will apply when you leave Pfizer, so keep these in mind:

  • Medical/Dental/Vision and Healthy Pfizer Living: You and your covered dependents will be offered COBRA (Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) to continue medical, dental, vision (if enrolled) and/or Healthy Pfizer Living at COBRA rates (full cost plus 2% administrative fee) for up to 18 months after your termination date. (You will receive your COBRA kit from the Pfizer Benefits Center approximately 14 business days after your termination date.) COBRA coverage must be elected within 60 days from the date of your COBRA notice. The effective date of coverage will be retroactive to your termination date. Call the Pfizer Benefits Center at 1-866-476-8723 for more information on COBRA and visit the Reference Library on netbenefts.com to view the applicable COBRA rates.
    If You or Your Dependent Are or Will Become Medicare-Eligible
    If you and/or your covered dependents are currently or will become Medicare-eligible (generally age 65 or over) while you are covered under any type of Pfizer medical coverage including retiree medical coverage, remember to enroll in Medicare Parts A and B as soon as possible. Once your employment ends, Medicare coverage will be primary, and Pfizer medical coverage will be secondary; Pfizer’s medical coverage does not require you to enroll in Medicare Part D. Refer to the Your Pfizer Medical Coverage When You Reach Age 65 and Stop Working tip sheet for more information.

    If You Are Eligible for Pfizer Retiree Medical Coverage
    If you are eligible for Pfizer retiree medical coverage, you can defer your enrollment (provided you maintain continuous creditable medical coverage while not enrolled in the Pfizer retiree medical coverage) or you may enroll immediately following your Pfizer termination. When you are ready to enroll, call the Pfizer Benefits Center directly at 1-877-208-0950 and follow the prompts for health and insurance.
  • General Purpose and Limited Purpose Health Care Accounts (GPHCA or LPHCA): If enrolled, you may continue participating in these accounts under COBRA for the remainder of the calendar year in which you terminate. If you elect COBRA, your contributions will be on an after-tax basis and include a 2% administrative fee. Unless you elect COBRA, you have until Mar. 31 of the year following your termination date to submit your eligible claims incurred while you were an active participant; after that date, any remaining balance will be forfeited.
  • Dependent Care Account (DCA): If enrolled, you have until May 31 of the year following your termination date to submit your eligible claims incurred while you were an active participant; after that date, any remaining balance will be forfeited.
  • Health Savings Account (HSA): If eligible and participating, after your termination date, you will no longer be eligible to contribute and/or receive the Company contribution. Since this is an individual account, you can keep your HSA at HealthEquity or contact HealthEquity to transfer your HSA to an HSA provider of your choice. If you choose to leave your HSA balance at HealthEquity, monthly maintenance fees (for account balances less than $2,500) will apply and will be your responsibility.
  • Life Insurance: Within a week of being notified of your termination date, Prudential, the life insurance plan insurer, will provide you with conversation and portability information for your insurance coverage and dependent insurance, as applicable. Portability or conversion, as applicable, must be elected and the first premium paid within the later of 31 days after your termination date or 15 days after being given written notice of loss of coverage (but no later than the 92nd day after your termination date).
  • 401(k) Savings Plan: Approximately two weeks following your termination date, you will receive information about your options for your Pfizer 401(k) Savings Plan account including how to repay any outstanding loan balances. You can access your account on netbenefits.com.
  • Vacation Purchase: As part of your termination, you will need to report your vacation and vacation purchase days taken during the year in which you terminate. If you used fewer vacation purchase days than you paid for, you will receive a refund. If you used more vacation purchase days than you paid for, you must repay those amounts to Pfizer.
  • Benefit Extras: To determine the impact of leaving Pfizer on your voluntary benefit plans including Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital Indemnity Insurance as well as the Legal Plan, go to pfizerbenefitextras.com or contact Benefit Extras at 1-888-926-2525.

Details on the effect of leaving Pfizer on other benefits, including the Educational Assistance Program, can be found in the Benefit Impact Upon Termination list.

Update Your Personal Information

Before You Leave Pfizer

Ensure that your home and/or mailing address, emergency contacts and state tax information in Workday is up to date before you leave. If you need assistance updating this information, call 1-866-476-8723 and follow the colleague services prompts for Workday support to reach the Pfizer Colleague Service Center.

After You Leave Pfizer

Call the Pfizer Benefits Center at 1-877-208-0950 to update your personal information including your mailing address and/or phone number. This will ensure that you stay up to date on important Pfizer benefit information, as applicable.

Annual Base Pay
(As of Sept. 1, 2021 or hire date if later)
2022 Pfizer HSA Contribution
Includes One-Time HealthEquity $50 Contribution
(individual/family)
Less than $75,000
$1,050/$2,050
$75,000 up to $160,000
$800/$1,550
$160,000 up to $300,000
$300/$550