Q. I retired from the postal service in 2003. My health benefits continued under the federal employee health benefit plan. Now that I am turning 65, I need to know how I will be affected by Medicare A, B and D. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Federal Employees Plan. What is automatic and what should I choose, if anything?
A. While you will have to apply for Medicare Part A, which you have already paid for through payroll deductions, it’s up to you to decide if your need Part B, for which you would pay premiums. On the other hand, OPM and most knowledgeable sources recommend against enrolling in Part D because it doesn’t provide benefits much different from what you have in your FEHB plan.
