Q. I am 54 and a federal employee with 14 years of service. Can I take a postponed retirement now and then at MRA, 60 or 62, apply for retirement and have my health and medical coverage reinstated? I have looked at OPM, and it is not clear. I have talked to my agency’s folks and received conflicting information.
A. No. To retire on a postponed annuity, you’d have to have at least 10 years of service (which you do) and have reached your minimum retirement age (which you haven’t). Your MRA is 56. At age 54, all you could do is resign from the government and apply for a deferred annuity at age 62. If you did, you wouldn’t be able to re-enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program.
