Q. I have been covered by my wife’s GEHA plan for the past 10 years, and I continue to be covered under her policy (as do our two kids; we are in a self and family plan). Two new variables are coming into play for my health care: 1) I will be eligible for Medicare coverage in two months; and 2) I just started receiving a federal annuity. (Note: I am eligible to receive Social Security but have not yet signed up).
I have two related questions:
1) If I continue to remain under my wife’s Federal Employees Health Benefits policy (assuming that I can), what happens if I sign up for Medicare? Which is the primary insurance, and is it more beneficial to have FEHB or Medicare as the primary insurance?
2) If I were to register for Medicare coverage (and if I am still under FEHB coverage via my wife), does it make sense to register for both Part A and Part B, or just Part A of Medicare? Insurance?
A. Because you are retired, Medicare would be primary and your FEHB coverage secondary. It doesn’t make any sense not to sign up for Medicare Part A because you’ve already paid for that benefit through payroll deductions. Whether you need to sign up for Part B is decision you’ll have to make. To get a better understanding of the relationship between the FEHB and Medicare, go to www.opm.gov/insure/health/medicare/index.asp
