Q. I am single and I have had health insurance through Kaiser Permanente for more than 10 years. I am thinking of switching to Blue Cross/Blue Shield because it is a lot better than Kaiser. I still have at least 10 more years before I retire. I heard that to have coverage in retirement, I would have to have five years of coverage before I retire. What if something happens to me in less than five years before I switch to BCBS and it forces me to retire? Can I still keep my BCBS?
A. Yes. The only requirement is that you be covered by the Federal Employees Health Benefits program for the five consecutive years before you retire, not a particular plan.
