Q. I think I am overinsured. I am a civil service retiree and I have Medicare (parts A and B) and Blue Cross/Blue Shield (Standard Option). It is very hard to decide if I have duplicate coverage. I have talked to BC/BS and the Office of Personnel Management, but neither will commit to an answer. Since these are getting very expensive (and probably more costs to come), I would like to drop either Part B or BC/BS standard option (perhaps revert to Basic) unless they would all be required for complete coverage.
A. Of course they won’t commit to an answer. That’s because one answer doesn’t fit everyone. I suggest that you review the covered benefits in your BC/BS plan (both Standard and Basic) with what Medicare Part B provides. If you feel that the cost of those Part B benefits don’t match the cost, you could drop it. What you may not want to do is drop your FEHB enrollment. That’s because once you are out, you can’t get back in.
