Q. I am a federal retiree on Medicare with a Federal Employees Health Benefits Medicare Advantage Plan. I am considering leaving the FEHB Medicare Advantage Plan to enroll in a non-FEHB Medicare Advantage Plan. Is it possible to return to a FEHB Medicare Advantage Plan in the future and receive the same benefits?
A. According to the Office of Personnel Management, “An annuitant, survivor annuitant, or former spouse covered under the Spouse Equity provision of FEHB law may suspend their FEHB enrollment in order to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan (Medicare Part C), Tricare, CHAMPVA, Medicaid or a similar state-sponsored program of medical assistance for the needy, or use Peace Corps health insurance coverage, but still retain the right to re-enroll in FEHB. Please visit www.medicare.gov for more information. If you cancel your FEHB coverage as an annuitant, you probably may never re-enroll.”
