Q. We are getting conflicting answers to a question. I am retired from Civil Service and have Blue Cross Blue Shield (high option), as well as Medicare Parts A and B. My husband is under my BCBS policy. He just turned 65 but will continue to work until 66. Can he apply for his Medicare card Parts A and B now? If yes, how and where? Medicare has not sent us paperwork. A. He can apply online at www.ssa.gov/medicareonly.
Yearly Archives: 2013
Q. I am a VA employee with 31 years of VA service and three years in the Marine Corps. I am 60. If I qualify for a FERS MRA+30 retirement (which I believe I do), would it make a significant difference in the monthly SS portion of my benefits if I bought back my three years of military time before I actually retired? A. Making a deposit for that time would increase the amount of your annuity; however, it would not affect your special retirement supplement or your actual Social Security benefit.
Q. I am 55 and was hired Dec. 29, 1984, under CSRS and forced into FERS when it was implemented. I have since paid a deposit for four years of military service, and according to my SF-50, my service computation date is Dec. 29, 1981. I want to retire Dec. 29 with 32 years. With 28 years of federal service and 4 years of deposit paid military time, for a total of 32 years, will I be eligible for the FERS special retirement supplement? Or will I have to complete two more years of FERS to be eligible for the…
Q. I have 37½ years of continuous CSRS-covered federal employment. Early in my career, I worked for three or four years under a position that was, as I recall, 35 hours/week. Will I get full credit for all years worked, or will this part-time position affect my CSRS retirement annuity? A. That part-time service will be treated as full-time when determining your years of service; however, your annuity will be prorated to account for it. To see how that’s done, go to www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/handbook/C055.pdf and scroll to Part 55B. Although this is the FERS section of the chapter, through a change…
Q. I am an activated reservist who has been on military leave without pay from my civilian job as a federal firefighter for four years. I have two questions, one regarding my retirement and the second concerning leave earned on MLWOP. I was hired at age 36 (in 2006) and under normal conditions should be able to retire after 20 years of service at 56 and immediately draw my full retirement (without penalty). Will my four years of activated reserve time be considered part of those 20 years? That is, will I still be able to retire at 20 years…
Q. I am 65 and signed up for Medicare Parts A and B. I also continued my BCBS standard option health coverage after reading the FEBH/Medicare brochure. I believe it is recommended that I continue the BCBS coverage. I received an email regarding the open season and am very confused as to whether I should continue the BCBS standard option or switch to a Medicare Supplement plan. Looking at the open season email and some of the links, I think I need to consider some Medicare Supplements. I think I would have to suspend my health benefits if I were…
Q. I’m 54 and have been working for the government for the past nine years. I’m planning on staying for 20 years but already spent 22 years in military and am receiving my monthly pension faithfully. If and when I’m done, do I receive a separate check or do they combine them as one, and do I still get my Social Security benefit at the proper age? A. You will receive separate payments for you military and civilian service. When you apply for a Social Security benefit, you will receive that as a separate payment. In the last case, if…
Q. I am planning to retire overseas (probably in Panama) and will be eligible to keep my insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield). I understand that I will continue to pay my part of the insurance and that the federal government will continue to pay the rest. 1. Will the insurance cover me while I am living overseas? 2. What will happen when I turn 65? 3. Will all medical plans from all companies work the same way? A. If you are enrolled in an HMO, the answer in most cases is no, you won’t be covered if you are living…
Q. In March 2012, I received a one-time OWCP award for a 1996 on-the-job traumatic injury suffered with the post office. I had put in for this award more than once many years earlier and had been permanently stationary for years before resigning from the post office in April 2011. At 58, I am retired from the post office with 15 years. I am also a Navy veteran of 15 years, time I failed to buy back before retiring from the post office. Beside the one-time OWCP award, I have not received any other OWCP benefits since leaving the post…
Q. 1. Can someone switch from Blue Cross/Blue Shield to Medicare Part B at age 71? 2. Should it be done? 3. If yes, how can it be done, and what are the costs? I am 71 and self-employed (since 2011), covered under my wife’s federal Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan. My wife has been retired for a few years and she also turned 71 in 2012. My wife was just operated for a brain tumor and is being scheduled for radiation therapy and chemotherapy. A. While your wife could disenroll from the Federal Employees Health Benefits program and both of…