Q. I am 53 years old, and I’ve worked with the U.S. Postal Service as a clerk for 31 years. I am thinking of retiring in one year. Would I be able to keep my health insurance until I’m eligible for Medicare? If I cannot, can I pay for my same policy through the Postal Service even though I am retired from it? How long would I be able to carry forward my same health plan? My main concern is my health insurance — I heard that you can pay an additional fee to keep your health insurance policy via the Postal Service.
A. If you’ve been enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program for the five consecutive years before you retire, you can carry that coverage into retirement. And you can continue that coverage for as long as you live. While negotiations between the Postal Service and its unions have reduced the cost of premiums for Postal Service employees, that subsidy ends when they retire. At that point, they pay the same premiums as all other employees and retirees.
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By law all FEHB plans are experience rated. In other words, the premiums of each is based on the usage on their entire population of enrollees. The FEHB program is in compliance with all Obamacare requirements, none of which would require that premiums be adjusted. With only one exception, the premiums are the same for employees, retirees and survivors, young and old, sick or healthy. That exception is for the Postal Service, which through labor agreements picks up a larger portion of its employees’ premiums.
My healthy plan has raised my deductible on my insulin from $20.00 to $125.00 for 30 days. The plan is SSS, in Puerto Rico. Can they do that? How is that possible? I am retired since Feb. 1910. My email is rodhumberto@yahoo.com. Need answer. Health plan is FEHB 892
I’ve forwarded your question to OPM and asked that they check with the contracting officer for that plan.