Browsing: Eligibility

Q: I am 53 years old and have 36 years of federal service. One catch: I don’t have the five years of coverage under a Federal Employees Health Benefit plan (I’m still four years short). If my office offers early out through downsizing or restructuring, approved by the Office of Personnel Management, can I retire and carry my health benefits into retirement, even though I don’t have five years of coverage? A: Yes, you would be eligible to carry your coverage into retirement because you would have been enrolled in the program at the time your agency received approval from…

Q: My wife and I are both federal employees. We each have had individual coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits plan since we began working for the government. We both plan on retiring next year. She will be 61 and have 26 years of service; I will be 58 and have 20 years of service. I will postpone my retirement until age 60 to avoid the penalty. We plan on converting to a family plan this open season (2010) so that I am covered during those two years of my postponement. Is this the correct way to guarantee that…

Q: I retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 2000 after being divorced in 1997. I gave my ex-wife 100 percent survivor benefits; she recently turned 55. I remarried in 2004 and sent the proper forms needed to add my current wife to my Federal Employees Health Benefits plan. I now have the American Postal Workers Union (472) plan, and I assumed that if I died, my present wife would be able to keep the plan. After talking with the Office of Personnel Management, I was told that I need to have my present wife named as survivor beneficiary for…

Q: My husband and I are both federal law enforcement officers. The family health plan is under my husband. We both plan to retire this year. He wants me to waive my survivor annuity and he says I will still be covered under our federal Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan because I was covered for the last five years of my employment under the Federal Employees Health Benefits family plan that he carried. He wants a bigger retirement check. My question is, if I sign the survivor annuity waiver and he dies before me, am I still automatically covered under our…

Q: Is the provision in the new health care law for children 26 years old or younger to be on their parents’ health plan to be delayed until Jan. 1, 2011 for those in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, rather than the quoted six months after signature by the president? A: To quote the Office of Personnel Management, “The effective date of this provision is the first day of the plan year that is six months following enactment of the law. For the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, that means January 1, 2011.”

Q. Per the new Health Reform Act, the FEHB has been extended for FEHB dependents till 26 years old; would the temporary continuation of coverage (TCC) be available for these dependents aged 26 for three years, as currently designed for dependents 22 years old? My son was under the TCC from 22 to 25. Currently, he is 25 and under an individual health insurance policy. He turns 26 years old on Nov 29, 2010; unfortunately, before this new reform law becomes effective. Would he be eligible for another three-year TCC term since he is still a full-time student, at medical…

Q. I am retired (single ) but I have two daughters ages 24 & 23 who go to school and live at home. How and when can I add them to my FEHB policy? A. The effective date of this new provision of law is the first day of the plan year that is six months following enactment of the law. For the FEHB program, that means Jan. 1, 2011. OPM will take the necessary actions to comply with the new law by this effective date so that employees and retirees have the information in time for the annual Open…

Q. I am 36 years old and plan on retiring at age 40 from the VA, giving me 10 years of service, during which time I have been continuously enrolled in FEHB. I know I will not be eligible for my annuity until around age 60, which means I will not be eligible for FEHB from age 40-60. However, once I reach age 60 or so, and start collecting my annuity, will I be eligible to enroll in the FEHB again? I know you have to enrolled for the five years of service prior to retirement, but does that mean…

Q. I was in the Marine Corps for 22 months from 1969-1971. I will be 63 years old in May 2010. I started work at the VA hospital on July 3, 2006 and am currently still employed. I bought back (made deposit for) the 22 months military time in 2008. I am getting conflicting answers from the HR dept. 1. When can I retire with the “age 62 and five years” rule? I was first told by HR that my 22 months buyback would count towards the five years but am now being told it will not and that I…

Q. My wife’s health insurance is currently covered by her private employer. I have am currently enrolled under self only. I have been covered for 30 years in the FEHB. I plan to retire in two years and add my wife to my health insurance, self and family . My wife will lose her health insurance when she retires . Can I add her to my health insurance? A. Whether you are still employed, you could add your wife to your plan 31 days before she retires. If you are retired, you can do it 31 days before she retires…

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