Q. I am submitting this on behalf of my mother who retired with CSRS. She is now 87 years old. She and my father have been with BCBS (Standard Option, Self & Family) since her retirement over 30 years ago. With the recent change in BCBS, where she can re-enroll as Self Plus One? She is afraid that she may lose their only health plan if she enrolls as Self Plus One. Does the standard 5 years or more still apply, or can retirees change their plans to reflect Self Plus One without penalty — the penalty being that it may look like she’s a…
Browsing: FEHBP
Q. If I die while I am eligible for immediate Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) annuity but am still working and have not yet filed for retirement benefits, what form does my wife (survivor) file to receive 55% of what would have been my annuity?
Q. I was excited to see FEHB offer Self Plus One coverage for the first time. Since I am now retired with 38 years of service and have paid Self and Family for almost 35 years, my wife and I thought we might save money. But when I saw the BCBS premiums for 2016 and the difference between my Self and Family and Self Plus One, I was hugely disappointed. Why is it only about $8 less per month?
Q. I am a retired USAF CMS and a retired GS-13 federal employee. If I select Self Plus One, will my wife be able to continue under BCBS after I die if she is currently ineligible for a USAF annuity?
Q. Both my wife and I will be retiring the last work day in January 2016. If the spouse for whom a survivor’s annuity benefit is chosen predeceases the other spouse, does the other spouse then get their annuity restored to the full amount? Also, I understand that a survivor’s annuity must be elected in order for the survivor to maintain FEHB coverage from its spouse. Is it correct that the election can be for less than a 55 percent annuity (e.g., CSRS)?
Q. I’m an FBI Intelligence Analyst who is thinking of leaving federal service at 20 years instead of the full 30 years for professional staff employees. I believe I was vested when I hit 10 years, and I think I’ll be able to defer my retirement annuity until I’m eligible, at age 62. However, I was recently told if I leave service early, I’d also be able to pick back up federal employee health insurance benefits for both my husband and I, as long as I was vested when I left service. Is this the case?
Q. I’m a rural carrier planning on retiring in 2 years. Will my Blue Cross premiums go up for me and my wife?
Q. If one decides to defer Medicare Part B at age 65 and continue with health care coverage under FEHBP, is there a penalty? I have read that it is 10 percent a year for each year after 65 — is this true? Is there a ceiling on the penalty amount?
Q. I am a a CSRS employee. I have a year and six months until I am eligible for retirement. I am an only child and need to help with my aging mother. Do I have any options as far as leaving earlier?
Q. I am currently a USPS letter carrier covered by Samba under FEHB. I plan to retire in November 2016. May I switch to another provider (i.e., Blue Cross Blue Shield) during open enrollment, or do I have to be covered under the same provider for five years to continue coverage after retirement?