Q. I am a Defense Department employee. I have Government Employees Health Association insurance. I plan to retire in five years at 62 years of age and seven years of service with the federal government. Can I continue GEHA into retirement, or can I switch to another company? Do my premiums remain the same as active government employees?
Browsing: Coverage after retirement
One of the most valuable benefits offered to federal employees is the opportunity to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. I thought it would be a good idea to spell out the conditions that need to be met to carry FEHBP coverage into retirement. If you are eligible to retire on an immediate annuity, you can keep your health benefits coverage if you are currently enrolled in FEHBP and have been continuously covered for at least five years. Note: You are considered continuously covered even if you were enrolled in the program when you left government and re-enrolled…
Q. I have been in civil service continuously since 1984, plus four years of military buyback. I carried a government medical insurance plan for several years after I started until I canceled my enrollment to go on my wife’s provider’s plan (better and cheaper). I am planning for retirement and I have enrolled in a government medical insurance plan to get the five years I have been told that I need to carry the insurance after my retirement date. Does the previous time (years) paid for government medical insurance count for the five-year requirement, or does it need to be…
Q. I need help deciding whether to keep my Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance after being eligible (Nov. 1) for Medicare. I pay $125 monthly for BC/BS coverage today. I received a letter from Medicare stating that I am to be covered for Medicare Part A and Part B. If I do not refuse Plan B, I will be charged $105 monthly by Medicare. I wonder why I should pay $105 more every month for medical insurance coverage. I need to know whether to give up the Plan B coverage and not pay the $105 monthly or whether to give up…
Q. I will retire in August or September. Can I keep my Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance? If so, what do I need to do?
Q. I am a retired postal worker (mail handler). When I turned 65, I enrolled and am currently paying for Medicare Part B. I also am paying premium for my Blue Cross/Blue Shield coverage monthly. Should I discontinue Part B since I have coverage under Blue Cross/Blue Shield for medical?
Q. I am five years older than my wife, retired under CSRS and about to turn 65 in January. My wife is a federal employee and has been covered as a dependent under my family policy for many years. She may be retiring within three years or so. I plan to sign up for Medicare parts A and B and keep Blue Cross coverage so I don’t need to sign up for Medicare Part D. 1. I understand it may be cheaper under Medicare to have individual Blue Cross policies rather than a family policy. 2. Also, my wife can…
Q. If my marital status changes after I retire, is my new spouse covered by my health benefits?
Q. I am a retired federal employee with Federal Employees Health Benefits and Medicare parts A and B. My relatives are urging me to spend the rest of my retirement in Slovenia. Can I use my health benefits there?
Q. I am a federal employee with 30 years of service under CSRS. If I die while still working, can my husband still receive survivor and health benefits?