Q. My wife, who is younger than me, is a retired federal employee with health insurance (FEHB: Blue Cross) that covers both of us. I will turn 65 this year. If I fail to take Medicare Part B within three months of turning 65, then I will have to: 1. Wait for open enrollment for Medicare and then six months; and 2. Pay a penalty for each year. When I called Blue Cross, they indicated that if my wife continues with her plan, there is no reason to take Part B. Social Security warns me about the 10 percent-per-year cost…
Browsing: FEHBP
Q. I am a full-time FERS employee with family health insurance coverage. I’ve been told, but can’t substantiate, that if a child was active military and was honorably discharged after his four-year service term, that this child would be eligible for coverage under my family coverage until he turns 30. Is this accurate?
Q. I am 52 years old with four years of federal service. My understanding is that I can leave federal service after five years of service (at age 53) and still receive a pension when I reach age 62. Is that correct? Also, I am trying to determine how many more years of service I need to keep federal health insurance after leaving the government. My understanding is that I need six more years, for a total of 10 years, at which time I will be close to age 59. If I remain with the federal government for 10 years…
Q. My husband would like go into private work. He has worked 13 years at a Veterans Affairs Department hospital. He is turning 56 in a few months. If he leaves VA employment, will he be able to buy the federal medical plan indefinitely afterward?
Q. Will federal employees or retirees be required to drop their current health care plans through the Office of Personnel Management and select a plan from the new Affordable Care Act health care exchanges?
Q. I work for the federal government and have 31 years in CSRS. I will turn 65 in August. Am I required to file for Medicare even though I am planning on keeping my Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance and Government Employees Health Association dental insurance after I retire in another two or three years?
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?
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 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?