Browsing: Open season

Q. My family got health insurance through my husband’s private-sector job for many years because the coverage was better and cheaper than the plans available to me as a federal employee. But to have health insurance coverage in retirement, we began taking insurance through Federal Employees Health Benefits instead in 2010; I enrolled during the 2010 open season in fall 2009. How exactly is “five years of service” defined? Is it 130 pay periods? Will I meet the service requirement if I stay on the payroll through pay period 26 of 2014, and then begin an immediate annuity (I will…

Q. As a currently “working”  federal employee with Federal Employees Health Benefits, soon to receive Medicare and Tricare for Life, how can FEHB be eliminated from the three insurances but be reobtainable should there be a lapse in Medicare or TFL? The situation is simple for a federal employee going into retirement: Fill out form 79-9 electing to suspend FEHB for Medicare and TFL. Is there a form or path to do the same if a federal employee continues to “work” and wants to eliminate FEHB coverage? I am told, if “working,” an employee must cancel FEHB. It would be…

Q. I will be retiring with 18+ years of federal service in March at age 57 under MRA +10. I am a military retiree enrolled in Tricare Prime. I have been looking at what, if any, Federal Employees Health Benefits I should take. I know, at age 65, I will need to get Medicare Part A.  But is using something available under FEHB my best option? Since I have never been enrolled by FEHB before, I know I have to get documentation from Tricare saying I have used them for at least five years. If I go with FEHB, can…

Q. I am 54 and my husband is 77. He is covered under my Federal Employees Health Benefits Blue Cross family plan. I am thinking of changing my plan to self-only and he to a Medicare supplemental plan. If I do this and retire next year when I’m 55, can I switch back to a family plan that covers both of us when I’m 62?

Q. I do not carry Federal Employees Health Benefits because I came to federal employment after retirement from the military and I have Tricare for Life. I have also turned 65 and have Medicare Part B. When I recently went to a retirement planning seminar, I was informed that I could sign up for FEHB during the open season this fall and then carry it into retirement in 2014. Although I would not have the five-year continuous FEHB coverage prior to retirement, I was told that having Tricare will satisfy the five-year requirement. Further, I was told I could sign…

Q. I’m retired military and a current FERS employee. My medical coverage is Tricare, which I’m very happy with. In six years, I would be eligible for a federal retirement. Those six years give me time to enroll in Federal Employees Health Benefits if I would like to carry that coverage into retirement. My health is good. What factors would I consider in deciding to stay with Tricare, or add FEHB coverage if I retire at age 56? Does Medicare coverage factor in?

Q. I am a Postal Service retiree with Federal Employees Health Benefits and will be 65 in February. My wife has good insurance through her employer but will lose that coverage when she retires in about two years. I plan on keeping FEHB to supplement Medicare. Since I will be on Medicare at the time my wife retires, is there any current issue adding her to my FEHB plan?

Q. My wife is able to receive health benefits starting Dec. 1. I am a Postal Service employee retired on disability FERS. Can you tell me the procedure to remove her from my APWU health insurance effective Dec. 1? I realize when she retires from her job and loses her insurance, I can add her back on mine. But if I should die before she retires, is she able to get a FEHB health plan? She will have survivor benefits.

Q. My wife and I are both FERS employees, and I’ve always carried the family plan of Federal Employees Health Benefits. I am eligible to retire and will retire in May. My wife has two more years before she can retire.  We also have two children under 26, and we will both switch to single once the youngest turns 26 in three years. Should my wife pick up the FEHB insurance during this open season, or do I have to carry it into retirement and then make the switch?

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