Q. My husband has been a federal worker for 20+ years and is 56 years old. Because my health insurance is cheaper at my nonfederal job, we have been on my work health plan. We both want to be on the federal health plan when he retires. How long does my husband have to be on the federal health plan before retirement so he is covered after retirement? When do I have to join the federal health plan so I am covered after retirement?
Browsing: self and family
Q. I am a federal employee at Fort Drum, N.Y., with a self-and-family Federal Employees Health Benefits program enrollment. I have two daughters: one is 25 and still in college the other is 22 and works full time in a job that offers insurance. Can I keep her on my policy so she does not have to pay the high premiums?
Q. I was employed by the federal government between 1978 and 1985. Both my first wife (as my dependent) and I were insured by the government plan. I worked in private business from 1986 to 2007, divorcing in 1997. I remarried in 2001. My second wife’s benefit plan was more extensive, and her plan covered me as a dependent for the past 12 years. I am still covered by her plan as a secondary. In 2007, I returned to the federal government, but did not take the Federal Employees Health Benefit plan, as I was still covered by my wife’s…
Q. If a newly married couple has no children, can they enroll in self-only plans rather than the family plan if only one is a federal retiree? This seems an unfair expense for seniors to pay the high rate of a family plan when it’s only coverage for the two of them.
Q. I’m retired under FERS and my husband is still working for the federal government (also FERS). He has covered his son and me with Blue Cross/Blue Shield under the family plan. His son turned 27 years old this year, and we’re trying to decide whether to drop the family plan and seek insurance as self only. The savings per month is about $60, but I think we’ll end up paying more for taxes. Is there a way to calculate this? Do you have any suggestions?
Q. I am a retired postal employee. My wife is entitled to receive health benefits through her private employer. I would like to switch my coverage from family to self only. I have survivor benefits for my wife. Should I die before she retires and loses private health insurance, is she able to pick up my Federal Employees Health Benefits?
Q. I do not plan to provide a reduced annuity at retirement for my spouse (who has a lucrative retirement plan of his own). However, I would like to cover him on my Federal Employees Health Benefits plan at retirement. Is it true that you have to elect an annuity for the spouse to carry him/her on FEHB in addition to carrying FEHB for five years?
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 work part time and carry self-only health insurance, using my husband’s nongovernment health insurance for the family since it’s less expensive. Upon our retirement: 1. Can we drop my husband’s health insurance, switch my self-only insurance to self-and-family insurance? Or would I have to carry family insurance for the five years, not just self-only? 2. Also, I’m carrying the least expensive health insurance. Once I retire, can I switch to a better health insurance, or am I limited in some way because I’ve been paying so little over my active federal government years?
Q. I am retired under CSRS and have chosen a survivor benefit for my wife. I have self-and-family Blue Cross/Blue Shield under Federal Employees Health Benefits. My wife and I have Medicare parts A and B. The Veterans Affairs Department has classified me 100 percent disabled, so I am also entitled to free medical benefits through the VA system and my wife is covered by CHAMPVA. I feel I’m grossly overinsured. 1. Can I suspend my FEHB coverage because of my VA coverage and have the option of re-enrolling if I lose my 100 percent disability (not very likely, but anything’s possible)? 2. If I…