Q. I am five years older than my wife. I have self-and-family option of Blue Cross/Blue Shield health benefits coverage. When I turn 65 and apply for Medicare, what are the health benefit options for my wife?
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Q. I am a retired federal employee and will turn 65 in February. My wife, who will not turn 65 until June 2017, is self-employed and we are both enrolled under my federal retirement health insurance family plan. How, if at all, can we keep my wife covered if I am on Medicare beginning in early 2014? I expect that I will want to sign up for Medicare Part A and B (not sure about the rest), but am worried about how we keep my wife insured, too?
Q. I am a Postal Service employee who has been under CSRS since 1980. Am I under Medicare? Do I apply for Medicare at 65? I understand that, at 65, Medicare becomes primary and pays 80 percent, but since I am in the federal health care system, is that actually primary? My confusion is that we pay the same for health care under the federal health care system while working as we do when we are retired, so I am thinking that our health plan remains primary. So do we even need to apply for Medicare? Why would we need…
Q. We are approaching open season for the different plans. I turned 65 in May and opted in for Medicare parts A and B. I have the Standard Blue Cross option. Will the Basic option cover my needs as well as having Standard? I know several people in my area who have gone to the Basic and I’m considering but wanted to dig a little deeper into the issue.
Q. I am a Defense Department employee in CSRS. I am 57 and have 37-plus years of service. I can retire tomorrow with an annuity. I have been enrolled in a Federal Employees Health Benefits plan for the past five consecutive years (MHBP). I was just making an inquiry about Medicare, and my health plan provider representative told that after I retire and become eligible for Medicare at age 65, Medicare becomes my primary and my current health plan becomes secondary coverage (as far as payment is concerned). Is this true?
Q. I will be 65 on Dec. 2 and will then be eligible for Medicare. I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield now, and premiums are taken out of my FERS annuity check. I would like to continue to carry BC/BS via Part B when I am eligible for Medicare. Do I need to contact BC/BS to let them know this? Can you help me with a contact phone number? Also, I understand my insurance premiums will come out of my Social Security payment rather than my FERS annuity payment. This should cause my FERS annuity to go up (since insurance premiums…
Q. I have been on Social Security disability for the past 10 years. I have Medicare Part A now. Part B was dropped because I needed the money. If I add back Part B, how much will it cost me each month? It was about $100 a month back then.
Q. I will turn 65 next month but am employed with excellent insurance and a prescription service. I do not plan on retiring for several more years. Therefore, I don’t see a need to take Part B at this time. If I do not sign up now, will I be penalized when I retire and require the prescription portion of Medicare?
Q. I retired from civil service in 2011 at age 62. In November, I turn 65. I get a retirement annuity from civil service (33 years), along with a reduced railroad retirement annuity (10½ years). My insurance is with GEHA, which we have kept. Last month, I received a Medicare card from the railroad retirement board, but so far nothing from the government. I cannot figure if I have to apply for the one from civil service or rely on the railroad card. I assume they would have the same Medicare number. Should I be concerned the government has not…
Q. I am a retired CSRS employee (10 years) and will turn 65 next month. I qualify for Medicare parts A and B. I have talked to my current Federal Employees Health Benefits provider, and there is very little savings for me in taking Part B. I can stay status quo with my FEHB if I have Part A. If I take Part B, I would have to pay more than $200 per month to Medicare. If I only take Part A and defer B at this time, do I have “credible government coverage” to add it at a later…