Q. I turn 65 on Oct. 28. I had 35 years at the Postal Service, and my plans are to keep my National Association of Letter Carriers insurance and turn down Medicare Part B and of course use my Part A. I understand I will have to pay a penalty of 10 percent for each year I don’t enroll in Part B. Whom do I contact to do this?
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Q. I am a retired federal employee with over 35 years of service in the Department of Agriculture. I retired with Blue Cross/Blue Shield health insurance. Is it advisable to also take Medicare Part B? I am enrolled in Medicare Part A for hospital. I understand that if I take Part B now, I will pay a higher rate for not taking it immediately. I have not had any health issues to date.
Q. I’m about to turn 65, am a CSRS retiree, and receive Social Security annuity. I have Blue Cross/Blue Shield as my primary insurance, with Tricare as secondary. 1. Do my BC/BS premiums remain the same, or do they decrease? 2. Will my Medicare Part B premiums be taken out of my Social Security annuity? 3. I am being told that my Tricare coverage will be voided if I do not subscribe to Medicare Part B. Is this true? 4. Where/how do I sign up for Medicare coverage? I’ve received numerous advertisements from private companies in the mail which are…
Q. I am a retired postal worker covered by Blue Cross/Blue Shield federal employee program. I am also on Medicare. My wife just received her Medicare card. She is 65. I need your help in making a decision: Do I keep the health insurance I have, or do I apply for Medicare supplement plan?
Q. My wife and I are both covered by Medicare. We have been told my Blue Cross/Blue Shield Standard Federal Employee Plan premium will not be reduced. Other friends in our situation have had their Medicare supplement premiums reduced. When I try to get an answer for BCBS, I get confusing responses. Can you help?
Q. My husband is a federal retiree, age 78. He chose not to enroll in Medicare Part B at 65 because he felt the extra expense would be unnecessary, since Kaiser Permanente seemed to cover everything he might need. We are now considering moving to a retirement community and find that the Medicare coverage would be advantageous in that environment. How much of a penalty will he pay if he enrolls in Medicare now?
Q. If I choose not to take Medicare B, and remain with just my Federal Employees Health Benefits plan, what does the FEHB plan pay? Does it pay as it did when I was working (with annual deductibles, co-pays, etc.) or does the FEHB plan reduce all payments to only the amounts that Medicare pays? I cannot afford to continue paying both Medicare B and FEHB premiums, but have to recognize that fewer doctors will accept Medicare patients. If I get out of Medicare B and use just my FEHB plan, will that FEHB plan automatically reduce payments to Medicare B levels?
Q. I am retiring this year from federal service and I have federal Blue Cross/Blue Shield. I will turn 65 next year. Do I have to enroll in Medicare Part B?
Q. I am a retired federal employee under CSRS. I am also retired from the Air Force and I am eligible for Tricare. I am enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits plan. Do I need to also enroll in Medicare Part B?
Q. I went on Medicare Part A two years ago, keeping federal Blue Cross Anthem for my Part B. My husband (the policy holder) is two years younger and is going on Medicare soon. How do we handle Part B? Do we go on Medicare Part B with Blue Cross picking up what’s leftover, or can we keep (and pay for) Blue Cross for Part B? If we both have to go on Medicare Part B, can I join without penalty, and who do I call to do that?