Q. My wife and I are both federal employees covered under a family medical plan in my name. I’m thinking of retiring within the year, and my wife has at least five more years to retirement. Can we change the medical insurance to her name to continue pretax payment of insurance premiums and to continue with a flexible spending account?
Browsing: Premiums
Q. When my husband retires from the Postal Service next year, are we responsible for the entire payment to Blue Cross/Blue Shield? The post office no longer pays any portion, correct?
Q. I will be eligible for Medicare in 2014. Is there a brochure that suggests the best Federal Employees Health Benefits plan to choose when signing up for Medicare. My husband is receiving the Medicare benefits with my standard Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan. In 2014, I will be paying over $400 per month for our premium with standard BC/BS. I would like to know if it would be beneficial for me to switch to basic BC/BS vs. standard once I become eligible for Medicare.
Q. I am a CSRS retiree, age 57. When I attain age 65, am I required to enroll in Medicare? If I enroll, Medicare becomes primary and my federal health plan secondary. Why would I choose that? I live in an area with few CSRS retirees; hence, no herd to follow in this decision. Medicare looks like a less beneficial system. Where can I find info comparing CSRS federal health benefits without election to choose Medicare versus having Medicare as primary and my federal health plan (Blue Cross/Blue Shield) as secondary.
Q. I think I am overinsured. I am a civil service retiree and I have Medicare (parts A and B) and Blue Cross/Blue Shield (Standard Option). It is very hard to decide if I have duplicate coverage. I have talked to BC/BS and the Office of Personnel Management, but neither will commit to an answer. Since these are getting very expensive (and probably more costs to come), I would like to drop either Part B or BC/BS standard option (perhaps revert to Basic) unless they would all be required for complete coverage.
Q. I am a federal employee and have Blue Cross/Blue Shield as my health insurance. I will be 65 in January. What do I need to do for Medicare? Do I have to buy extra care for that?
Q. I am 75 years old and retiring from the federal government under FERS. I have Federal Employees Health Benefits coverage and Medicare Part A. Is it a requirement for me to sign up for Medicare Part B if I will keep FEHB, or is it just my option to sign up for Medicare Part B?
Q. I’ve read on your site that during any open season, after I’ve retired, I can change my enrollment option in the Federal Employees Health Benefits. I just want to confirm that such is the case and still have Uncle Sam pick up the increased premium cost share. Will I be able to change my enrollment in FEHB from self to self and family after I’ve retired (in open season) and still have the government share of the self-and-family premium picked up by Uncle Sam? I’d plan to revert back to self-only later, once my spouse starts receiving her pension…
Q. My wife and I will not be eligible for Social Security, so when we reach 65 and apply for Medicare, can I have our premiums deducted from my federal retirement payment in addition to my health insurance premium?
Q. If I have five years of service with the Transportation Security Administration and retire at 62. Will the government still pay part of my premiums? I am in FERS and will start my annuity.