Q: I am covered under the Civil Service Retirement System, but my husband is a Federal Employees Retirement System employee. Prior to retirement, we want to have him get Federal Employees Health Benefit Plan coverage (he is covered under my plan now) and provide coverage to me. Will he be able to continue FEHB coverage for both of us when he retires (he has to work at least one year longer than I), and is the cost about the same as if I provided our coverage (as a retired CSRS employee)? A: There is no difference in the premiums paid…
Browsing: FEHB
Q: I am covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System and plan to retire at age 56 (my minimum retirement age) with 34 years of service. I will have met the five-year qualification for the Federal Employees Health Benefits program. I intend to keep a family FEHB plan in retirement to cover myself, my wife and my daughter. At my retirement, I will elect survivor benefits for my wife so she can continue to use my FEHB plan if I die before her. When I turn 65, my wife will be 56 and my daughter will be 19. I understand…
Q: For my spouse to continue to be covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program after I retire from federal service and after my death, which type of annuity should I select? My spouse does not want to receive a survivor annuity and will consent to sign an attachment to SF 2801-2, Spouse’s Consent to Survivor Election, but he needs the FEHB coverage. A: He can’t be covered under the FEHB program unless he is receiving a survivor annuity. However, as a Civil Service Retirement System employee, with your husband’s written consent, you could elect to give him any…
Q: I may be transitioning to nonappropriated-funds employment. I would be keeping my Federal Employees Retirement System status. There is no provision for me to stay enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program while I am a NAF employee. When I retire (under FERS), can I re-enroll in FEHB and have the premiums deducted from my pension? This is a make-or-break issue for me. A: No, you won’t be able to re-enroll.
Q: I am covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System. I have six years of part-time service in and want to carry Federal Employee Health Benefits coverage for the last six years of federal service, which will give me a total of 12 years of federal employment. If I resign from federal employment after the 12 years, will I be able to pick up my FEHB coverage as well as collect my annuity at age 62? A: No, you won’t. No one who applies for a deferred annuity is eligible to re-enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program.
Q: I am eligible to retire without penalty (Federal Employees Retirment System) since I’m now 60 years old and have almost 24 years of federal service. I have health insurance for myself, which I plan on carrying into retirement. My husband, who has worked for private industry, has just had open-heart surgery. He filed for disability and is being awarded. He also filed for retirement through his company. He has had excellent health insurance with his employer and union. They are to carry full health coverage on him for nine months after his heart attack in November. Since this is…
Q. I plan to retire in July of this year. In order for my spouse to continue to receive FEHB if I die before him, do I have to elect survivor benefits or can he pay monthly for the payments? What is the minimum survivor benefit if I select it? A. You are required by law to provide a full survivor benefit for your spouse unless he or she agrees in writing to a lesser amount or none at all. If you are covered by CSRS, a full survivor annuity is 55 percent of your basic annuity before any deductions.…
Q. I am 59 years old, and will be eligible for Medicare as of May 1 because of a disability. At present I am covered under my husband’s insurance through FEHBP (my husband is now deceased). Do I need to enroll in Medicare Part B, and if I do, then does my health insurance change? Will I become Medicare Primary and what FEHBP offers as a supplement or can I continue to keep my existing plan? A. It’s up to you to decide whether to enroll in Medicare Part B and pay the required premiums. If you do, Medicare Part…
Q. Does the new health care law that allows for dependents up to 26 years of age to remain covered under certain conditions apply to the dental and vision plans offered to federal employees? A. The answer to this and many other questions relating to the new health care law have yet to be worked out between now and when the law becomes effective for the Federal Employees Health Benefits program on Jan. 1, 2011. In the meantime, we’ll all have to be patient.
Q. Why does Medicare become one’s primary insurer when they reach 65? I am a retired federal employee with FEHB, which becomes secondary at that age. Is Medicare better? A. Medicare becomes primary because the law requires it. The law applies to anyone who is retired and enrolled in Medicare. It does not apply to those age 65 or older who are still employed. In their case, any private or public health insurance they have remains primary and Medicare secondary. Note: While you have already paid for Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) through payroll deduction, whether or not you enroll…