Q. It is my understanding that members of Congress must now participate in the health insurance exchange under the new health care bill recently passed. Since members of Congress were under FEHBP previously, does that mean federal employees must also participate in this exchange? If not, is there going to be any changes to our health benefits under the new health care bill? Other than increased costs, of course A. No, it doesn’t mean that you must also participate in the exchange. Federal employees retirees and survivor annuitants will be able to keep the insurance coverage they have now.
Browsing: FEHB
Q. Per the new Health Reform Act, the FEHB has been extended for FEHB dependents till 26 years old; would the temporary continuation of coverage (TCC) be available for these dependents aged 26 for three years, as currently designed for dependents 22 years old? My son was under the TCC from 22 to 25. Currently, he is 25 and under an individual health insurance policy. He turns 26 years old on Nov 29, 2010; unfortunately, before this new reform law becomes effective. Would he be eligible for another three-year TCC term since he is still a full-time student, at medical…
Q. I am retired (single ) but I have two daughters ages 24 & 23 who go to school and live at home. How and when can I add them to my FEHB policy? A. The effective date of this new provision of law is the first day of the plan year that is six months following enactment of the law. For the FEHB program, that means Jan. 1, 2011. OPM will take the necessary actions to comply with the new law by this effective date so that employees and retirees have the information in time for the annual Open…
Q. I am a CSRS/FERS retiree, with equal time in both systems. I elected a 25 percent survival annuity for my nongovernment husband so he would be eligible for FEHB. He has a private pension, which will cease at his death with no accrual to me. If he dies first, will I recoup any of the reduced benefits in my monthly pension? A. No, you won’t be able to recoup any of the money used to provide a survivor annuity for your spouse. However, your own annuity would be increased to what it would have been if you hadn’t elected…
Q. I am 36 years old and plan on retiring at age 40 from the VA, giving me 10 years of service, during which time I have been continuously enrolled in FEHB. I know I will not be eligible for my annuity until around age 60, which means I will not be eligible for FEHB from age 40-60. However, once I reach age 60 or so, and start collecting my annuity, will I be eligible to enroll in the FEHB again? I know you have to enrolled for the five years of service prior to retirement, but does that mean…
Q. I am a federal employee under FERS retirement. I would like to leave federal service with 21 years of service at age 57 (MRA=56). I also have over five continuous years of enrollment in FEHB. I am considering the deferred retirement. Question One: Can I start my FERS annuity at age 60, without any penalties? Question Two: can I re-enroll in FEHB and will my agency make similar contributions as when I was federally employed? A. Under your scenario of age 57 and 21 years of service, you would have to retire under the MRA+10 provision. Your annuity would…
Q. I saw your Web site and am wondering if you might be able to clear up some confusion. My 85-year old mother-in-law receives a pension from the Postal Service, and has health insurance through the Postal Service. She is a retiree. My understanding is that Medicare is her secondary payer. Do you know if the Postal Service health insurance requires that Medicare be the secondary payer, or if she can choose? This is crucial, because she has had a stroke and needs to be in a rehab facility. She is unable to answer many of the questions her children…
Q. My wife’s health insurance is currently covered by her private employer. I have am currently enrolled under self only. I have been covered for 30 years in the FEHB. I plan to retire in two years and add my wife to my health insurance, self and family . My wife will lose her health insurance when she retires . Can I add her to my health insurance? A. Whether you are still employed, you could add your wife to your plan 31 days before she retires. If you are retired, you can do it 31 days before she retires…
Q. Does being covered under FEHB as the spouse of a federal employee count toward the five-year requirement for FEHB eligibility as a retiree? At the time I retire, I will have been covered as a spouse for approximately 2 1/2 years. And I was covered under my own policy for about 25 years prior to that. There was no break in coverage. A. All that matters is that you were covered by the FEHB program for the five consecutive years before retiring. It doesn’t make any difference whether you were enrolled or covered as a spouse or even switched…
Q. I am a career SES employee with 27 years in the civil service, seven under CSRS and the balance in FERS (I left government in 1985 and returned in 1990 and chose FERS). I will be 61 years old next month, and I am considering retiring to take a position in the private sector. If I were to retire at 61 and work in the private sector for four or five years, would it be possible for me to reinstate my federal health insurance coverage when I retire from the private sector position? What factors should I consider? Keeping…