Q. I have been a CSRS retiree for six years. I am getting remarried shortly. I want to ensure my Federal Employees Health Benefits continue to be available to my spouse after my death. I understand I have two years from date of marriage to elect a survivor annuity. May I select either a full survivor benefit or a reduced survivor benefit and still retain the FEHB from my surviving spouse? If reduced is an option, how much can it be reduced and still retain the FEHB? A. Because you are a CSRS retiree, with your spouse’s written and notarized…
Browsing: FEHB
Q. I’m 53 with 27 years and 10 months. I could get six months of military service for Army Reserve full-time training credit. I’m in a term position. If I’m given a reduction in force, what are my options? Can I defer my retirement until my minimum retirement age of 56? If so, would I lose my health and insurance benefits? If I’m RIF’ed and do not defer, does that means I lost health benefits? A. If you receive a RIF notice, you have two choices. You can either sit tight and see if you are going to be separated,…
Q. I am 59 years old and covered under Federal Employees Health Benefits as the spouse of a CSRS annuitant. Due to a covered disability, I have been receiving Social Security Disability Benefits for the past 18 months and was just advised that I will be eligible for Medicare Parts A and B in June. If I decline Part B and decide to take it later, will I be subject to the Medicare Premium penalty? A. Yes.
Q. I have been on my wife’s health plan for the past 14 years. Her job is through the county, not the federal government. The plan is one of the ones offered by FEHBP. To have my own health plan after retirement, do I need to enroll in the same plan under FEHBP for five years? Or is my membership in my wife’s plan sufficient for me to get my own health coverage after retirement? A. No, membership in your wife’s plan is not sufficient. You would have to be enrolled in an FEHB plan for the five consecutive years…
Q. I am retired with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and will be signing up for Medicare Part A soon to avoid penalties for Part B and Part D. Does my BC/BS meet the “creditable plan” requirement to avoid penalties? I have been told “yes and no” on the phone by Medicare. If I sign up for an HMO with a lower cost, will I meet “creditable plan” standards if I drop Federal Employees Health Benefits? Can I re-sign up for BC/BS later if I don’t like the coverage? A. The “creditable plan” feature you’re referring to only applies to those who…
Q. I am a FERS employee. I will be drawing my reservist retirement June 27 at 60 years old. Can I drop my Federal Employees Health Benefits for Tricare? Can you give me details about this how long will it take, if this has to be done at open season and the grace period on the policy? A. You can get an FEHB suspension form by calling the Office of Personnel Management’s Retirement Information Office at 1-888-767-6738. They may be able to tell you how long it takes.
Q. I will retire early next year. For purposes of state Medicaid, I need to know, as a retired CSRS employee, whether or not I would receive a monthly annuity receipt in the mail even though I chose direct deposit. If so, would this receipt show the paid monthly health care premium (FEHB) and the amount taken out? A. No, you won’t receive a monthly annuity receipt in the mail regardless of whether you use direct deposit or have the check mailed to your home. To find out what your monthly premiums are, you’ll have to go to www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare, click…
Q. I am a 51-year-old FERS employee whose minimum retirement age is 56. I will have over 30 years of service when I reach the minimum retirement age. A couple of years ago, I went under my wife’s health plan. We incorrectly assumed that she needed five years to become vested and that we could just stay under her plan when we retired (as with FERS). However, she is a Non-Appropriated Funds Defense Department employee and would need 15 years. I am picking up my Federal Employees Health Benefits insurance again so that I will have five years under the…
Q. On Jan. 18, there was question about which is primary between these two programs, and the answer ended with “whether you keep both [Federal Employees Health Benefits] and Tricare is something you’ll have to decide.” How do you decide? Where can I find a clear, side-by-side comparison of my FEHB (BC/BS standard in my case) and Tricare for Life — one that is not comparing apples to oranges? I have been told I don’t really need FEHB because TFL is “very comprehensive,” but how can I find out exactly what, if anything, FEHB would cover that TFL wouldn’t. P.S.…
Q. I am enrolled in Medicare Part A and B. I also have Tricare for Life and Federal Employees Health Benefits (Blue Cross/Blue Shield). My doctor has opted out of Medicare and wants $5,000 for a hip replacement. Will FEHB pay his fee? A. The only way to find out how much of your doctor’s fee your FEHB plan will pay is to ask them.