Q: I worked for the federal government under the Civil Service Retirement System from 1967 until my retirement in 2001. About to turn 65 in December 2010, I applied for Medicare Part A and Part B, and was told that I do not qualify because I have only 18 quarters of the required 40 quarters. It was my understanding, which I admit could be faulty, that Medicare deductions were taken out of my paycheck since 1983 until I retired in 2001. Is there a mistake, or am I totally out to lunch? I guess I’m not too concerned because I’m…
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Q: I have been on disability for several years but my husband worked, so we were told I could still be covered by his insurance. After his retirement, we were told we had to take Medicare Part B. The problem is that I am being penalized by Social Security for not taking it sooner. I was also being covered under my OPM with the VA retirement. I called Medicare and Social Security. Medicare told me that I should not be penalized because of the coverage of OPM. I called Social Security back and they told me that Medicare didn’t know…
Q: I will be retiring soon from the civil service. I am covered under CSRS Offset due to my earlier employment as a career civilian government employee under another federal retirement system from which I have a (suspended, for now) pension. I worked part time after 2002 under a temporary, intermittent appointment between my two career federal government positions. I have almost two years of eligibility for prior service credit from those years upon a deposit to cover that period in CSRS. I understand that even though am now covered under CSRS Offset I will have to make a full…
Q: Will federal retirees who pay Medicare through their federal pension because they have insufficient Social Security quarters ever receive a refund and correction for an improper raise in Medicare premiums in 2010? We, too, received no cost-of-living allowances. A: There wasn’t any “improper raise.” What you are referring to is the fact that when there wasn’t any cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits in 2010, an increase in Medicare premiums for Social Security beneficiaries was prohibited under the “hold harmless” provision of that law. On the other hand, there wasn’t any legal restriction to the required increase in premiums…
Q: I am a retired postal annuitant on Medicare. I heard that letters were sent out in the spring inviting insurers to offer a health care supplement for people such as me, so that I don’t have to pay for a full-blown plan when I also have Medicare Parts A and B. I cannot find any insurers offering such a plan for 2011. Are there any plans being offered? Who offers them? Are there any fee-for-service insurers? A: I don’t know if OPM had any takers. We won’t know that until it makes its Federal Employees Health Benefits open season…
Q: I am planning to retire in two months after 30 years of federal service. I will continue with the Blue Cross Blue Shield No. 105 health insurance plan. I also have premium free Medicare A coverage. My present thinking is to not enroll in Medicare plan B. I am 69 and have been drawing Social Security benefits while working. When I retire, I understand Medicare A will become my primary coverage during hospitalization. It is not clear to me the situation regarding doctor’s office visits. Will the office visit continue to be covered by my BCBS plan? Does the…
Q. I am confused about Medicare coverage. I reach age 65 this month. If I have the federal Blue Cross coverage coming out of my pension each month for the family ( and college-age dependents ages 19-21), do I have to be concerned about parts B D and E with BC/BS? I also use the VA for my drugs and routine visits. How does this affect me at age 65? A. Retirees covered by the Federal Employees Health Benefits program have no need to enroll in Medicare Parts D and E. Whether they enroll in Part B is a matter…
Q. I am retired for nine years now and working in private industry. I will be 65 soon and would like to know if there really is any benefit in applying for Medicare. I have read every article in Social Security Administration, OPM and Medicare and they all say it is up to you. I have Blue Cross as an annuitant and don’t see any advantage to me in making the claim. What is your opinion? A. They all say that it’s up to you because it is up to you. No two situations are the same. You’ll need to…
Q: I will retire at age 63 on Oct. 31, 2010, from Civil Service under CSRS and do not qualify for Social Security. Will my Part A Medicare continue to be deducted from my annuity until I become eligible for Medicare? I know I have to apply though Medicare to have Part B deducted from my annuity three months from turning 65. A: No, Part A deductions won’t be taken out of your annuity. They are only taken out of earnings from wages or self employment, not from annuities.
Q: In previous responses, you indicated that when a lump-sum base closure and realignment payment is made, federal and state income taxes, as well as Medicare deductions, will come out of the payment. You also indicated Social Security deductions can be taken out. As a Civil Service Retirement System employee, I do not pay into Social Security. Does that mean that no CSRS retirement payments will be taken out? Also, the lump sum will be close to $80,000 and should be paid in my last paycheck; are there any limitations on payouts? A: Social Security deductions would only be made…