Browsing: open season

Q. I am a FERS retiree with premium deductions from my annuity for Federal Employees Health Benefits family coverage. My wife is not a federal retiree. 1. If I change to single during open season, can I change back to family coverage the next year? 2. When I die, I assume FEHB coverage will halt for her, correct? A. Yes, you can change from self-and-family coverage to self-only during any open season and change back during any open season. If you provided a survivor annuity for your wife, and you are covered by the self-and-family option when you die, she…

Q. I am a retired foreign service officer whose spouse is still an active federal employee working for an agency other than the State Department. To save money, we decided to move from one self-and-family policy under my name to separate self-only plans. I opted for a completely different carrier, while my wife chose to stay with the one we had had for six years. We had not counted, however, on the fact that this year, there would be a nearly two-week gap between the time frame for changes for retirees and for active employees. The end result has been that…

Q. I am 65 and signed up for Medicare Parts A and B. I also continued my BCBS standard option health coverage after reading the FEBH/Medicare brochure. I believe it is recommended that I continue the BCBS coverage. I received an email regarding the open season and am very confused as to whether I should continue the BCBS standard option or switch to a Medicare Supplement plan. Looking at the open season email and some of the links, I think I need to consider some Medicare Supplements. I think I would have to suspend my health benefits if I were…

Q. I am a CSRS employee with 34 years of federal service. I am going to retire in 2013. If I suspend my Federal Employees Health Benefits to go under my husband’s Tricare, will I still be able to reinstate my FEHB any time I want during an open season after I become an annuitant? Also, will I still be able to join the long-term federal health insurance plan? A. Yes to both questions. If you suspend your coverage to be under Tricare, you can re-enroll in the FEHB program during any open season. You can enroll in the Federal…

Q. I know one has to have Federal Employees Health Benefits for five years before one quits or retires to get this benefit. Does it have to be family coverage for five years, or can I change my self-only coverage to family in the last year before retirement? Can I change it after retirement? A. You can change from self-only to self and family and from self and family to self-only during any open season. The only requirement to carry your FEHB coverage into retirement is that you be covered continuously for the five years before you retire. Note: I…

Q. I know one has to have Federal Employees Health Benefits for five years before one quits or retires to get this benefit. Does it have to be family coverage for five years, or can I change my self-only coverage to family in the last year before retirement? Can I change it after retirement? A. You can change from self-only to self and family and from self and family to self-only during any open season. The only requirement to carry your FEHB coverage into retirement is that you be covered continuously for the five years before you retire. Note: I…

Q. I plan to continue my federal health care plan after I retire next year. Will I still have the option to switch providers in the future during open season? Do I have to enroll/sign up for Medicare Part A? Is there any general guidance on whether I should pick up Medicare Part B on top of my existing Federal Employees Health Benefits HMO? A. Yes, you can change your FEHB provider during any open season. While you don’t have to sign up for Medicare Part A, there’s no reason not to do so. You’ve already paid for it through…

Q. I’m 64½ years old, retired FERS with Federal Employees Health Benefits. No dependents. I am also retired military, but I have never used Tricare. I am now considering what to do in this open season and as I reach 65 years of age. This is my plan: 1) Enroll in a cheaper (I have Kaiser now), more reasonably priced FEHB during open season. 2) Suspend that new FEHB coverage using form RI 79-9 to OPM. 3) Use my Tricare Standard until I reach 65 years (five months from now). 4) Find a Physician who take Tricare Standard. 5) Enroll…

Q. My husband and I are postal employees. He is getting ready to retire after 32 years with the Postal Service, and he is 59. I am 51 and will be continuing my employment probably (God willing) for another eight years or so. We both carry self-only health insurance plans, and I was wondering if I can take him on my insurance plan before he retires and change my enrollment to self and family. If this is a possibility, he can drop his plan. I think this would save us money, as I think his insurance will go up in…

Q. If I change my health insurance to self-only (due to my wife having insurance through her company) and I retire next year, can I add her back to mine if she loses or changes jobs. I ask because it’s open season and I plan on retiring the end of May from the Postal Service. I have my minimum retirement age and 31 years, three of which are my military buyback. A. As a retiree, you could change from self-only to self and family under Qualifying Life Event 2G. And you could do that from 31 days before through 60…