FEHB, Medicare and living overseas

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Q. If after retirement (qualified for FEHB and/or Medicare coverage), I temporarily live overseas and am removed from FEHB/Medicare coverage area for a couple of years, can I suspend this coverage or am I stuck paying premiums even though I can’t use it overseas?

A. No, you can’t suspend that coverage. And yes, you’d be stuck with paying the premiums for your FEHB enrollment and Medicare Part B if you elected that coverage. Part A is free because you paid for that coverage through payroll deductions. Note: To lower your FEHB premium costs, during an open season you could change to a plan that has the lowest premiums while you are overseas.

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Reg Jones was head of retirement and insurance policy at the Office of Personnel Management. Email your retirement-related questions to fedexperts@federaltimes.com.

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