Q. I am a Bureau of Prisons retiree with GEHA health insurance. Should I enroll in Medicare B? I know I don’t have to enroll in Medicare B, but would like to know the pros and cons of not enrolling. It seems the only entity that would benefit from that enrollment would be GEHA, or whichever health plan I enroll in, as it would automatically be deemed secondary with Medicare Part B as the primary, thereby avoiding paying the full cost of whatever medical procedure I might receive. If I sign up for Medicare B, won’t I be paying twice…
Browsing: GEHA
Q. I have been covered by my wife’s GEHA plan for the past 10 years, and I continue to be covered under her policy (as do our two kids; we are in a self and family plan). Two new variables are coming into play for my health care: 1) I will be eligible for Medicare coverage in two months; and 2) I just started receiving a federal annuity. (Note: I am eligible to receive Social Security but have not yet signed up). I have two related questions: 1) If I continue to remain under my wife’s Federal Employees Health Benefits…
Q. I am getting ready to enroll in Medicare. I have GEHA High Option Family Plan and was advised to change to GEHA Low Option Family Plan once I am enrolled in Medicare. I have the High Family Option because my spouse is ill and requires frequent medical attention. A. The only way to know if that would be a good decision for you and your spouse would be to compare the benefits for each level of GEHA coverage and see how they would mesh with Medicare. If your spouse isn’t covered by Medicare, electing the low option might increase your out-of-pocket…
Q. I retired from federal service in 2003, am still working and continued my Federal Employees Health Benefits upon retirement. When I turned 65 last September, I and my spouse opted for Medicare Part A only. On a recent claim approved by the Government Employees Health Association, they sent a cover letter which stated: “Our records indicate that the member is a federal retired employee, and the patient is 65 (my spouse) or older and does not have Medicare Part B. Therefore under the change in Federal Law (5 U.S.C. 8904(B)) we are required to allow no more than the…
Q. I changed from GEHA high deductible to Blue Cross/Blue Shield Standard Family and would like to add one of the vision plans. When I called BEST, they told me this could only be done during open season. I thought this was like an addition to the Federal Employees Health Benefits plan. I realize these are stand-alone plans, and I haven’t had a life qualifying event. I just want to get a vision plan for the first time. Have I missed the boat until the next open season? A. Yes, you’ve missed the boat. Unless you have a life qualifying…
Q: I am a retired federal employee, almost 65 years old, and I have to decide whether to sign up for Medicare Part B. Whether I sign up or not, I will continue with the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (currently Government Employees Health Association, which has a maximum annual $5,000 out-of-pocket expense). The Part B decision seems to be one of costs versus benefits. I would pay about $1,400 per year for Part B and would save/eliminate most of my out-of-pocket expenses. I rarely spend more than about $1,000 a year in out-of-pocket expenses. It’s almost impossible to…