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Medicare and Federal Retirees: Part B or Not Part B?

OPM looks at plans for Medicare eligible retirees

John Grobe
Federal Career Experts
Wed May 28, 2008 8:14 AM

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Since I submitted this article, OPM announced that they were considering FEHB plans for Medicare eligible federal retirees. They did not go into detail, but NARFE immediately came out against such plans.

Re: OPM looks at plans for Medicare eligible retirees

RETIRED
USPS
Wed May 28, 2008 12:08 PM
John, would you elaborate on the statement.. it doesn't make sense to me...
"Since I submitted this article, OPM announced that they were considering FEHB plans for Medicare eligible federal retirees. They did not go into detail, but NARFE immediately came out against such plans."

Tricare for Life

HR SPecialist
Army
Wed May 28, 2008 8:17 AM

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I will be retiring next year and will be both Federal Retiree and Military Retiree Dependent. I have been researching this issue to try to become familiar with the coverage issues. Your article was very helpful, but you also need to add that for the Tricare for Life issue, many physicians don't take Medicare or Tricare for Life. Where I live, I cannot get OB/GYN care without my FEHB. You have to call around and ask and unfortunately many are not taking it. Because of that, I am not going to suspend my FEHB but continue it. However, it seems ridulous that my husband spent over 20 years in the Military and we have trouble finding medical care that will honor both Medicare and Tri Care. It is another one of those "benefits" that they have reduced to nothing for military retirees.

Medicare Part B

Accountant
DoN
Wed May 28, 2008 8:25 AM

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The only other thing not mentioned is what should the federal worker who is still employed in the federal govt. do when he turns 65. I've been told that since I currently am covered by BC/BS Standard, I shouldn't enroll in Medicare Part B until I retire. I've also been told that there is no penalty for delayed enrollment if still employed. What I WAS told to sign up for (when I turned 65) was Medicare Part A, as this coverage is 'free' to me, as a federal employee. Was this guidance correct??

Re: Medicare Part B

Claims representative
social security adm
Wed May 28, 2008 11:38 PM
The answer is "yes". If a person is still working at age 65 and has group health insurance through their employer, they do not need to file for Part B. They do need to file for Part B (and Part D if needed) within 8 months of retirement. There will be no penalty of premiums. Part B starts immediately at the base rate at the time. This is true if you turn age 65, your spouse is actively employed and you are covered on the spouses record. You can file for Part B when your spouse retires, it goes into effect immediately at the base rate at that time. The question, as a CSRS, employee, do I ever need part B? FEHB plans are pretty hard to understand!

coordination of benefits: a question

Program Leader
SSA
Wed May 28, 2008 8:35 AM

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I still am not clear as to whether BCBS will or will not pay the portion of medical bills that Medicare Part B would have paid if a retiree could have elected Part B but did not. My experience is that an insurance that considers itself secondary to Medicare Part B does so whether or not one has Part B. Let's say BCBS would pay x amount and Medicare Part B would pay y amount. If a retireee eligible for Part B doesn't have Part B, BCBS only pays (x-y), not x. Is that true or not?

Re: coordination of benefits: a question

Retired
NASA
Thu May 29, 2008 10:10 PM
No, it's not true. BCBS continues to pay x just as if you were not retired. In that sense, BCBS is primary and there is no secondary. The only time BCBS is secondary is if you enroll in Medicare, in which case Medicare becomes primary and BCBS secondary.

Re: coordination of benefits: a question

Retired
NASA
Mon Jun 16, 2008 6:41 PM
My earlier post indicated that BCBS continues to pay x as if your were not retired. Based on my understanding, I believe a slight change to that statement is necessary, ie, that once you reach 65, x=y. By that I mean that BCBS will look to Medicare to set the rate and then BCBS will use that as their rate (or less if he happens to charge less) for the dr’s charge--- you will be responsible for your coinsurance and co-payments and not for any theoretical difference between x and y. Be sure to understand the stipulation the dr cannot charge an FEHB-insured person for more than 15% above the Medicare rate mentioned elsewhere in these posts. That applies irrespective of whether dr takes Medicare patients or not.

Re: coordination of benefits: a question

Retired
NASA
Thu Jun 26, 2008 10:36 PM
My last post indicating ‘… you will be responsible for your coinsurance and co-payments..’ should have included ‘your deductibles,’ too. The point is, if you don’t have Part B, you continue paying your out-of-pocket expenses similarly as you did prior to your retirement.

Medicare part B

Procurement Analyst
DLA
Wed May 28, 2008 8:38 AM

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My husband opted for Med Part B when he went on disability at age 61 in order to avoid penality later on. Howevr since I am currently employed, and he is carried on my family plan thru Fed Gov Insurance, all his claims are assigned to my insurance first. He will soon turn 65, will assignment of claims change then or will they stay same until I retire?

Re: Medicare part B

John Grobe
Federal Career Experts
Thu May 29, 2008 7:07 PM
Until you retire FEHB will be primary.

Medicare and Federal Retirees: Part B or Not Part

Budget Analyst
DOD
Wed May 28, 2008 8:39 AM

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What benefit do we get from the Medicare Taxes that are being deducted from our pay? I thought this would some how off-set our premiums...

Re: Medicare and Federal Retirees: Part B or Not Part

John Grobe
Federal Career Experts
Thu May 29, 2008 7:08 PM
The taxes cover Part A (hospitalization).

Medicare & Federal Retirees - Part B or Not Part B

HR Specialist
US Army
Wed May 28, 2008 9:08 AM

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While we all hope to remain healthy in our retirement years, the likelihood of illness is high. My late husband & retired civil servant faced the same question when he turned 65. We searched in vain for this answer but thankfully, he went with Part B in addition to his insurance. Shortly after turning 65 his health became worse. Having both Part B and fed insurance saved us thousands in medical expenses. Many items/procedures not covered by our regular federal insurance were covered by Part B and vice versa. While he died two years later, Part B meant he had money to leave his grandchild and not leave me bankrupt in the process. I am firmly convinced it is a bargain at almost any price.

Re: Medicare & Federal Retirees - Part B or Not Part B

S
N.A.
Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:35 PM
With regard to the widow who wrote:
While he died two years later, Part B meant he had money to leave his grandchild and not leave me bankrupt in the process.

If one doesn't have survivors, is there still an argument for having Part B if you are seriously ill - because you want your care fully covered and don't want to go bankrupt on top of being seriously ill?
Total Comments: 104
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