Not Electing Medicare Part B to Cover Health Premiums

A FedSmith.com user asks about his logic of not electing Medicare Part B to cover the cost of co-pays.

Q: I am receiving health benefits under my wife’s Federal Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan. I did not elect part B at age 65 seven years ago. My logic was, and is, that the premiums saved by not electing part B would cover the co-pay. So far, that logic has worked fairly well. I suppose it will depend on my health over the remainder of my life. I realize I haved rolled the dice. What do you think?

A: I agree with your assessment.

Agencies can request to have John Grobe, or another of Federal Career Experts' qualified instructors, deliver a retirement or transition seminar to their employees. FCE instructors are not financial advisers and will not sell or recommend financial products to class participants. Agency Benefits Officers can contact John Grobe at johnfgrobe@comcast.net to discuss schedules and costs.

About the Author

John Grobe is President of Federal Career Experts, a firm that provides pre-retirement training and seminars to a wide variety of federal agencies. FCE’s instructors are all retired federal retirement specialists who educate class participants on the ins and outs of federal retirement and benefits; there is never an attempt to influence participants to invest a certain way, or to purchase any financial products. John and FCE specialize in retirement for special category employees, such as law enforcement officers.