Q: I have been retired for four years from the post office. I want to keep my current care first health plan. Am I forced into Medicare? Can I just keep my current plan? I will be 65 in February. Will there ever be penalties if I am forced into Medicare at a later date?
A: FEHB cannot require you to enroll in Medicare at age 65. You are allowed to keep your current FEHB plan. Most federal retirees are going to elect Medicare Part A, as it is free. Regarding Medicare Part B, which has a monthly premium, some age 65 retirees elect it and some do not.
In order for you to make the best possible decision, you should review the section of your FEHB plan’s brochure that deals with coordination of benefits and look at how your FEHB plan will reimburse if you do not elect Part B.
You also inquired about whether you would be penalized if you were forced into Medicare at a later date. No one can give a definite answer about something that hasn’t happened yet, but (if I had to bet) I would speculate that changes would be prospective and that there would be no penalty for anyone who was forced in based on a change in the law.
