Retirement
Groups Urge Lawmakers to Combat Rising Medicare Part B Premiums
Numerous organizations recently sent a letter to lawmakers urging them to find a way to ease the burden of expected rising Medicare part B premiums in 2017 to…
Medicare
Stay informed on Medicare topics that matter to federal retirees, including how Medicare Parts B and D coordinate with FEHB coverage, annual premium and deductible changes, and the impact of IRMAA surcharges on retirement income. Explore clear explanations of enrollment decisions, cost considerations, and policy updates that affect federal retirement planning. This section provides timely analysis to help federal retirees understand how Medicare choices interact with FEHB, OPM guidance, and long‑term healthcare costs in retirement.
Pay & Benefits
Federal Employees and Retirees Face Hard Choices With Rising Premiums
Federal employees and retirees will face a series of difficult decisions over the next month as they think about funding their benefit contributions in the midst of rising…
Pay & Benefits
The Problem with Self Plus One
The "self plus one" option under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program has proven to be quite costly. The author looks at how high some of the premiums…
Retirement
Understanding How Medicare Coordinates with FEHB
The author explains Medicare's four parts and how they overlap with the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program.
Federal Workforce News
NARFE Responds To Proposed Postal Reform Legislation Requiring Mandatory Medicare
The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association has sharply criticized plans by the House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform to require postal retirees, their spouses…
Retirement
The Current State of the Social Security Trust Funds
The Social Security Board of Trustees has released its latest report on the health of Social Security. The report says that the trust funds should enable paying scheduled…
Pay & Benefits
Changes in Legislation Requiring Mandatory Medicare is an Improvement But Not the Solution Says NARFE
The House version of a postal reform bill in Congress is better than the Senate version according to NARFE, although it thinks neither is ideal. What effect do…
Retirement
Accelerate the Tax Efficiency of Roth TSP Distributions
The author describes a technique known as the "The Back Door Roth TSP Withdrawal" federal employees can use to accelerate their tax benefits in retirement.
Pay & Benefits
Reforming Retiree Health Insurance May Start with Mandatory Medicare, But May Not End There
A House Committee hearing last week looked at reforming the health benefits for postal employees in an effort to deal with the Postal Service's massive and ongoing financial…
Retirement
What is Worse Than No COLA? A Small COLA
What are the prospects for a cost of living adjustment (COLA) in 2017 and what are the implications for federal retirees? The author looks at the current situation.