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Return to Article: So Many Choices, So Little Time

• 64143
  

  I am a former DECA employee with current TCC coverage. I resigned not retired and I need to know about keeping my health coverage after TCC runs out.I was told that I can keep policy but would cost more

  bill moran Posted December 3, 2008 3:13 PM
• 38043
  

  I am retiring on Jan 3, 2008 with 7 years left before I am 65. My FEHB is with a HMO but I am concerned about Part D (prescription drug). When I turn 65 do I need to sign up for Part D? because I plan on continuing with my FEHB HMO coverage. Please provide more info to federal retirees about Part D and prescription drugs.

  jackie booth Posted November 21, 2007 2:04 PM
• 37646
  

  Don't cancel your FEHP, but "suspend" it instead so you will have the option to re-enroll at a future date. If you cancel, you will never be able to get back in again. Also, the BC/BS standard has an excellent 90-day mail order pharmacy plan thru which your copays are very low. Keep this in mind if you're considering switching to another "cheaper" plan which doesn't have as good pharmacy coverage.

  Bernd Kampe Posted November 18, 2007 4:06 PM
• 37106
  

  I recently retired from the federal government and currently have Blue Cross Blue Shield std. as my secondary plan to Medicare Parts A&B. For 2008 I am considering switching from BCBS because of the large increases in monthly premiums to NALC. One concern,however, is that NALC has a very restrictive policy on lipid tests, diabetes, mammograms and colonoscopy tests which my wife and I have done more frequently because of our medical history.

  Appreciate hearing about other feds experience with this issue.

  Gerald Ceasar Posted November 12, 2007 11:42 AM
• 36881
  

  As a Federal employee I am enrolled in the FEHP. My spouse is a municipal employee enrolled in the municipality's health plan. Although his is self-only, I see no advantage to this dual coverage, but I am apprehensive about cancelling FEHP, especially since I am retirement eligible next year. Would someone please address the advantages, disadvantages, and possible options. Thanks

  Chris Huber Posted November 8, 2007 11:45 AM
• 36721
  

  Just responding to the comment on BC. Many BC companies do sponsor Medicare Advantage plans in other areas of the country. However, you do NOT need to restrict yourself. There are hundreds of MA plans. A family can suspend its FEHBP participation and save over $3,700 (if in BC) in premium, while getting an MA plan that is not as rich in benefits but very good. Check out MA at the medicare.gov web site.

  Walton Francis Posted November 7, 2007 11:35 AM
• 36710
  

  As Tammy notes below, the OPM brochure information reflected 2007 as of last week. But I just noticed the 2008 information is now available, so I updated the link above to reflect that.

  Tom Shoop, Executive Editor, GovernmentExecutive.com Posted November 7, 2007 10:12 AM
• 36678
  

  My comment is aimed at the federal retiree population that is enrolled in the BC-BS service benefit plan and is coenrolled in Medicare,Part B.I don't understand why BC-BS doesn't have a Medicare Advantage option available.Some of the other FEHB carriers do.Retirees should also have a self plus one option as we see in the Dental supplemental plans.That 2.3% COLA pales compared to the 8.5% increase in the BC-BS premium.

  John Koper Posted November 6, 2007 4:19 PM
• 36545
  

  I did not find this article helpful at all. Retirees need to be helped and this was not helpful.

  Patricia Gatlin Posted November 5, 2007 9:52 AM
• 36540
  

  The OPM links (and your) for federal health insurance indo goes to 2007. Have they not been posed yet, or are they hiding somewhere else?

  Sue Taylor Posted November 5, 2007 8:58 AM
• 36474
  

  The 2008 info will be on OPM's web site by the start of the open season (11/12/07). There is a limited amount of open season info already posted and most of the individual FEHB plans have 2008 updates on their web sites already.

  Bill... Only "you" need 5 years of coverage to carry the FEHB into retirement. Retirees can change from self only to self and family coverage. The only caution is that you don't want to "die" in self only coverage since your "surviving" family members cannot enroll themselves.

  Tammy Flanagan Posted November 2, 2007 5:24 PM
• 36427
  

  Why doesn't the OPM web site have the new 2008 information of the health plan programs?

  Ricky Lowe Posted November 2, 2007 7:58 AM
• 36417
  

  At present my spouse and children are not on my health benifits plan. They are covered by my spouses plan. Do they need to be on my plan for at least 5 years prior to my retirement to remain on it after my retirement? Or can I add them just before I retire?

  Bill Spellacy Posted November 2, 2007 6:14 AM