Anyone retired from Federal Service? Medicare questions.

[StressCadet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StressCadet]

My Mother is a retired RN. Her retirement is FERS as she retired from service at a VA Hospital.

I have been informed that she did not enroll in Medicare Part B. However, I believe she has whatever health insurance benefit she had when she was working. I think she has Blue Cross.

Should I be worried about the not enrolling in Part B or should her current retirement policy be sufficient for Dr's visits etc.

Sufficient might not be the right word....but she should be able to seek medical attention by the terms of her original policy-deductible/co-pay, etc-correct?

Help.

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

Dh retired CSRS - but is not old enough for Medicare yet. He has the insurance he had when he was active, but he had to fill out paperwork in order to continue it as a retiree.
Sorry I can't help with the Medicare question. Good luck.

[hjhaus Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hjhaus]

I am a retired Federal employee under CSRS. The Federal Employees Group Health Insurance yields good coverage. For most retirees it is not cost effective to add Medicare Part B since there is so much overlap in the coverages. This is confirmed by studies published every year by the Consumers Checkbook Guide to the Federal Employee Health Plans.

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

We are both retired Federal Employees. We also care for an elderly gentleman that is a retired Federal Employee. We all 3 carry part B. For the other person, he carries the lowest amount of Retired Health Insurance with his part B. DH is retired military, so we have that insurance and Part B.

I believe you can add part B at a later date, but must pay back premiums, so you would need to figure out how much that would be.

I would suggest you talk to someone at Social Security.

Nancy

[StressCadet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StressCadet]

Thanks everyone...especially Hjhaus...first post and a good one at that.

I think I have what she has all figured out and I can see why she might not have taken Part B. It's good coverage. I just need to confirm that was the policy she took. If it is-then I'm much relieved...for now.

[StressCadet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StressCadet]

I believe you can add part B at a later date, but must pay back premiums, so you would need to figure out how much that would be.

I would suggest you talk to someone at Social Security.

Nancy

Yeah-it was 5 years ago and I read that if you try to enroll now that the premium/penalty goes up 10 percent each year....also you have to wait until Jan 1st and then it doesn't take effect until July and that would be a year from now.

Sadly, it might become irrelevant by that time.

[hjhaus Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hjhaus]

Hope she exercised her option to keep her group coverage in retirement. The premium would be taken out of her pension payment each month. There is an open season every Nov/Dec where she could change to another plan. The publication mentioned in my previous post is the place to look to compare plans.

[StressCadet Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close StressCadet]

Hope she exercised her option to keep her group coverage in retirement. The premium would be taken out of her pension payment each month. There is an open season every Nov/Dec where she could change to another plan. The publication mentioned in my previous post is the place to look to compare plans.

She did. That much I know. Now it's down to whether she has the plan I think she has. I hope so. I'll need to make a trip to her home and sort through her papers....at this point we'll have to stick with what she has.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

did you also post on TUG? I think that some of the answers you received on Tug were from people who didn't realize that federal employees have different options than Medicare. It sounds like you have the situation in hand now.

[hjhaus Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close hjhaus]

Just some further thoughts:

Many Federal retirees do sign up for Medicare part B in spite of the fact that it will not likely be cost effective. They like the fact that doing so can eliminate all copays and deductibles.

Also, I read recently that the Office of Personnel Mangagement, which oversees the Federal health plans, recently requested proposals from the insurance companies for new plans that would incoporate Medicare part B coverage. If any such plans are offered they might be an attractive alternative for your Mother, especially if they would allow her to join Medicare without the penalty.