Do I Need Both FEHB and Medicare as a Federal Employee?

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[@stevedavis3370]

That’s awesome info. Thanks for covering this! It is confusing and you broke it all down to make it more understandable!

[@danieljustdaniel9550]

When I retired from the Military and went straight in the federal work force, I just stayed with Tricare since I lived closed to base. Alot of my civilian coworkers that had the FEHB were telling me of the monthly payments they were paying for the family plan, and it was a lot. i have since retired from the federal govt and will be 65 next year. I have been told by several KZbin channels that talk of this that all i will need is Tricare for life and part B.

[@FIRE_DrNinjaTurtle]

I will keep following, even though I retired three years ago at 58.5 years old

[@celticmco5672]

Yes you do. And Part B too; he gets to the point at 9:06 mark. There is allot of information on this subject online. Get BCBC Basic they will pay part of Part B.

[@Jammn126]

Thank you for this. I retired in Dec. and am currently trying to decide about what options to take in Medicare. My annuity is not enough to live on and am currently in the process of applying for SS as well.😵‍💫

[@marvinjenkins4901]

Hello. Great video of information. Love your energy as you present.

[@Kep19901]

Thanks dallen.

[@ES-mc3cc]

I've got Medicare, Fed HB, and a separate dental insurance. Thinking of dropping the dental though, because the Fed HB covers some.

[@GrandpaShark]

It is notable that most of the comments say the word "confused". I totally agree. I turned 65 this year. I have BCBS standard & I ended up keeping that & declining part B. Another option would have been BCBS basic plus part B, but it seemed like higher premiums & restrictions if you go out of network. I still don't know what the best choice is.

[@bscroggs3334]

Medicare part B and BCBS Basic combo is the best option. If you don't take Medicare part B, not only will you be faced with that dreaded 10% per year penalty, you'll be paying more out of pocket. BCBS Basic also rebates some of your Part B premium. This combo is much better than any "Advantage" plan that'll be heavily advertised to you.

[@1Mannco]

If you apply for Medicare part B and A at 65 and work to 66, I guess you still have to pay for it?..and what are the big "advantages" having part B and FEHB?..just that you don't pay out of pocket co-pays and deductibles?...I have BCBS Basic and I know they pay you back $800 a year.

[@johnmccarty5315]

How do you know if your FEHB plans merges will with Medicare?

[@angelbergthsoto5140]

I am retired under the disability process with 30 years of service. I’ve heard my Medicare B is for free, I decided not to enroll on Medicare B. Also I am 100% Total and Permanent Disable US Military Veteran and receive Disability Social Security, I am 52 years old. Thank you for the channel.

[@StanHasselback]

Very good explanation. Two things, do you have a link to the 10% penalty you mentioned? Also is their a penalty for waiting to take part D or do I only have one opportunity to sign up for Part D?

[@mando7558]

I am still confused. I have FEHB, and Tricare and can get medical care through the VA. I am not 65 yet so I have some time to figure it out. Medicare part B seems redundant to me but I have to sign up for it because of Tricare. I think Tricare should make allowances for individuals in my situation to not sign up for part B.

[@irispeters8221]

My husband and I both retired, are on Medicare and part B, and kept our fep BCBS basic plan which gives us $800 each year reimbursement. I have been wondering if we should switch to Blue Focus plan, and if it would fit our needs as the basic plan is used primarily for co-pays and deductables.the basic plan went up again $50 for 2023 and is quite expensive. We also fill out all the health questionnaires and the incentives to get maximum dollars on our health cards Any thoughts if this would be a good idea?

[@CJMayer-wk5sd]

I am 64, still working. My husband is on my FEHB. He is 66. He has Part A. I am retiring next June and will be 65 in September. I believe that he will be able to sign up for Part B without a penalty in September, when i am eligible. It is within 8 months of my retirement. We plan to taken both A and B, to get it without penalty, and to switch to BCBS Basic at open season, to get the reimbursement on the Part B premium. Retirement is not a life event that will allow us to switch to Basic sooner, corect? My reason for getting both is that this will provide the greatest flexibility for an uncertain future. If we are healthy and FEHB gets too costly, we can suspend it until we need it. But if things change, we have maximum coverage if needed. Make sense? Thanks

[@otto99able16]

Hi Dallin, great vids as usual. Soo I'm 64 & retiring 2023, keeping my blue cross for me & my misses. Is it true I still have to keep paying my blue cross basic full premium till my wife hits her 65th bday? Yhen we can both apply for part B?...im 3 yrs older. Thanks

[@jFlowers598]

Thank you for the helpful info! What about 100% disabled veterans? I have FEHB and I barely use that because I use the VA the most and am happy with VA care, so when I retire, do I even need FEHB or Medicare B? (I don’t have Tricare and I got a while till retirement).

[@David-cv3bp]

Unfortunately Medicare and VA do not talk to each other.

[@marycolmenar1633]

On average, which option will be more cost effective? The Medicare Part B premium or the FEHB over time?

[@claudemerritt1306]

Why federal government employees join aflac, great benefits and helps you on Medicare too.

[@freddiegarcia5390]

Why do you take like everyone is single. I'm going to be 65 and my wife is 63. I have FEHB. She is on my plan. She has no other health insurance. I have Blue Cross BlueShield Basic Option? What are my options? I would appreciate your help.

[@michaelvadney5803]

Thank you Dallen! Isn't the gov't working on a plans for FEHB where you HAVE to take Medicare A&B if you are going to keep FEHB in retirement? So FEHB would no longer be the primary plan.

[@kathleenhinrichs7247]

Yes, in 2025 everyone retiring will be required to have both, Medicare A and B. Those who have not taken Part B will be allowed to take it at that time with NO Penalty.

[@billpohl8716]

I believe this only applies to Postal works under the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022. I did not see where it applied to other Federal Employee. Please correct me if I am wrong.@@kathleenhinrichs7247

[@maryanderson7058]

This has always been confusing to us and when we asked questions, the answers were not always comprehensible. My husband retired in 2001 and we were told at that time that we did not need to worry abt Medicare because our Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal will cover all of our needs. Years later, we found out abt the 10% a yr penalty for not obtaining Medicare when he retired. There is no way we could afford to pay Medicare and BCBSF for both of us, in fact paying for just BCBSF is really a hardship on our budget. We thought abt switching but with that 10% penalty the monthly payment would be another hardship for us to handle. Now, we heard the rumor that the Government is planning to take all federal retired employees and put them all on Medicare only. My husband is a CERS and they are now all phasing out of the workforce. We are worried if they put us on Medicare that they will still penalize us the 10% for those 22 or more years and this would not allow us to have medical insurance at all. Very worrisome indeed.

[@INJURYCOMP]

The rumor you heard is for Postal Retirees only (right now). That takes effect in 2024-2025. From what I read from the law is that Postal Retirees are going to be required to get into Medicare Part B. If there is a penalty involved, the Postal Service will have to pay the Penalty. They are taking Postal Employees out of the FEHB and creating an entirely new Health Benefit Plan that will (presumably) be less costly because Medicare Part B will be paying the lions share (80%) of all Medical Costs. We will see how this works. If it works for Postal Employees, Congress may change it for all Federal Retirees.

[@studimeglio7110]

I still have my FEHB BSBC benefits family plan. I did early retirement. I am now paying over 500.00 a month for these benefits. My wife just applied for Medicare Parts A & B. Because of that 10% penalty for every year you don’t take Part B, she is now signing up for it. So I will be paying the 515.00 + her $164.00 to Medicare part B. Over $650.00 a month for our medical. It doesn’t even pay to take her off my medical, I’ll only be saying 40-50.00 per month. Keep her on for the 20% Medicare don’t pay & prescription drugs.

[@tz444]

So what are good FEHB plans that merge well with Medicare B

[@joematosian2274]

Great question! I'd love to know the answer myself. I have BCBS.

[@whatwhome6914]

I know BCBS basic offers a medicare B rebate each year. I think it is $800 per person?

[@Yette]

Blue Cross has a specific plan as Medicare companion

[@axtomas]

I would like to know as well

[@blogo1111]

@@whatwhome6914 yes that’s right. I’ve always had BC Basic and will probably keep it into retirement w/ part B

[@chrisdust-zq5gp]

Hi I am getting ready to retire next year (66yro.) My wife is 4yrs younger; I also have a couple of children under 26. I'm on apwu Cigna. Any advice for me on Medicare?

[@edisongomez8771]

Sir, need your suggestion on my best option. Let me paint a picture. Im 63 now, within retirement window and no plans to retire yet then “bam,” i got cancer. Looks like i can retire now but which path..... FERS volunteer or the disability retirement path? Thx in advance Sir!

[@tonyg3772]

Many retirees believe their fehb coverage changes at age 65. That is false, but there could be a change in how you are billed as discussed in: 5 CFR Part 890 Subpart I -- Limit on Inpatient Hospital Charges, Physician Charges, and FEHB Benefit Payments. Hospitals, physicians cannot bill you more than the amount that medicare would approve, provided the hospital/physician takes medicare. You will get indirect medicare benefits by not even having medicare. Your coinsurance might even be less if you are billed at the medicare rate, which is usually lower. Its a different story if a provider is a medicare opt out.

[@roachtoasties]

FEHB Blue Cross/Blue Shield probably won't be reducing your premium (standard) if you sign-up for Part B. If you do sign-up for Part B, then you have to decide whether the extra premium (which could be much higher than $170 per month with your income) is worth it. If you're going to be sick a lot in retirement, requiring tons of outpatient treatment, it could be worth it, but it's difficult to predict your future health.

[@clnelson321]

Can you do a vlog on anything you know about the upcoming Postal Workers Benefit Plan due out in 2025? It will be gamechanging.

[@GracieValenti1]

I do remain confused though, why on earth would anyone sign up for the combo of Medicare A,B and FEHB and pay the premiums for B and FEHB when they could just keep paying for the FEHB alone and continue the health care coverage they have always had? There has to be some reason so many do the former. Does coverage change after 65 with FEHB alone? Has the coverage I have had for over 30 years suddenly become inadequate? I know the gov expects us to start on Mcare so what is the reason for that and the advantages for doing so? Thanks for your videos, I have learned a great deal from them and am looking forward to more!

[@noway5976]

I’m no expert, but I’ve heard some FEHB plans are reducing some areas of coverage to compliment Medicare. Ultimately a cost-cutting maneuver in my opinion. So it may be possible to incur large out of pocket charges with your future FEHB. The 10% increase in premium for delaying Medicare each year really penalize someone that decides to add it later if FEHB insurances no longer provide much coverage for certain items.

[@markdillard4422]

This is exactly my question. I'm thinking keep your FEHB and sign up for Medicare part A and call it good.

[@GrandpaShark]

@@markdillard4422 That is exactly what I did. I can't say that I'm 100% sure that was the right call, because it is very confusing. But it seems like the part B duplicates the coverage I already had.

[@Laura-nx4dm]

He said that if you don't take Part B when you retire (or age 65) you are charged a 10% penalty per year when/if you decide to take Part B. For instance, if FEHB becomes too expensive and you need to switch. That 10% penalty will add up. Additionally, he stated that some FEHB plans reimburse you for the cost of the Part B because it's redundant. I hope I'm understanding that correctly.

[@GrandpaShark]

@@Laura-nx4dm Some FEHB plans PARTIALLY reimburse you for the cost of part B.

[@anavellabick1434]

HI I HAVE QUESTION IF SOMEONE WORK IN FEDERAL JOB FOR 15 YEAR RESIGNED DUE HEALTH , CAN PERSON APPLY FOR RETIREMENT WORK IN FEDERAL JOB....? THANK YOU .... GOD BLESS YOU..

[@velez1954]

I have a question I’m a retired federal employee with Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal health plan 15 years later went back to work and in between that time I have a Medicare AMB so I’m paying for me and my wife with the Blue Cross Blue Shield $514 a month and then we each paying 170 for Medicare AMB I went back to work at the age of 69 with a private company that has a government contract and they’re forcing me to take their Blue Cross Blue Shield plan and saying that the Blue Cross Blue Shield I have is not enough to do a waiver within that company they’re saying that the Medicare rules state that I have to take theirs and that’s costing me another $385 a month. What can I do?

[@PlanYourFederalBenefits]

Great question. There's definitely a lot of factors that come into play when considering what to do. Feel free to schedule a meeting with us to help you make a plan: app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/work-with-us

[@gford9988]

USPS (Postal Service) will be requiring folks to take Medicare. I think it takes effect in 2024

[@marvinjenkins4901]

Question for anyone? Perhaps I missed it. As a federal retiree with a FEHB plan that I like, other than Medicare A, why would I want Medicare B?

[@rickw3243]

I retired several years ago with FEHB & Medicare Part A only. Don’t miss Medicare Part B.

[@marvinjenkins4901]

@Rick W hi. Are u saying that you didn't need it or are you telling me don't miss out by not getting it?

[@rickw3243]

@@marvinjenkins4901 I am perfectly happy with FEHB coverage & Part A. I don’t want Medicare Part B because I don’t think it is necessary, a waste of money because FEHB covers mostly everything including prescription drugs & I would be stuck paying IRMAA premium. I have to pay co-pays since I don’t have Part B, but that is acceptable to me. I travel overseas & Medicare doesn’t generally cover me overseas. However, I certainly can’t tell anyone else whether or not to take Medicare Part B because that is a personal decision based upon your own financial & personal situation.

[@marvinjenkins4901]

@@rickw3243 thanks

[@rickw3243]

@@marvinjenkins4901 You are welcome. I hope you have a very happy retirement!

[@aprilspringsnow4881]

if you sit still and explain, that will be much better to concentrate. thanks though.