FEHB and Medicare ?

[nasa1974]

Interesting article Stoplight, thanks.

 

[Stoplight]

Yeah, we took another cruise. 2 week Western Caribbean on a brand new ship, the Sky Princess. We have 4 cruises booked for 2020. Taking the whole family in November.

Nasa,

Dang ! You're a crusin' fool !!!

Trying to talk the Wife into a cruise to China, but looks like we may do one to Scandinavia and Russia instead...

...or maybe I'll buy a new truck !!!


Stoplight...

 

[nasa1974]

Nasa,

Dang ! You're a crusin' fool !!!

Trying to talk the Wife into a cruise to China, but looks like we may do one to Scandinavia and Russia instead...

...or maybe I'll buy a new truck !!!


Stoplight...

LOL. Friends of ours did the Scandinavia and Russia cruise and really enjoyed it.

You got to remember, what ever keeps the wife happy. "Happy wife happy life."

 

[rakendzior]

Tony,

So I hit the magical age 65 next year ! That raises the issue of Medicare for me. Google gives me all kinds of links to contradicting advice !

Do you have a definitive answer to (or link to the definitive answer to !) the question(s) :

Do I :
1. Drop FEHB and buy Part B and Part D or an Advantage Plan ?
2. Do I keep FEHB (currently BC/BC Basic Option, Self) and not take Part B ? (Is that even an option ?)
3. Do I keep FEHB and pay for Part B also ? (I know you DON'T take Part D if you keep FEHB)

I've seen this discussed many times, in bits and pieces, all over this board, but I'm looking for a clear, concise discussion of the pros and cons...

FWIW : I'm a regular FERS retiree ; collecting SS since age 62 ; no outside income and reductions to worry about (I'm pretty darn lazy !) ; no VA or TRICARE or anything like that ; Wife has her own healthcare coverage through her Teacher retirement

Any comments or links appreciated !

Stoplight. First my profound apology for not answering sooner. I'm still learning how to use this forum. Now to your questions.
1. If you're planning to depend on Medicare for the rest of your life, then you might as well sign up when you first become eligible. There are higher "premiums" imposed if you wait and those last forever. I've now been under Medicare for 13 years and while the cost of Part B goes up every year, i've never had an issue with a provider. And I've had more providers than I can count.

2. I'm no authority on FEHB. So don't expect any comments from me on how that works. I personally have Part D though I've made a point to shop around at the end of every year as my meds change and some providers are more favorable than others depending on what Rx you are taking.

3. I'm beginning to think from your comments that FEHB is similar to an Advantage Plan. These are a regulatory sop to the health insurance industry that for the most part, includes stuff that you may or may not ever need. But that provides an incentive for insurance companies to market them aggressively to benefit their bottom line. As a licensed insurance agent for some 45 years, I have a very cynical view of these companies.

My wife and I also have a medigap policy each. However, there is talk that Congress is going to phase them out of existence. I have no idea why except as another sop to the insurance industry by pushing more people into Advantage plans. I have no need for dental and vision coverage so why do I have to pay for that.

Good luck. Tony

 

[PessOptimist]

Took me a while to find this thread. I was searching because of an email about BCBS basic refunding Medicare part B payments.

Rakendzior, I can’t answer your questions other than to tell you big brother says you will sign up for medicare and the health insurance companies play along. FWIW I got part B for me but there was another reason called Tricare. Spouse turns 65 soon and is worried about it. She will also be enrolled in part B for that same other reason. We will keep on keeping FEHP which is BC/BS basic to keep her happy. I have been advised many times that Medicare and Tricare for life which you are converted to at age 65, will cover everything. Spouse does not believe that. So FEHP it is too.

I would advise checking in to your spouses medical plan about her options at 65. And your options as to being carried on her plan.

Good luck and I am told there is a way you can suspend your FEHB while trying out other options. Supposedly you can pick it up again where you left off. Not a good option for me at this time as I would have to sell the spouse on it. I think based on all the mail my spouse gets about medicare enhancement plans, BCBS is basically that without eye, dental and other stuff.

PO

 

[PessOptimist]

Re: FEHB and Medicare ? BCBS money for having Medicare part B

I got an email from health equity, inc telling me to go to fepblue.org/mra which tells me to go to wageworks.com. I created an account at wageworks last year to get my 2018 refund.

Like we need to get emails from yet another entity about our FEHB. Now its FepBlue, wageworks and Equity Health?

Refund-in 2018 if you had BC/BS basic they paid you $600 for being enrolled in Medicare part B. I logged in after realizing I never submitted my 2019 claim only to discover it was denied because I wasn’t covered by the right plan?

The plan hasn’t changed. Anyone else get a rebate for Medicare part B form BC/BS for 2019?

Maybe they didn’t do it in 2019?

Will carry on and file for the 2020 money of $800.

PO

 

[nnuut]

Re: FEHB and Medicare ? BCBS money for having Medicare part B

I have that! Medicare and BCBS Basic. I submitted for the BCBS $600 for 2018 and 2019 this year and they paid me for both, getting the information needed is a pain in the Butt but it's worth it. BCBS takes care of prescriptions, lot cheaper than Medicare. Not that cheap but well worth it if you have Big Medical debt.

 

[PessOptimist]

I have that! Medicare and BCBS Basic. I submitted for the BCBS $600 for 2018 and 2019 this year and they paid me for both, getting the information needed is a pain in the Butt but it's worth it. BCBS takes care of prescriptions, lot cheaper than Medicare. Not that cheap but well worth it if you have Big Medical debt.

Thanks for the reply nnuut. I got the 2018 money but going to the wageworks site which is where fepblue.org/mra takes you, I find no option for the 2019 reimbursement. Any details you can recall about that would be appreciated. And you are absolutely correct, getting the information is a pain at myssa. Fepblue offers no information. Great program they offer if you can figure out how to do it. That is likely the whole point. People will give up. I forsee a long painful phone call tomorrow.

It is very expensive but if one of the health plan members believes they must have it, they must have it.

PO

 

[evilanne]

There are other plans you can switch to during open season each year if you don't like your FEHB plan, even during retirement. I think OPM sends out email in late October.

Here is website https://retireefehb.opm.gov/Annuitant/Home/Default you can check in early November.

 

[PessOptimist]

There are other plans you can switch to during open season each year if you don't like your FEHB plan, even during retirement. I think OPM sends out email in late October.

Here is website https://retireefehb.opm.gov/Annuitant/Home/Default you can check in early November.

Thank You. This is about getting my reimbursement from FepBlue for 2019 Medicare part B payments. Not about changing plans. I never said I was unhappy, just want the money they supposedly offered. Thanks for the info.

PO

 

[nnuut]

Thanks for the reply nnuut. I got the 2018 money but going to the wageworks site which is where fepblue.org/mra takes you, I find no option for the 2019 reimbursement. Any details you can recall about that would be appreciated. And you are absolutely correct, getting the information is a pain at myssa. Fepblue offers no information. Great program they offer if you can figure out how to do it. That is likely the whole point. People will give up. I forsee a long painful phone call tomorrow.

It is very expensive but if one of the health plan members believes they must have it, they must have it.

PO

I did 2018 and 2019 at the end of December, The BCBS site has all of the info required. Proof of this and that and it's not easy. I think proof from Medicare, OPM, etc. I will do 2020 in Dec that's when you can get all of the info. Wish I could give you better info, NASA1974 is an expert.

 

[nasa1974]

I have gotten our BCBS refunds for Medicare Part B for both the wife and myself for 2018, 2019 and a partial refund for 2020. I have to submit twice to get the complete refund for each year. Yep it is a pain in the butt. Both the wife and I have applied for Social Security and have been accepted. We both got our letters telling us when we should receive payment and that they are taking our Medicare Part B out of our Social Security deposits. Now the question is can we still get the refund from BCBS since SS is paying for Part B?