FERS medical

[Kevon2022]

1. It's absolutely true. I did that before retirement


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[weatherweenie]

'If I do not choose this then I can't continue with FERS medical.'
You have 3 choices. Full survivor benefit. Partial survivor benefit. No survivor benefit.
You will receive FERS medical coverage regardless of your survivor benefit choice.

Morning. Hoping someone can help me. I plan on retiring in 2026. I heard that when retiring you have to choose 25% survivor benefit for your spouse in order to continue to receive health insurance. If I do not choose this then I can't continue with FERS medical. I have tried to contact OPM about this issue, but could not get through because of high call volume. My husband is 73 years old and I will be 62 when I retire. I do not want to do this as we expect me to outlive him (however anything can happen).

Questions.
1. is this true?
2. What happens to the 25% survivors benefit withheld when my spouse passes away, does it get put back into my pension?
3. Is there a link or phone number where I can find any accurate information on this?

Thanks for any help/advice
Stephanie (Cookiehoo)

 

[Bullitt]

Your spouse would need to be receiving a survivor benefit to continue FEHB coverage if only if YOU die first.

Requirements for Continuing Enrollment

For surviving family members to continue the health benefits enrollment after the enrollee's death, all of the following requirements must be met:

• the deceased must have been enrolled for Self Plus One or Self and Family at the time of his/her death; and
• at least one family member must be entitled to an annuity as the survivor.

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/reference-materials/reference/annuitants-and-compensationers/

 

[tsptalk]

Hi Stephanie,

I didn't know the answer but I asked Bing AI. Here's what it had to say. I hope it helps...

https://www.opm.gov/support/retirement/faq/survivor-benefits/

 

[cookiehoo]

Morning. Hoping someone can help me. I plan on retiring in 2026. I heard that when retiring you have to choose 25% survivor benefit for your spouse in order to continue to receive health insurance. If I do not choose this then I can't continue with FERS medical. I have tried to contact OPM about this issue, but could not get through because of high call volume. My husband is 73 years old and I will be 62 when I retire. I do not want to do this as we expect me to outlive him (however anything can happen).

Questions.
1. is this true?
2. What happens to the 25% survivors benefit withheld when my spouse passes away, does it get put back into my pension?
3. Is there a link or phone number where I can find any accurate information on this?

Thanks for any help/advice
Stephanie (Cookiehoo)