Whether to enroll in Part B or use FEHB as primary coverage is a personal decision, based on your individual circumstances. You should look at the costs and benefits of each insurance plan and make the choice that’s best for you.
When you become Medicare-eligible, you have a few options:
Keep FEHB and turn down Medicare.
• Even if you have FEHB retiree coverage, it will continue to provide you with primary coverage if you don’t enroll in Medicare. In this way, FEHB retiree coverage is different from most other retiree coverage.
• If you choose this option, consider turning down Medicare Part B but still enrolling in Part A. Part A is usually premium-free, meaning that you can have this additional coverage at no cost to you.
Keep FEHB and enroll in Medicare.
• The two will work together to cover your health care costs, but you will owe premiums for both.
Disenroll from FEHB and enroll in Medicare.
• You might not be able to enroll in FEHB again in the future if you change your mind.
When choosing which coverage option is best for you, ask yourself questions like:
- Which forms of insurance do my providers take?
- How much would I owe for the health care services I use the most?
- Which coverage offers the flexibility I need?
FEHB prescription drug coverage is creditable, meaning that it’s as good as or better than Medicare’s prescription drug benefit. If you’re enrolled in FEHB, you can delay Part D enrollment without having a late enrollment penalty.
Be sure to compare the costs and benefits of your FEHB plan and Part D to decide which best suits your needs. Note that you cannot disenroll from FEHB drug coverage separately from FEHB health coverage. If you want to keep your FEHB health coverage, you must keep drug coverage, even if you enroll in Part D.
Contact the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) if you’re a federal employee or retiree and want to learn more about your health benefits; Call 317-212-0454 or Visit opm.gov/healthcare-insurance.
- FOR OTHER QUESTIONS, CONTACT AMERICAN SENIOR RESOURCES at 1-800-386-6160 TTY 711 M-F or SCHEDULE AN CONSULTATION ONLINE WITH AN ASR LICENSED AGENT.