Any Retired Federal employees on medicare?

DesertRat said
I just went through a two year battle to get all my medicare squared away. What the lady told your wife is correct with the caveat that I was not a federal employee. If there is any lapse in your qualified insurance coverage you will pay a penalty for part B for the rest of your life. Also, you cannot get any supplemental coverage until you are accepted into Medicare B. Once you are accepted into part B, you can buy your supplemental and your prescription coverage but not until.
Again, this information is based on not being an ex-federal employee. Could be different but I don't think so. The only exception I read about is ex-railroad employees who are covered by their own medical plan.

That sounds about right. I don’t know all the terminology as it’s my parents that are the retirees, although I did work a couple years for the feds. Most of my knowledge is from helping them though. My dad is retired federal employee and I know he doesn’t get anything at all beyond Medicare from his retirement. My mom retired from the school district, and her primary coverage is Medicare, with supplemental insurance that she’s continued for both of them (at considerable expense) to maintain full coverage. But as she’s a recent cancer survivor the cost for her to maintain full coverage through her supplemental is well worth it, despite being thousands of dollars, because Medicare wouldn’t have covered all of her second round of cancer treatment expenses. And even a few percent of those costs would have been a very large chunk of money for my folks.

72dart said
I am retired from Federal Civil Service and turned 65 last July. Medicare is complicated and you need to research it thoroughly as it is confusing. Part A covers hospital but not Doctor visits and routine care and it is free but does not cover 100%. Part B covers Doctor visits and routine care but does not cover 100% and if you do not have a supplement you will pay out of your pocket the difference. If you have a catastrophic incident like cancer you will pay a significant amount to cover what Medicare does not and could really put a dent in your savings. Part B is not free and I pay about $134 per month that comes automatically out of my Social Security benefits.

I kept my FEHB as a supplement and it covers what Medicare does not pay including co-pays. Remember Medicare will now be the primary provider and your FEHB as secondary insurance will cover the rest and you would pay very little out of your pocket if any at all. Also in the event of a catastrophic illness you will have piece of mind that you will not go bankrupt. Since I have had medicare I have paid nothing out of my pocket for all my medical care. I have used my VA benefits in the past for a lot of things which was free but now under Medicare along with my supplement I will use the VA less because I am not paying any out of pocket expenses now with my Medicare. Also if your wife discontinues her FEHB insurance at retirement she will not have the option of re-enrolling. The Federal Employee Health Benefit plan is very good and hard to beat for the cost.

I am not recommending your wife do as I did but I have tried to explain my decision on Medicare and FEHB when I retired. You and your wife must research the facts thoroughly and decide what is right for your circumstance. I hope I have helped you understand more about medicare and not confused you more.

Very well put! Yes, keeping a supplemental was a big deal for my mom. Had she not, the amount of her cancer treatment that she would have been responsible for just under Medicare would likely have bankrupted my parents.

It’s VERY confusing, lots of research is necessary. Drug plans, co-pays, what’s covered, it’s a mess.