Do CSRS retirees need Medicare Part B?

Do CSRS retirees need Medicare Part B?

You don’t have to take Medicare Part B coverage if you don’t want it, and your Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) plan can’t require you to take it. However, there are some advantages to enrolling in Part B: If you want to join a Medicare Advantage plan, you must be enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B.

Is it better to have Medicare or Medicare Advantage?

While Medicare will cover most of your medical needs, there are some things the program typically doesn’t pay for -— like cosmetic surgery or routine dental, vision and hearing care. Under Medicare Advantage, you will get all the services you are eligible for under original Medicare.

Do I need Part B Medicare if I have FEHB?

If you are working and have FEHB or you are covered under your spouse’s group health insurance plan, then you do not have to enroll in Part B when you turn 65. You will have a special enrollment period when you retire or your spouse retires to enroll in Part B without paying a penalty.

Should federal annuitants enroll in Medicare Part B after age 65?

Any federal annuitant 65 and older enrolled in a fee-for-service (FFS) plan such as Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), GEHA, or Mail Handlers should seriously consider enrolling in Medicare Part B. Those annuitants who are enrolled in an HMO may not need to enroll in Part B.

Can a federal pension be taken away?

As mentioned above, there are only a few narrow circumstances in which a federal employee will lose their retirement benefits. Under 5 U.S.C. § 8312, federal employees forfeit their retirement benefits only if they are convicted of one or more specific federal crimes.

Can I keep my FEHB after age 65?

Your FEHB coverage will continue whether or not you enroll in Medicare. If you can get premium-free Part A coverage, we advise you to enroll in it. Most Federal employees and annuitants are entitled to Medicare Part A at age 65 without cost. If you don’t enroll in Medicare, your FEHB plan will pay benefits in full.

Which is better a federal retiree plan or Medicare Part B?

Part B provides more generous benefits than most FEHB plans in a few categories, such as physical therapy and home health care, and it covers more of the costs of prostheses and durable medical equipment than many. Still, Medicare Part B rarely reduces overall costs enough to pay for the extra premium.

Can Medicare Part B be Cancelled?

You can voluntarily terminate your Medicare Part B (medical insurance). It is a serious decision. You must submit Form CMS-1763 (PDF, Download Adobe Reader) to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Visit or call the SSA (1- to get this form.

What happens to my private health insurance when I turn 65?

As long as you have group health insurance from an employer for which you or your spouse actively works after you turn 65, you can delay enrolling in Medicare until the employment ends or the coverage stops (whichever happens first), without incurring any late penalties if you enroll later.