Medicare & Your FEHB

Welcome to our FEHB, Tricare for Life and Medicare resource webpage. Perhaps the first, and maybe the only, such resource on the web designed for federal/postal employees and retirees and their spouses that we know of.

Let's face it, Medicare is a puzzle to most federal and postal employees and even some retirees who, up to now, have had to only deal with their Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) health plan coverage. We know, we've been there!

But what you need to know is that Medicare will play a role in your retirement. How much of a role is entirely up to you. If you're not careful when considering your Medicare enrollment options, you can blunder into decisions that can lock you into, or out of, certain types of coverage down the road and cost you thousands in extra premiums and out-of-pocket costs over the course of your lifetime.

         What are your options?
         When are your decision points?
         Do you have to enroll in Medicare?
         If so, when should you enroll?
         What if you delay enrollment?
         Where can you get help?

At age 65 (whether you're still working or not), or shortly after you retire, these questions and more will become important to you, and your loved ones. We're committed to giving federal and postal employees and retirees, a starting point for learning more about how FEHB (or perhaps Tricare/Tricare for Life) and Medicare work (or not) together to provide the best possible health insurance coverage at a time when you will begin to need it the most.

Remember, Medicare is voluntary, and the final decision to enroll or not is yours to make. We just want it to be an "informed" decision, which is why our panel of experts has compiled the links and resources you'll find on this page.

The Medicare Rights Center - is a national, nonprofit consumer service organization that works to ensure access to affordable health care for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs and public policy initiatives. Contact them when you are having issues with your Medicare enrollment or benefits. They are terrific! Be sure to let them know that you are a federal or postal retiree.

Medicare Choices by Tammy Flanagan

So Many Choices by Tammy Flanagan

You can "suspend" your FEHB plan in retirement, and still return.

In retirement, if you are enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B, Medicare is your primary payer.

Enrollment in Medicare is your choice; but delaying enrollment may be costly.

Medicare enrollment decisions are different for each of us because we each have our own unique personal medical and financial situations! What works for you may not work for your friend or neighbor!

Medicare Questions by Tammy Flanagan

Don't Forget Medicare by Tammy Flanagan

Most federal retirees do enroll in Medicare.

Medicare is voluntary.

@ age 65, whether you're still working or already retired, Medicare Part A is a 'no brainer.'

This video begins by talking about the "current" open season which, as we know, has already passed -- however, it goes on to explain about Medicare and FEHB, and we think it's pretty terrific.