TFL, MEDICARE, MEDIGAP, PART D, (WHAT?)

If you drop FEHB, you can enroll later. We dropped it because it was almost a $300 savings a month. We are not ready for Tricare for life, but have been happy with the Tricare Prime, at a faction of the cost. I
I do have a question for anyone who may know the answer. My husband was a DOD civilian, and also retired from the army reserve. My DH had heard, he will have to pay a penalty, for any active duty time in the reserves, next year when he gets SS. He receives a pension from the DOD, because he was in the old system. He did not pay SS on his DOD pay, but did on his reserve pay. If it is the case of an active duty penalty, it will hurt him with his SS, because he has a lot of active duty time, especially the last several years of service. He was active 6 months out of the year, because of the war. You can probably guess this has been very confusing to us. We sure would appreciate any information on this.

Oops. Sorry should of read the other post, about retirement, and SS, and I would have had the answer to my previous question. It sounds like my answer from the other post is what I wanted to hear.

Nice explanation! Thanks. I have yet to figured out what is best to do with my Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB). From reading here, maybe I should drop it. Or, just don't take part B and keep FEHB. FEHB cost $212 per month, but is good insurance. I retire from Civil Service in two years or so. Am retired Air Force.

Larry and Debbie Feather
Titusville, Florida

I have the same decision to make Larry. I am probably going to retire from Civil Service in 3 or 4 months and cannot come up with enough rationale to decide whether to keep my FEHB and skip Part B and TFL, or take Part B and TFL and drop the FEHB. I know the dollars would indicate to go with Part B, but there is also the fact that the FEHB is good insurance. A lot of doctors have become reluctant to take new Medicare patients because of the amount they are paid, and TFL for life pays the same as Medicare. I would think the FEHB looks a little more attractive to the doctors.

Well, as fiatspider79 points out, I have to take MC A&B to qualify for TFL. If I keep FEHB at $216, I'll still have to take MC B for another $90 to qualify for TFL. If I don't take MC B, FEHB will only pay 80% and I'll have to pay the remaining 20% out of pocket. Sounds like I might be better off "supending" FEHB and take MC A&B + TFL and not be exposed to 20% out of pocket expense. Too bad! because FEHB is good insurance. Seems to me, to be fair, FEHB plan should be allowed to take the place of MC B and still qualify us for TFL.