Sorry, I meant "waive" not "wave". Here are some additional resources you can check out:
Checkbook's advice re: Medicare
FEHB & Medicare - Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees including:
• FEHB's MA option
Everything You Need to Know About Medicare Part C - Medicare Advantage - Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees
• IRMAA
IRMAA - Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts - Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees
Good article by Tammy Flanagan
Open Questions About Open Season - Government Executive mentions:
• Many FEHB plans will waive their cost sharing when Medicare is the primary payer.
• Some FEHB plans will provide some reimbursement if you are enrolled in Parts A and B.
• For 2023, there are many FEHB plans that offer incentives to enrolling in Medicare A and B, but some provide these benefits only if you join the Medicare Advantage option of the FEHB plan. Unlike the Medicare Advantage plans available commercially, these plans maintain the underlying FEHB coverage, which means you may not need to stay within the plan network, get referrals to see a specialist or pay out of pocket costs for most of your health care. Enrolling in the FEHB Medicare Advantage option requires a second step after you make your open season election. Details about step can be found on the plan website, or you will receive a mailing once you are enrolled.
I just listened to the following podcast
The Consumers’ CHECKBOOK Guide and FEHBP Open Season with Walton Francis | Federal News Network
• skip to 23:00 minute mark for good information for annuitants (e.g., IRMAA, new Federal employee Medicare Advantage (MA) option for several FEHB plans). These MA options rebate $100-150 of medicare premium per month and adds benefits on top of the regular FEHB plan. "And especially with Aetna and United Healthcare Choice plans $0 out of pocket for approved health care services if you go to a Medicare provider, and you only are left with paying out of pocket for prescription drugs. And so that is one of the categories where you really have to focus in to see how these Medicare Advantage plans will handle your prescription drugs. But there’s tremendous savings 1000s of dollars compared to popular Blue Cross plans"
Somewhere I heard that if you add the MA option and don't like it you can remove it (do not have to wait for the next FEHB open season).
Questions I sent to the checkbook people and their response:
1. How is the prescription coverage of an FEHB plan affected when I start Medicare part B (original or the new MA option within FEHB)? “Sometimes, depending on the plan, it might lead to lower out-of-pocket costs. For example, with BCBS Basic you gain mail order prescription drug coverage when you have Part B”. [Checkbook/Kevin Moss 12/2022]
2. Does adding the MA option to FEHB plans such as United Choice Primary + United Retiree Advantage trigger both part B IRMAA and Part D IRMAA surcharges? “YES” [Checkbook/Kevin Moss 12/2022]
3. Do the FEHB MA plans suffer from the same drawbacks or concerns as for commercial MA plans (e.g. limited networks and prior authorization)? See
https://www.medpagetoday.com/special...lusives/102143 and
https://wapo.st/3VLutTf. “The FEHB Medicare Advantage plans go through a quality scoring system and all are either 4 or 5 stars. You have access to any provider that accepts Medicare with these plans. Are there exceptions to that? Yes, I found out this week that Aetna Advantage doesn't have a contract with the Mayo Clinic and therefore those providers wouldn't be accepted. My advice, if you're considering one of these plans is to check their existing provider network to make sure your current providers will be covered. Prescription drugs are an area of focus and the only out-of-pocket cost you'll face. You should check carefully that any prescription drugs you currently take will be covered.” [Checkbook/Kevin Moss 12/2022]
The online Checkbook FEHB guide at
https://www.checkbook.org/newhig2/hig.cfm is a terrific resource where you enter your age, zip code, etc. and get a personalized analysis of all FEHB plans available to you, listing estimated total cost, maximum out-of-pocket, and summary of benefits for each plan. I think you have to pay about 10 bucks if you enter promo code FEDSMITH or FEDNEWS at checkout.