Federal Retiree Health Insurance
 

I'm a federal employee, retiring at the end of the year and moving to TV. Any advice from other feds on the best health care plan to interface well with The Villages Healthcare System (and Medicare)?

Also, is there a NARFE Group at TV?

Thanks!

There is a NARFE chapter here, never went to any meetings, they meet at a Golden Corral, not tohe good Golden Corral but there new Buffet type.

I have BCBS, no Medicare. Will keep it.

The Villages Health system is geared to people using United Healthcare.

I'm a federal retiree. We have Medicare as primary with federal employee's BCBS as secondary. My wife and I both use the Villages health care system and we've had no problems with them accepting our insurance.

I have Medicare Part A and FedBlue. The Villages Healthcare facilities accept it just fine.

I have been in the federal system for over 50 years all over the world and the villages has the best quality and user friendly health care I have ever used. Welcome to the villages.

We have Medicare A and B and fep blue. Are we wasting our money carrying B? Couldn't get straight answers when decision was made. Thanks for any and all advice.

I have FSBP and have opted not to get Part B. So far no major problems although I do have to look around to find those who except my insurance (Coventry). I was thinking of getting Part B this year, however, if the rates go up as I have heard, I probably won't.

I was too afraid to give up my Federal Insurance because of the Obamacare stuff going on at the time. So far nothing has changed. FepBlue still pays like before I got Medicare Part A.

I'm wondering the same thing. I have Fep blue and Medicare A & B. Do I need Part B?

Same with us Mike. So far I like my care better than before obamacare. There was more FOX fear than Fact in my worries.

So, the obvious questions JT---
1) If you didn't change insurance, what happened to make you like your health care better than before "Obamacare"?

2) If nothing changed, and you like your care better, what does that have to do with "FOX"? (I assume you meant the network, not the animal)

Probably had nothing to do with Obama, just that nothing negative happened and the care here in the Villages has been an improvement to the care in Washington we had before here. We were just concerned because of all the hype we heard on Fox that has not came to be true! We are middle class so maybe the more wealthy were affected but we see nothing but improvement since obamacare.

Not sure what the "hype" was, although, in general FOX was hardly pro-Obama anything. But ACA did not directly address medicare or supplements, so I wouldn't have expected much change for you. Medicare has its own way of redistributing cost, as 7 million beneficiaries are about to find out next January

Mike, if you don't mind, what DO you pay for (since you don't carry B)? Still trying to make an educated decision.

Depending on your age, you can suspend your federal BCBS at open season and try a Medicare Advantage plan, which is what I did. I went with United Heath Care and I am satisfied with the results. I also saved almost $4,000 last year. If you don't like it you can go back to your BCBS at open season.

Husband has Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield and Medicare. He rarely has to pay anything. It's been great.

If you opt-out of Medicare Part B, Federal Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans (FEHP), provide the same medical provider coverage you had prior to being eligible for Medicare. That is, you will have copays and deductibles for certain services.

If you elect Medicare Part A and Part B and take FEHP, the FEHP acts as a Medicare supplemental gap plan, paying the balance not covered by Medicare on all Medicare approved services.

Your decision should be approached on a personal level in one of two ways.

1- Determine the annual Out of Pocket expenses you incurred in the past or expect to incur in the future. Then compare those annual costs to the $104 monthly premium you are paying for Part B.
2- Consider the paid in full security that having both Medicare A&B and FEHP provides.

Either choice should be based on your personal situation.

Three months prior to my husband becoming eligible for Medicare, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Our out-of-pocket expenses were just over $5,000 for that one medical event, with FEHP and no Medicare Part B. Had he had Medicare A&B and FEHP we would not have had any out-of-pocket expenses.

I hope this information can help you make an informed decision.

If I may ask, which Federal BC/BS option does he have - Basic or Standard? If you are like me, it is difficult to remember which is which given their names - Basic is the less expensive of the 2 options.

I will be eligible for Medicare next year and am trying to decide what to do during the upcoming Open Season for Federal Health benefits. It is always kind of a roll of the dice since you cannot be certain what your health care needs will be in the future.

FOX never said....
 

obamacare would effect Federal Employees health care...so the only fear was that you thought it would....

I Have FEDBCBS and part A get 6 prescriptions 3 month supply usually cost me total $6 or $7 other than that I haven't paid a cent in 2 years. Even had a torn Labrum operation....

I pay what every other Federal Retiree pays. Around $195/mo. Since there is no decrease if you have Medicare Part B I couldn't see the benefit of B. It should be noted that if I now sign up for B I will pay a higher premium for it. Not a great amount put still higher.

We pay $462.00 per month for health insurance. Hubby was a 30 year employee of the Department of transportation. We have Blue Cross Blue Shield. The higher plan which I think is the Standard option. Plus we pay $106 per month for his Medicare.

I pay about $150/month for Federal FSBP (Foreign Service Benefit Plan) single, high option, I have Med Part A (because it's free and recommended), don't have Part B. I have a $500 yearly deductible and have paid minimal amounts out of pocket, even for an "out of network" chiropractor (after the out of network deductible). And they also cover me if I travel abroad.

Thank you! Your explanation is the best I've heard. We've been blessed with good health but, as we all know, that could change in a heartbeat.

As of today, The Villages Health is no longer accepting regular medicare patients. And I was told by the billing department that even though this applies to new patients only, they are sending letters to let current patients know that this will be applying to them as well (though I don't know when the cutoff date is).

In my opinion you are wasting money by having B. I am a retired Fed employee and BCBS ( federal ) does a good job. Take the free part A Medicare only.
Also , just got a notice that the premium for BSBS for fed retirees is going to be lowered.

Deleted

He has the more expensive of the two

That was a misleading notice. Mentioned that we can finally get Selt+1 on FEHB just like on FEDDENT. But premium for Family, what we needed to cover spouse is going up $100. New Self+1 is cheaper, but still much more then this year.

And Medicare B goes up but private sector won't have to pay, but CSRS will. Not yet on Medicare, but not giving up FEHB BCBS.

I just received the following email from Villages Health stating nothing will change for current members. I am a retired federal employee with Medicare A & B, with the Blue Cross standard plan which I do not plan to change. Lets hope they stand by this statement. See below:

Dear Patient of The Villages® Health,

Thank you for choosing The Villages Health to provide for your healthcare needs. You may have seen our announcement today in The Villages Daily Sun, or have noticed that we have new information on our website related to our decision to add only new patients with Medicare Advantage. We are writing to assure you that this in no way will affect your relationship with us.

We look forward to the opportunity to continue your medical care and wish you good health.

If you have not yet already looked at all your options for the 2016 benefit year, we ask that you consider having an Insurance Check-up during this open enrollment period.

Tom Menichino, FACMPE
Chief Executive Officer

Jeffrey Lowenkron, MD, MPP
Chief Medical Officer

Are you sure that Medicare B is free for the private sector???? I have never heard this before.

According to NARFE magazine, if Medicare B goes up and Social Security does not go up enough to cover increase, the Social Security recipient's increase is capped at increase, or this year none of the COLA. Whereas CSRS would have to pay the full increase.

Another way that us Feds have to pay more and if you take post-retirement job your Social Security payment will be less than you would get based on money made in. A CSRS Spouse of a private sector employee will not get to survivors benefit either.

GPO and WPE.

I recommend all retired Feds check with NARFE. Good organization to join, magazine with these questions answered and discounts at hotels.

Any idea when the next NARFE meeting is? After looking at the 2016 std option premiums, I really need to talk with someone. Can't believe the insignificant cost difference between the Family option and the new Self + 1. What a disappointment. It's on the order of $16. This cOst is quite a bit higher than 2015 Family option, too.

You are right, but, with the change, if you were a new patient with that same coverage, The Villages Health would not accept you. You were grandfathered in.

Regarding Village Health, I can see the writing on the wall . Yes today they are still accepting other than United Healthcare IF you were previously enrolled with them...ie Grandfathered in. New patients are restricted!

However I would not be surprised if Village Heath at some time down the road, forced everyone (even existing patients) into one and only one health care insurance....its a matter of economics for them.

Villages health Care System just announced the Only supplement the will accept in the future is United Healthcare.

Was that just announced today?
I only ask, because they never mentioned supplements in their previous announcement.

Not sure, but in Weekly Activities insert in Thursday's Paper. They meet at Golden Corral. Never went to one hear or before I moved here at chapter, even though they kept calling every month.

I do not plan to give up FEHP BCBS, my wife and I on too many medicines and see many Doctors.

My wife's knows one who does not get retiree health insurance anymore so had to take the Village's Health plan. They are not happy. Hard to get treatment and medicines they need. Look before you leap. There are many Good doctors here that are not in The Villages Conglomerate.

Right, we wouldn't drop FEHB. We might, though, drop Part B. Just don't know what to do.

The Villages Health care system is no longer accepting Medicare or BC/BS for anyone new to the Villages, only United Health Care and a Medicare Advantage plan. DO NOT GIVE UP THE FEDERAL PLAN..YOU CAN'T GET BACK IN. The are many doctors OUTSIDE of the Village Health Care system who will accept your current insurance!