Federal retiree health insurance

[Brat]

I am a Federal retiree, my husband has been on my health insurance for many years as a beneficiary. He is a beneficiary on my pension and was on my health insurance when I retired over 20 years ago. About 9 years ago I suspended my participation to enroll in Kaiser's Medicare Advantage Plan. After a couple of years ago I went back to the Federal health insurance to sign up for a PPO but my husband wanted to stay put.

Kaiser now offers an attractive medicare advantage plan through OPM. I am wondering how I can get him back on my federal health insurance program.

Contacting OPM is next to impossible. Does anyone know?

 

[grayv]

will both of you keep medicare B? how well is fehb working for you with medicare?

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/enroll/#annuitants

 

[donheff]

IIRC you can add your spouse during any open season, even after you retire. Then, if he is entitled to a survivor annuity when you die, he can stay on FEHB. I would recommend that you Google the regs and explore them carefully so that you get this right.

 

[Brat]

We both have Medicare Part B.

I am GEHA and my Part B eliminates all co-pays.

Two of Kaiser's Federal Senior Advantage options include Part B reimbursement. Kaiser NW insurance is not the cheapest option, this year they are offering High, Standard, and "Prosper".

My husband is on Kaiser's Medicare Advantage program and wants to stay with Kaiser as he doesn't want to change health care providers. They have taken very good care of him.

I like Kaiser, sort-of. Their largest hospital is on the opposite side of the city from where we live - almost an hour's drive in traffic. Their newest hospital is much closer, in Hillsboro, but not used by many specialists such as orthopedic surgeons. In our area, if you are picked up by an ambulance and need emergency services there is a dispatch system that has information on beds and specialists on duty so a Kaiser patient may end up at another hospital. The patent, once stable, then maybe moved.

Threading the cost needle it is slightly cheaper for him to keep his Medicare Advantage Standard and me to be on Standard Senior Advantage 2. BUT I don't think he can use any of the Federal Health Care programs unless he is a participant at the time of my death, and maybe for 5 years previous. My reading of OPM's comment is that he must actually be enrolled for 5 years before his survivor annuity starts. He is 82 now..