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-of-
                        network costs being covered. Medicare would pick that up. If you choose

                        Medicare  Part  B,  you  will  pay  at  least  $96.40  more  per  month  in
                        premiums (in addition to your then current FEHB premiums). Health
                        care expenses for a couple enrolled in Blue Cross Blue Shield would be



                        healthy, you could save about $2,300 per year by simply keeping your

                        FEHB only.
                            The downside of Medicare is that if you choose Medicare Part B,
                        Medicare becomes the primary payer (they pay the first dollar expenses).

                        Having Medicare become the primary payer means that you have to go
                        to a physician who accepts  Medicare. Many  physicians are no longer
                        accepting Medicare because it is a time-consuming process to file the

                        paperwork, which results in lower payouts than the typical insurer would
                        pay, and it often takes longer for Medicare to pay them. You may also



                        Medicare Part B option. Unfortunately, more and more doctors are not
                        taking Medicare. If you are already retired when you turn 65, the rules

                        are the same for enrolling in Medicare Part B as for Part A. However,


                        make the Medicare Part B decision until up to 8 months after you retire.

                        If you do not enroll during this timeframe, you may still enroll during
                        any  open season  which  runs  from  January 1 to March 31 each  year.

                        However, you will incur a 10% penalty for each year past the enrollment
                                                                                           rt B options
                        at age 65, so hope
                        10%/year  penalty  increases  your  premium  permanently.  Since  most

                        federal employees are satisfied with their FEHB coverage, they simply
                        keep that coverage at age 65.


                        Medicare Part C






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