Will FEHB Protect You From a Medicare Part B Penalty?

Описание: Will your FEHB (Federal Employee Health Benefits) plan protect you from a Medicare Part B penalty after you retire?

No — and this is one of the most common and costly misconceptions we see.

FEHB provides creditable prescription drug coverage. But it does NOT provide creditable medical coverage for Part B delay purposes once you're retired. Every 12 months you go without Part B after you're eligible costs you 10% added to your premium — permanently.

The real story: a client who had FEHB, who was also a veteran who served and then worked for the federal government, came in convinced he didn't need Part B. We went through the evidence — he still didn't believe it. He delayed. He eventually applied for Medicare and received a penalty notice.

The resolution: we were able to find him a solution with Medicare as primary and FEHB as secondary. He reduced his Part B premium through his FEHB plan's coordination benefit. He kept his FEHB — which also covered his family. He preserved the option to drop FEHB down the road if Medicare-only made more sense.

The penalty also compounds: the 10% is calculated against the current-year Part B premium — which has gone up roughly 50-60% in four years. A 40% penalty today costs more in dollar terms than a 40% penalty did four years ago.

Related questions:
Does FEHB count as creditable coverage for Medicare? For Part D (drug coverage) yes — for Part B medical, no, after retirement.
What happens if I delay Medicare Part B and have FEHB? You face a permanent penalty unless you had other creditable coverage.
Can Medicare and FEHB work together? Yes — Medicare can be primary and FEHB secondary.
Does the Medicare Part B penalty grow? Yes — it adjusts with the current-year premium every year.

📅 Veterans and spouses of veterans — get honest answers to all of your Medicare questions. Click the link below and schedule a time that works for you:

https://veteransavingsnetwork.com/m65

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