Self Plus One covers fewer people, so it should cost less, right? For 2027, in 39 of 118 FEHB plan options, it does not. Self and Family covers the same person plus any eligible children, and the gap reaches $1,983.54 a year. See every plan on the list, the dollar gap in each, a five-step check for your own plan, and the same pattern in 24 Postal Service Health Benefits plans. more…
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Why Some Federal Retirees Pay Higher Medicare Premiums (and What You Can Do About It)
Many federal retirees are surprised to learn that Medicare premiums aren’t the same for everyone. Income above set limits triggers an Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) surcharge. See the 2026 income thresholds, how a pension, Social Security and Thrift Savings Plan withdrawals add up, which retirement events trigger it, and how to request a reconsideration if income has fallen. more…
Do Federal Retirees Need Medicare Part D? When to Decline Your FEHB Plan’s Part D Coverage
Do federal retirees need Medicare Part D? Most have solid drug coverage through FEHB, but some carriers now offer a Part D plan that retirees can decline. This guide from Edward A. Zurndorfer explains what the Inflation Reduction Act changed, how deductibles and income-related surcharges can affect the choice, why overseas travel and drug discount cards matter, and what to do before open season ends.
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What a Pay Freeze and the Reduced FERS COLA Cost Over a 30-Year Career
Can early saving make up for a pay freeze and the reduced retiree cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)? A reader asked, and this guide answers with a worked example for a hypothetical 30-year-old. One frozen pay year costs about $1,088 a year in pension. The bigger cost comes from Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) rules: someone who retires at 60 gets no COLA until turning 62, and the COLA runs below inflation once inflation passes 2%. In this example, that gap totals about $48,900 over ten years. Learn how extra Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) saving can offset both, and how much (and how soon) you need to start. more…
Scam Awareness Guide for Federal Employees and Retirees
Open Season brings a flood of legitimate messages from plans, insurers, and agencies, which makes it harder to tell which ones are real, and scammers know it. A 2026 Senate Special Committee on Aging staff report describes a surge in sophisticated scams, from voice cloning to personalized phishing. This guide covers common scam types, what the Thrift Savings Plan, Office of Personnel Management, Social Security, and Medicare will and won’t do, and simple habits you should put in place before a suspicious message arrives. more…
10 Most Common Mistakes to Avoid When Purchasing Life Insurance
Ed Zurndorfer outlines errors individuals often make when purchasing and owning a life insurance policy
2025 Health Insurance Plan Options & Comparison Tools
Get the latest the official information online for the 2024 plan year of the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. Dental and vision (FEDVIP) details are also available...
Your Federal Health Benefits & Medicare: Helpful Resources from OPM
The Office of Personnel Management offers several resources for federal employees and retirees regarding Medicare and how it works with the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program...
Guide to Federal Retiree COLAs: What Are They and How Are They Calculated?
Understand what the cost-of-living adjustment is, how it is computed, and how it affects CSRS and FERS annuities, survivor annuities, and other federal employee death benefits...
10 Biggest Mistakes Federal Employees Make When Planning for Retirement (and How to Avoid Them)
Learn the 10 biggest federal retirement planning mistakes that many employees make before leaving civil service including CSRS, FERS, Thrift Savings Plan...
Federal Retirement Planning Checklists
Checklists for 5-10 years from retirement, one year away from retirement, and for your first year after retirement...