Adding Medicare Part B to Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage does not lower your FEHB premium. It is an add-on cost of $2,434.80 a year at the 2026 standard rate, offset only by what your plan reimburses or waives. This framework walks through the break-even math, how income-based premiums change it, and what the permanent late-enrollment penalty can cost if you wait. more…

If FEHB and Medicare feel like two separate puzzles you’re trying to fit together, you’re not alone — this is one of the most confusing parts of retirement planning for federal employees. Which one pays first? Do you actually need Part B if you already have solid FEHB coverage? What happens to your premium once Medicare kicks in? This guide breaks it all down in plain language, covering how the two programs coordinate, what changes when you enroll, and the enrollment windows that are easy to miss. It also includes a useful downloadable Medicare enrollment checklist plus a “Who Pays First: FEHB or Medicare” chart. more…

The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 in 2026. See the deductible, income-related brackets and the projected 2027 premium of $209.50. more…

Federal retirees with Medicare Part A and Part B can keep Original Medicare with their Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plan or switch to Medicare Advantage. Ed Zurndorfer compares the two options side by side on doctor and hospital choice, costs, coverage in the US and coverage abroad. He explains why a private Medicare Advantage plan means suspending FEHB coverage, how FEHB-sponsored Medicare Advantage plans differ, and where to get free help comparing plans. more…