The Office of Personnel Management is reminding federal employees and retirees to verify the family members on their FEHB and PSHB plans. Spouses, children under 26, and certain disabled adult children qualify, while former spouses, parents, and domestic partners do not. Ed Zurndorfer outlines who qualifies, the 60-day deadline to remove anyone who doesn’t, and the documents that verify each type of family member
Medicare Advantage vs. Original Medicare: A Side-by-Side Comparison for Federal Retirees
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.
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.
FEHB Eligibility in Retirement: What Counts Toward the 5 Year Rule?
Keeping Federal Employees Health Benefits coverage in retirement depends on five continuous years of enrollment before you retire. In this guide, Ed Zurndorfer explains what counts toward those five years, including coverage through a spouse, TRICARE, and breaks in service. He also outlines what does not count, such as Medicare, Temporary Continuation of Coverage, and non-appropriated fund service. Employees 5 to 10 years from retirement who are not enrolled will find out why the upcoming FEHB open season also matters
Cancel or Suspend FEHB? Which Option Keeps Your Coverage?
Federal retirees can leave the Federal Employees Health Benefits program in two very different ways. Cancelling usually ends the right to reenroll and the 31-day extension of coverage, while suspending, for example to join a private Medicare Advantage plan, preserves the option to return at a future open season. Ed Zurndorfer walks you through each box on Form RI 79-9, the premium conversion and Medicare Part B issues for retirees covered under a working spouse, and the reenrollment rules that follow each choice.
Medicare Open Enrollment 2026: How It Affects Federal Retirees in FEHB
Medicare open enrollment runs October 15 to December 7, 2026, and changes take effect January 1, 2027. For federal retirees with Original Medicare and Federal Employees Health Benefits coverage, the choices go beyond picking a plan. Enrolling in a private Medicare Advantage plan means suspending FEHB coverage and paying the full premium without the 72 to 75 percent government contribution. FEHB-sponsored Medicare Advantage plans and Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs) offer alternatives, and creditable FEHB drug coverage means many retirees can skip Medicare Part D without a penalty. Ed Zurndorfer covers what can change during open enrollment and what to check first.
The Biggest Medicare Mistakes That Can Cost Federal Retirees
Missing enrollment deadlines, delaying enrollment, and choosing the wrong type of Medicare can potentially cost a federal retiree a lot of money. Ed Zurndorfer provides an updated outline of the most common mistakes federal retirees should avoid when enrolling in Medicare
How Life Insurance Death Benefits Are Taxed (and When They Aren’t)
Life insurance death proceeds are usually income tax-free, but the rules around the Federal Employees Life Insurance (FEGLI) coverage over $50,000, premium deductibility, and settlement option interest are easy to get wrong. Ed Zurndofer outlines how the IRS defines “life insurance” for tax purposes, when premiums can be deducted, and how employer-paid FEGLI coverage above $50,000 becomes a taxable fringe benefit — including a step-by-step example using the IRS cost table.
How Living Benefits Riders Let You Use Your Life Insurance Death Benefit Early
Most life insurance policies today include a way to access money from the death benefit before you die — through a living benefits rider. Ed Zurndorfer discusses the four types of riders (terminal illness, chronic illness, long-term care, and critical illness), how to add and activate them, and the trade-offs every policyowner should understand before filing a claim, including how much a payout will reduce what’s left for beneficiaries.
Understanding the Different Types of Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Ed Zurndorfer walks through the five main variations explaining how each one works, who it tends to fit best, and the trade-offs in cost, flexibility, and long-term value. Whether you’re weighing a policy for the first time or reconsidering coverage as you approach retirement, understanding these differences can help you match a policy to your actual needs.