Ed Zurndofer explains how Medicare Part B and Part D enrollees can appeal an income-related monthly adjustment amount that’s in addition to the standard monthly premium. Practical examples and what to do if the appeal is denied are included more…
Medicare Issues Facing Federal Employees Working Past Age 65
Ed Zurndorfer provides an update to common questions concerning Medicare enrollment for federal employees who continue to work in federal service past age 65. Should they enroll in Medicare Part A or B? How does the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program affect Medicare coverage? more…
How Medicare Part B Beneficiaries Can Pay Their Monthly Premiums
Ed Zurndorfer discusses the various options available to a Medicare Part B beneficiary to pay his or her monthly premium more…
What Happens to Unused Annual Leave When a Federal Employee Retires?
Ed Zurndorfer explains how a lump-sum payment is calculated for unused annual leave hours when separating from federal service, and outlines the tax considerations. Practical examples are included more…
Is Enhanced Medicare Part D a Good Option for Federal Retirees?
Since 2024, the Office of Personnel Management has been encouraging Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plans to adopt the improved Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage as an alternative to FEHB prescription coverage. Ed Zurndorfer explains what federal retirees enrolled in certain FEHB health plans and Medicare need to know about automatic enrollment in Medicare Part D plans associated with an FEHB health plan more…
What Happens to Unused Sick Leave When a Federal Employee Retires?
Ed Zurndorfer discusses the treatment of unused sick leave hours at the time of an federal employee’s departure or retirement from federal service. A practical example is included more…
Should Federal Retirees Enroll in Medicare Part B?
Whether or not to enroll in (Medicare Part B (medical insurance) is a key decision that federal retirees aged 65 and older have to make. Because there is a penalty for not enrolling in Part B within a few months of the enrollment deadline, federal retirees are under pressure to make a decision. Ed Zurndorfer gives insight on how the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program works with Medicare, when Medicare is the primary payer, and how FEHB premiums are affected by Medicare Part B more…
How the Medicare Open Enrollment Period Affects Federal Retirees
Ed Zurndorfer discusses what the Medicare open enrollment period is (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7), how it affects federal retirees, and the opportunities that federal retirees enrolled in Medicare have with respect to their health insurance coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program (FEHB) more…
Understanding Medicare Enrollment Periods and the Late Enrollment Penalty
Enrolling in Medicare can be confusing — and if not done by the required deadline, can result in late enrollment penalties. Ed Zurndorfer outlines the various enrollment periods for Medicare — plus when penalties are imposed, and how they are calculated more…
How Federal Employees Qualify For Medicare
Once a federal employee or retiree becomes age 65, they can enroll in Medicare. But many have questions about Medicare enrollment and how it works with the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. In the first part of this series of columns on Medicare, Ed Zurndorfer discusses the various parts to the Medicare program and how federal employees qualify for Medicare more…