A free 2027 FEHB Plan Cost Explorer tool that will show every FEHB plan available to you with the 2027 premium, the dollar and percent change from 2026, the annual cost, how much of the premium the government pays, and a worst-case year that adds the out-of-pocket maximum. Learn more, and sign up to be notified when this new tool is released before Open Season starts Nov. 9.
2027 FEHB Plan Comparison Tools, Brochures, Premium Rates
The Office of Personnel Management has released its 2027 Federal Employees Health Benefits plan comparison tool. Enter a ZIP code and it lists each plan’s premium, annual deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and medical account. Premiums rise 10.9% on average for 2027, but some plans cost less, so reading the premium next to the other costs matters before Open Season.
TSP Week in Review: Oct. 19-23, 2026
See how every TSP core and Lifecycle fund performed last week as a late-week tech selloff and an oil spike split the stock funds.
The 2027 COLA: Why FERS Retirees Get 2.6% While CSRS Retirees Get 3.6%
The 2027 COLA is 3.6 percent, but most FERS retirees will receive 2.6 percent while CSRS retirees get the full amount. This article explains the diet COLA rules, shows what the one-point gap costs in dollars over six years, and reviews where the Equal COLA Act stands in Congress, including bill numbers, cosponsor counts and the cost debate.
Do You Need Medicare Part B If You Have FEHB? A Break-Even Framework
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.
How FEHB and Medicare Coordinate Benefits
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.
Medicare Part B Premiums: 2026 Rates and 2027 Projection
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.
Scams Targeting Federal Employees and Retirees: What to Watch For
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 TSP, OPM, Social Security, and Medicare will and won’t do, and simple habits to set up before a suspicious message arrives.
39 FEHB Plans Where Self Plus One Costs More Than Self and Family in 2027
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.
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.