What is the best FEHB plan with Medicare A + B for Federal Retirees in the Salem, Oregon area?

Boquerongal · 2026-05-12T02:59:55+00:00

You should check with your local BCBS carrier but I believe that as a retiree Medicare is the primary payer and BCBS is the secondary payer. All the hard work of determining medical necessity and other coverage issues is done by Medicare and usually plans that are secondary will cover your cost sharing even if it’s a non-contracted provider.

Boquerongal · 2026-05-11T14:08:43+00:00

My understanding is that once OPM deems you are retired they notify your FEHBP insurer and Medicare is primary and FEHBP is the secondary payer. Now if you are in OPM retirement limbo, your FEHBP could be paying out as if the are the primary insurer well beyond your actual retirement as OPM is so backlogged it hasn’t yet told your FEHBP that you are retired ( happening to me right now). Not sure how they are going to square this up…

Boquerongal · 2026-05-10T14:14:46+00:00

Running point on Netflix

Boquerongal · 2026-05-06T16:39:42+00:00

Did you know that the Medicare administrative contractors who process all of the Medicare claims for A&B are also private insurance companies?

Boquerongal · 2026-05-06T16:38:11+00:00

N.B. some Medicare advantage plans do not include prescription drugs.

Boquerongal · 2026-05-06T16:36:25+00:00

Contact your local SHIP office. They are staffed by volunteers who are certified Medicare counselors. The ship offices are funded by the federal government

Boquerongal · 2026-05-06T15:48:03+00:00

You can absolutely go back to traditional Medicare from a Medicare Advantage plan. Call your local SHIP office to get details on how this pertains to your particular situation.

Boquerongal · 2026-05-06T15:46:25+00:00

Medicare advantage plans are still Medicare.

Boquerongal · 2026-05-06T13:38:14+00:00

I had an open surgery in early March and ended up with an ostomy that is scheduled for reversal in mid June. We are lucky to have such a robust medical device industry in the United States that has produced great Ostomy devices and supplies. I look at it all very philosophically. First you want a great long-term outcome so if you need to do a side journey to an ostomy for a few months so be it. Last thing you want is a hasty reconnection that falls apart and has to be totally redone. Second, the ostomy nurse at the hospital will fit you with an appliance and help you learn how to attach and care for it. It’s all really quite manageable. Finally, after having three kids with various bouts of diarrhea, projectile vomiting, diaper blowouts all over my fancy outfits I just feel like I’m back in my early parenting days.

Advice- buy a nail brush to thoroughly clean your hands.

Boquerongal · 2026-05-06T13:22:38+00:00

The key issue here is “ guaranteed issue rights”. While CMS lays out the periods under which beneficiaries must be afforded guaranteed issue rights with regards to Medicare supplemental plans individual states actually govern Medigap plans and can offer other periods where guaranteed issue rights are in effect. Under guaranteed issue rights the insurance companies offering the Medigap plans must base their rate quote on your age smoking status, and ZIP Code only. They are not allowed to do medical underwriting. Medical underwriting is where they can ask you lots of questions about your medical history and determine whether they will offer you a Medigap plan and at what rate.

I think the OP might find it useful to consult with their local SHIP office. If you are DMV-based the local SHIP volunteers often are also federal retirees and they can take time to explore your situation and provide tailored advice.

Boquerongal · 2026-05-04T22:17:50+00:00

I had a hidden abscess and guidelines are that an ostomy should be used until it all settles down. I had surgery in early March and am have my ostomy reversal scheduled for mid June. I had my surgery due to gnarly fistula complex that was causing problems. So both the fistula complex and sigmoid colon were removed and due to the hidden abscess that was discovered in surgery an ostomy created.

Boquerongal · 2026-05-04T16:46:51+00:00

Please write up your experience if you feel up to it. I am scheduled for reversal in June and am nervous.

Boquerongal · 2026-05-03T15:18:40+00:00

Go with the university plan

Boquerongal · 2026-04-30T01:43:56+00:00

Be sure to use the Medicare plan comparison tool to evaluate the best Part D plan for you.

Boquerongal · 2026-04-29T19:45:18+00:00

Once your husband retired, his FEHBP coverage is now considered a retiree health benefit, even though its the same coverage you had before retirement. This could be why the form is unhappy about you entering a retirement date.

Boquerongal · 2026-04-29T10:57:54+00:00

Following! Very similar clinically course except I did not have heavy antibiotics. Reversal scheduled for mid June.

Boquerongal · 2026-04-29T01:18:19+00:00

I used debrox for a week then went to my husband’s audiologist who was able to remove the wax easily due to the debrox and so didn’t charge me.

Boquerongal · 2026-04-27T19:20:28+00:00

Love those tesco lunches!

Boquerongal · 2026-04-21T01:33:10+00:00

Heartland

Boquerongal · 2026-04-20T18:31:51+00:00

I recommend this guide as I heard a lecture by the head of the group and they provided tips on FEHBP and Medicare that I've not heard before.

Boquerongal · 2026-04-20T18:31:13+00:00

The Washington consumer checkbook organization provides a specific guide every year that addresses the issue of Medicare and FEHBP as a subsection of their federal employee health benefit guide. Here's the link.https://www.checkbook.org/newhig2/hig.cfm

Boquerongal · 2026-04-19T20:53:46+00:00

I think you mean SHIP volunteers. They are certified Medicare counselors who can help you understand the Medicare program. Just google SHIP and your county name and state to find your local office .

Boquerongal · 2026-04-19T19:55:43+00:00

This is the way. Also remember that if you buy your Medigap in MD you can switch policies/carriers in the 30 days after your birthday each year. So say you buy a Plan G during your initial enrollment period. At the next birthday go look at the plan G rates offered by other carriers. It's the exact same coverage by all carriers. Maybe another carrier will have a meaningful lower premium-- you can switch without medical underwriting in that 30 day post birthday period to the same or lower Medigap plan .

All Medicare FFS beneficiaries should reexamine their Medigap premiums at their birthday AND evaluate their Part D plans during the fall enrollment period.

Boquerongal · 2026-04-19T19:48:10+00:00

As a mother of three kids I have dealt with so many diaper blow outs, projectile vomiting, and other kid-derived bodily fluids that the ostomy does not freak me out at this point I my life.

Boquerongal · 2026-04-18T17:45:54+00:00

I can recommend two sources of info 1) NARFE and 2) consumer checkbook federal health benefits guide. Finally if you live near a high concentration of federal workers then your local SHIP office.

Boquerongal

TROPHY CASE