What you need to know about Medicare and your health care coverage options.
Helping you prepare for what’s next
When it comes to Medicare, there’s a lot to consider. To help you make the most informed decision, we’ve provided some important information you can use to better understand how Medicare works and when you’re eligible to enroll.
Keep in mind that if you’re already a member of FEP and you choose to combine your coverage with Medicare,* you’ll get additional benefits—plus coverage for services that Medicare does not cover.
*To keep your medical coverage during your retirement, you must have five years of continuous enrollment in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program before you retire.
Get Started with Medicare
Learn the basics of Medicare
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Find out when you can enroll
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Learn about combining FEP & Medicare
Learn More
Using your FEP & Medicare benefits
Learn More
When can you enroll in Medicare?
For most people, your initial eligibility period begins three months before your 65th birthday. It ends three months after your 65th birthday.
You may pay a late enrollment penalty if you don’t enroll in Medicare Part B when you’re first eligible. Please note that your eligibility may also vary based on your employment status (if you are actively working or retired).
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If you don’t enroll when you’re first eligible, you may pay a late enrollment penalty.
If you and your spouse are both retired, you may pay a late enrollment penalty if you don’t enroll in Medicare Part B when you’re first eligible.
The penalty is a 10% premium increase for each year you delay enrollment.
You also usually have to wait for the annual Medicare General Enrollment Period (January–March) to sign up if you choose to enroll later.
If you’re still working when you turn 65, the late enrollment penalty doesn’t apply.
FEP will typically remain your primary coverage.
Once you retire, you’ll have 8 months to enroll in Part B before the penalty kicks in.
To learn more, visitmedicare.gov
If your spouse is still working, you don’t have to enroll in Medicare Part B.
As long as you still have group health insurance through your spouse’s employer, you’ll be covered by that plan as your primary coverage.
If you and your spouse are both retired, we recommend you enroll in Medicare Part B as soon as you’re eligible.
Download your Medicare checklist
Get an enrollment timeline plus a checklist of things to consider as you prepare to enroll.
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When can you enroll in Medicare?
For most people, your initial eligibility period begins three months before your 65th birthday. It ends three months after your 65th birthday. You may pay a late enrollment penalty if you don’t enroll in Medicare Part B when you’re first eligible. Please note that your eligibility may also vary based on your employment status.
You are past your initial enrollment period
You are past your initial enrollment period
If you didn’t sign up for Medicare when you first became eligible, you’ll usually have to wait until the General Enrollment Period. This is January 1 to March 31 every year. This may vary if you are still working.
If you're already receiving social security benefits:
If you started receiving Social Security benefits at least 4 months before you turned 65, you may have automatically been enrolled in Medicare Part A and Part B.
If you started receiving Social Security benefits for less than 4 months before turning 65, you may have automatically been enrolled in Part A. You will need to enroll in Part B.
To learn more, visit medicare.gov.
If you're still working:
As long as you are still actively working, FEP will be your primary coverage and Medicare late enrollment penalties will not apply.
Once you retire, you’ll have 8 months to enroll in Medicare Part B before the penalty kicks in.
Have a question?
If you have questions, you can call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or learn more at medicare.gov.
How Medicare works
Medicare is a federal health insurance program for people aged 65 or older, people under 65 who have certain disabilities and people of any age who have kidney failure (End-Stage Renal Disease) or ALS (also called Lou Gehrig’s disease). Medicare has 4 parts. Medicare Part A and Part B are also known as Original Medicare. Enrolling in Medicare is a choice—you are not required to sign up.
What you pay for Medicare varies based on what coverage and services you get and what providers you visit. To see 2024 costs, visit medicare.gov.
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Part A
Hospital InsuranceCovers inpatient hospital, skilled nursing facility, hospice and home health care.
Most federal employees take Part A as soon as they can because it’s free as long as you’ve paid enough in Medicare taxes (this typically means you’ve worked for at least 10 years).
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Part B
Medical InsuranceCovers care you receive from doctors, preventive services, outpatient care, home health care and durable medical equipment.
You pay a premium for Part B based on your income.
The standard monthly Part B premium in 2023 is $164.90 but could be more based on your income.
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Part C
Medicare Advantage PlanCoverage from a private company that bundles together Medicare Part A and Part B coverage.
The premiums for these plans are set by the companies that provide them. You’ll also typically have a set group of providers you can visit.
FEP is not a Medicare Advantage plan. -
Part D
Prescription Drug CoverageHelps you pay for your prescription drugs plus some vaccines and immunizations.
The premiums for Part D vary by plan and may be based on your income.
If you decide to combine your Medicare Part A and Part B coverage with FEP, you don’t need a supplemental Part D plan.*
*According to OPM, our prescription drug coverage pays out the same or more than a Part D plan and is considered Creditable Coverage. If you don’t take a Part D plan, you will still have prescription drug coverage and you will not be penalized if you decide to take Part D later.
Don’t lose your coverage
As long as you don’t cancel your health insurance, it will never go away for as long as you’re retired. If you do choose to cancel your insurance, you will never be able to re-enroll in a health insurance plan through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. If you want to try a different plan such as Medicare Advantage or Tricare, you may suspend your coverage and still retain the right to re-enroll in the FEHB. To learn more, visit opm.gov/retire.
Combine FEP and Medicare for fewer out-of-pocket costs and up to $800 back
When you combine your FEP coverage with Medicare Part A and Part B primary, you get additional benefits that Medicare alone doesn’t cover.
- Pay no out-of-pocket costs for certain covered services like primary care visits, urgent care centers, surgery, lab work and more
- FEP Blue Basic™ members with Medicare Part A and Part B and/or Part C can get reimbursed up to $800 a year through a Medicare Reimbursem*nt Account
- You’re eligible for the FEP Medicare Prescription Drug Program, which offers lower out-of-pocket costs for higher cost drugs and additional approved prescription drugs in some tiers than the traditional pharmacy benefit, all as part of the FEP premium.*
*The FEP Medicare Prescription Drug Program (MPDP) is only available to residents of the U.S. or a U.S. territory. Guam is considered overseas; however, some pharmacies may be able to bill electronically.
Learn More
It’s important to understand all of your options. Our guide can help you learn more about combining Medicare coverage with FEP.
Download the Guide
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