Medicare Part B Coverage

You don't have to take Part B coverage if you don't want it, and your FEHB plan can't require you to take it. There are some advantages to enrolling in Part B:

• You must be enrolled in Parts A and B to join a Medicare Advantage plan.
• You have the advantage of coordination of benefits (described later) between Medicare and your FEHB plan, reducing your out-of-pocket costs.
• Your FEHB plan may waive its copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles for Part B services.
• Some services covered under Part B might not be covered or only partially covered by your plan, such as orthopedic and prosthetic devices, durable medical equipment, home health care, and medical supplies (check your plan brochure for details).
• You may go outside of the plan's network for Part B services and receive reimbursement by Medicare (only when Medicare is the primary payer) If you are enrolled in an FEHB HMO.

If you didn't take Part B at age 65 because you were covered under FEHB as an active employee (or you were covered under your spouse's group health insurance plan and he/she was an active employee), you may sign up for Part B (generally without an increased premium) within 8 months from the time you or your spouse stop working or are no longer covered by the group plan. You also can sign up at any time while you are covered by the group plan.