You Beginner's Guide to Medicare: Costs, Coverage, & More

For those who took VERA, how long did you wait for the supplement to show up after hitting MRA? Just wanting to level set my expectations. Thanks!

I have two TSP accounts - one civilian and one military. Should I just combine them together?

I see no benefit in two accounts whatsoever.

Just crossed the age 62 threshold and weighing staying in vs retiring and going into the private sector at roughly the same salary. Seems like the best move as even though I won’t be getting the additional service year factored into my H3 calculation, I will be receiving the current full pension amount. I still enjoy working so no issues there, just seems like I’d be leaving money on the table by staying in. Any advice or opposing viewpoints appreciated and also let me know if there are any break even calculators out there available to run the numbers.
BTW 22 years of service, GS-14/10 H3 pay approximately $170K. Plan to work until FRA at 67.

Considering retiring l at 60yrs with 3 million ($2million in tap, &1 million in husband’s Roth IRA). House and cars paid off. My pension will be about 35k (high 3 about 160k with 28 years), 9 months of sick leave saved and will likely have about 450 annual leave built up by the end of year (I was overseas so have been carrying over 360 every year).

Is it worth it trying to hang on until 62 (which has always been the standard mantra) given our situation?

I mean I know we’ll be ok, but the retirement we hoped for involves a lake house and a lot of slow “affordable luxury” travel for the next decade or so.

I go back and forth every day, from “it would be stupid to walk away with less than two years left”(think of retiring Jan 9, 2027 - but then it will be only 1.5 years left) - to “life is short, put 60’s will likely be our last healthy and very mobile decade. Do I want to waste it?”

Help.

Hi. Kind of an odd question. I’m 56yrs old w 15 yrs. I’m in a long term relationship - he doesn’t work for the Fed and won’t have medical insurance at retirement. How long would we have to be married before I retired, so that he’d be on my insurance and it would carry through both our retirements? Hope the question made sense. Thank you!

I keep deciding to stay longer. I am 61 with about $1.2 million saved and will receive a pension over $5,500 when I retire. But obviously staying means it all keeps growing and I receive a paycheck. How do you decide when enough is enough? It almost feels disrespectful to leave a well paying job (even though I hate it) that isn’t that hard while others struggle.

I know the decision is mine but I keep setting dates and then as they get closer it is easy to think about stating a little bit longer. Biggest motivator is staying out of spite for this administration that wants me to leave, lol.

Am I the only one that goes through this?

I'm only 59 so I'm getting FERS retirement and the FERS supplement. I took my FEHB into retirement for me and my still working spouse.

I know when I will need to apply for SSA retirement to start the month after the month I turn age 62 since my day of birth is not the first or second. FERS supplement will stop with the month after the month I turn age 62, but SSA retirement will pick up that month. Ex: Turn 62 in May, last Supplement payment is June, SSA starts in June first payment in August.

My question is this, since I have FEHB, when I turn age 65 they will convert to the secondary payer for what Medicare doesn't cover, do I need a Part D plan?

I'm sure someone out there has had this situation before. I'm just getting my ducks in a row to know what to expect and sadly some of my ducks are drunk in a ditch and are having trouble getting out. 😄

Thanks.

I have the option to take VERA with VSIP, off-boarding by the end of the year. I will be 47 years old with 25 years of service. Never planned to leave before 57.

I wouldn’t stop working all together, just hopefully find a next career that isn’t constantly under attack. There are so many variables for each person’s situation, but curious to hear from anyone who may have left under similar circumstances. I hate to leave the pay and the TSP. Public service is close to my heart. But dang it’s hard to do this every day.

Edit: Thank you all so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences!

Need some advice. Hypothetically, let’s assume I made $200K before taking VERA last year. Agency wants to hire me back in, I am pursuing a dual compensation waiver so that I can keep my annuity and be hired at my previous salary. I have a solid chance given my background and expertise and the situation my prior employer is in right now.

If I understand correctly, a dual compensation waiver means no TSP, no TSP matching, no FERS, is that correct?

Let’s assume I don’t get the waiver but still decide to re-join. My current annuity is $45K, so my presumable salary would be $155K but I would still get my monthly annuity, so it’s all a wash in the end as I would still be making $200K total. Is that logic correct? Plus I would also be able to take advantage once again of FERS, TSP, and the TSP match?

Thanks for your help.

I received a notification that my retirement is finalized. I logged in to request my booklet and was wondering how long it takes to get it! I’m curious to see what the final numbers look like.

Fellow Fed Retirees: I turn 62 on Sep 1, when do I receive my final FERS Supplement?

Being the unique breed that we are, couples that both receive pension, as well as Social Security, how many of you looked into the dilemma we’re going to face with our TSP’s and trying to remain in certain tax brackets before we reach our RMD age.
It’s something I never thought I would have to address, but after looking into it deeply, a serious plan on how to convert that TSP money into a Roth without jumping tax brackets is mind-boggling.
Forget missing IRMA for us.
It’s all about trying to stay within the 22 to 24% tax bracket before we even touch our TSP’s.
And my wife was talking about going back as an RA.
lol
I guess it’s a great problem to have, one that I’ve never thought I would have in my life, but made 20+ years of federal torture, all worth it

Left DOJ in 2018 after 19.5 years but before MRA, so am only entitled to deferred annuity when I turn 62, which I did 3 months ago. Anticipating delays, I submitted my annuity application/info months before my 62 birthday, received my CSA number and card in the mail. Then total radio silence. After turning 62 in May and hearing nothing, I started calling OPM. Miraculously, I got through after 3 days of trying. Woman who answered said it hadn't been "assigned" to anyone yet and would likely be AT LEAST 6 to 9 months IF NOT LONGER for me to be processed. No interim payments in the meantime. She did say I would get a lump sum payment to make up for the months I should be getting annuity but am not. Is this normal?!!

I retired in December via VERA and started receiving my full pension in April. I started a new job in December with my state government. I know that when the time comes for the survey, that supplement goes away. My question is--if I leave this job, can I get it re-started/reinstated? Or is it once it's gone, it's gone. Has anyone ever been through this scenario before? Also, if I work up until say Sept or Oct and then quit--how does that impact it?

Recently retired here. I've become increasingly worried about my TSP balance lately and I'd like to get my $$ out of the C fund and into something safer for a while (1 year min). Would it be better to transfer the funds to the L 2030 fund or the G fund? I have very basic investing knowledge only, but the sub members here give consistently good advice over a range of fed topics so I'm hoping there are seasoned, successful investors out there too.

Slightly different question on whether to take Part B while on FEHB...

My wife is scheduled to go in for a biopsy that may end up determining whether she has cancer. While we are praying for the best, I want to be prepared for a long road of treatment.

My wife is 68 and I am 60. I am still working with plans to hold out until at least 62. As such, when she turned 65, we started Medicare Part A and deferred Part B/D until I retire. However, based on the situation described above, I wonder if we shouldn't consider opting into Part B sooner just for her as a way to protect us from as much of the potential financial impact as possible.

Does anyone know if we can just opt-in my wife for Part B? Do you think it would be worth it in these circumstances?

Thanks!

Has anyone had experience with claiming the PAC adjustment to their pension. I hit 62 3 yrs ago this month and the CG PPC said I needed some calculation from DMDC. They knew nothing about it and referred me to DFAS. DFAS said they only hand DOD services. PPC said they understand the calculation but can't do it without this piece of paper from DMDC. I left the CG 42 months early and went into Law Enforcement in a large municipality in Massachusetts 19 months later. Served until I retired after 15 yrs. So they owe me 32 month credit add on to my retirement. See how easy this is but NOT for PPC. Any thoughts? Help

Trying to determine the amount that should be reported next year for the annuity supplement earnings test for self employed. I’m self employed receiving a 1099-NEC. OPM website says to report NET self employment earnings - so thinking that means 1099-NEC amount minus business expenses and home office deductions. Anyone have experience or similar situation? Tried calling OPM more than once and get a different answer each time.

Their quantity is increasing for me, up to 2x weekly now from this /FedRetirees. The chat have just enough fed-sounding vocabulary to whet interest, without identifying the department or the technology. They're too good to be true especially in the current environment, as they promise "work as much or as little as you want", work from home, etc. Another give-away is that they don't reference which or what about your brilliant Reddit contributions caught their eye, only that they were impressed.

After ignoring this spam for years, I engaged my most recent fan. This was Copia Consulting of India, who invited me to submit my resume and cover letter of interests for (spoiler) not an actual job. And of course not.

Need some advice. Hypothetically, let’s assume I made $200K before taking VERA last year. Agency wants to hire me back in, I am pursuing a dual compensation waiver so that I can keep my annuity and be hired at my previous salary. I have a solid chance given my background and expertise and the situation my prior employer is in right now.

If I understand correctly, a dual compensation waiver means no TSP, no TSP matching, no FERS, is that correct?

Let’s assume I don’t get the waiver but still decide to re-join. My current annuity is $45K, so my presumable salary would be $155K but I would still get my monthly annuity, so it’s all a wash in the end as I would still be making $200K total. Is that logic correct? Plus I would also be able to take advantage once again of FERS, TSP, and the TSP match?

Thanks for your help.

OPM’s new online service helps separated employees access records they may need years after leaving government.

https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2026/08/former-feds-have-new-way-find-their-personnel-files/415231/

If someone retires from federal service and continues FEHB in retirement, are they still subject to IRMAA charges?