Dan and Jen break down two often-overlooked retirement risks that can significantly impact federal employees: hidden Medicare premium increases and maintaining health insurance eligibility into retirement.
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The Fed15 Podcast | Ep. 156 IRMAA Medicare Costs & FEHB Retirement Eligibility Rules
Jen explains how the Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) can increase Part B and Part D premiums based on income from two years prior. She breaks down what counts as income for IRMAA, why Roth conversions, RMDs, and asset sales can unintentionally raise Medicare costs, and how federal retirees can plan ahead to reduce surprise premium increases. Jen also covers how timing decisions, tax planning, and appeals (using SSA-44) can help manage or reduce IRMAA impacts over time.
Dan discusses the FEHB five-year rule and what federal employees must understand to keep health coverage in retirement. He explains how continuous enrollment works, common mistakes that break eligibility timelines, and why mid-career plan changes can create unexpected issues later. Dan also outlines what employees should review before retiring, how HR and OPM records factor in, and how to ensure FEHB eligibility is preserved so coverage continues seamlessly into retirement.
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