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Blue Cross Focus to GEHA Standard Plan Comparison

Posted on Friday, 26th October 2018 by Dennis Damp

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Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) is offering a new lower cost fee-for-Service Focus Plan in 2019. This article compares the BCBS Focus plan to the GEHA Standard plan. Many federal annuitants opt for a lower cost Federal Employee’s Health Benefit (FEHB) plan once they sign up for Medicare. The majority of FEHB plans waive many […]

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2019 Medicare Part B Premiums

Posted on Friday, 19th October 2018 by Dennis Damp

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Medicare recently announced the standard Part B premium amount of $135.50 for 2019. Most people will pay the standard Part B monthly premium. If your modified adjusted gross income as reported on your IRS tax return from 2 years ago is above a certain amount, you’ll pay the standard premium and an Income Related Monthly […]

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2019 COLA Announced

Posted on Thursday, 11th October 2018 by Dennis Damp

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Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 67 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2019. CSRS annuitants will receive the full amount, FERS retirees will receive a 2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The 2.8 percent COLA will begin with benefits payable to more than 62 million Social Security beneficiaries in January […]

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US Census Jobs – Annuitants APPLY NOW

Posted on Wednesday, 10th October 2018 by Dennis Damp

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The U.S Census Bureau under the Department of Commerce will be hiring thousands of census workers between now and 2020 to conduct the upcoming census.  Most of the positions are available for anyone to apply. Because the labor market is at full employment, federal employees and annuitants may also apply under certain conditions without impacting […]

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2019 FEHB Premiums Announced + Updates

Posted on Wednesday, 3rd October 2018 by Dennis Damp

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The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently announced that the average 2019 total premiums for current non-Postal employees and retirees enrolled in plans under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program will increase 1.3 percent, the lowest increase since the 1996 plan year. 2019 FEHB Plan Rates Under the Federal Employees Dental and Vision […]

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Deferring Medicare Part B Enrollment

Posted on Friday, 21st September 2018 by Dennis Damp

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Updated 11/11/2024 I presented a briefing for the Employee’s Retirement Club at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the invitation of the group’s chairperson. We discussed a number of topics including FEGLI, Long Term Care, and Medicare signup. There was some confusion about the ability to defer Part B premiums if your spouse continues […]

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How Much is Enough for Retirement?

Posted on Friday, 7th September 2018 by Dennis Damp

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Fortunately, Federal employees are able to determine where they stand financially before retiring. When you evaluate your Thrift Savings, civil service annuity, social security and other savings and investment accounts you will discover the reality of retirement for you and your family. Will you have enough to not only live comfortably but to achieve your […]

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Getting it Right the First Time

Posted on Friday, 3rd August 2018 by Dennis Damp

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Recently, Greg asked, “how important is it to attend a retirement briefing or not?” He and his wife intend to travel the country for several years after leaving federal service. I developed my retirement planning website because I attended two agency sponsored retirement seminars and came back with more questions than answers. That being said, […]

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