U.S. Office of Personnel Management
The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and Medicare Does the FEHB Program Offer Medigap Policies? FEHB is not one of the 10 standardized Medicare supplemental insurance policies - known as Medigap (and Medicare SELECT) policies. However, many FEHB plans and options will supplement Medicare by paying for costs not covered by Medicare, such as the required deductibles and coinsurance, and by providing additional benefits not provided under Medicare, such as prescription drugs, routine physicals and additional preventive care. Do I Need a Medigap Policy When I Have FEHB and Medicare Coverage? No, you don't need to purchase a Medigap policy since FEHB and Medicare will coordinate benefits to provide comprehensive coverage for a wide range of medical expenses. Does My FEHB Plan or Medicare Pay Benefits First? Medicare law and regulations determine whether Medicare or FEHB is primary (pays benefits first). Medicare automatically transfers claims information to your FEHB plan once your claim is processed, so you generally don't need to file with both. You will receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) from your FEHB plan and an EOB or Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) from Medicare. If you have to file with the secondary payer, send along the EOB or MSN you get from the primary payer. |
Page modified 1 October 2001