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Medicare Part A covers hospital bills. Medicare Part B covers medical services like doctors’ services/visits, outpatient care, and other medical services that Part A doesn’t cover. If you have both, and your FEHBP, essentially between all your coverage, you will probably end up not paying having to pay any medical bills except for your prescription drugs. And if you don't sign up for Medicare Part B when you first become eligible, and later decide to sign up, there is a significant penalty (%) that you pay for that period between eligibility and sign-up. "The cost of Medicare Part B will go up 10% for each full 12-month period that you could have had Medicare Part B but didn’t take it, except in special cases. You will have to pay this penalty as long as you have Medicare Part B."
Check view link click on "Am I Eligible" on the left side, then click on the upper tab "General Enrollment and Eligibility" for more info.
IMHO, to me it's worth it not having to worry about meeting FEHBP co-pays, deductibles, and max out-of-pocket each year. My take on this is that my Part B premium will be paid for by not having to meet the yearly deductibles and copays under FEHBP. We're not getting younger and our medical needs will increase.

I have to correct the link, which Eons converted from what I typed. Go to medicare.gov and then follow the click directions above.

So what you're saying is sign up for both parts A & B, right?

Medicare Part A is free. As far as signing up for Part B, only you can decide...but be sure to do the research on the medicare site, particularly the penalties if you decline when you're eligible and then later decide to enroll...and reach your own decision based on your research.

LadyDiy, this is great info. Thanks

Good morning....I also had that dilemna on what to do but eventually I decided to take Part B. I am very glad that I did. I also do not have to pay co-pays & I went on the insulin pump & Medicare pays for it and my supplies. I am doing so much better on the pump (versus needles). Of course, everyone has to make that big decision. Good luck.

Medicare B is essential to me. I have had a fortune in Doctor's, outpatient, lab test since I retire 28 Feb 08. I have not had to pay one cent out of pocket. I did not sign up for Part 'D' the drug part. My ins carrier is Fed BC/BS. The out of pocket is 20% for pharmacy. And, a small co-pay for normal drugs by mail order. I take some expensive drugs, Humira being one (twice a month). Humira would cost without ins about $2500 a month. I pay $65 for a 3 months supply. I thank God every day for my Federal Employment, and especially for the insurance benefits.

Thanks for letting us know about what you are seeing with Medicare Part B combined with Fed BC/BS. I was pretty sure that would be the situation and that I would definitely take Part B, but since I'm not yet eligible to enroll, it's good to know of your first-hand experience. You reinforce my decision to grab Med B as soon as I'm eligible. Since all sorts of benefits seem to be under attack lately, I want to be sure to get settled into it before it too might become a target!

I was wondering about the same. I have it a little different. I am covered on my spouses insurance also who is still employed. Now when he does retire -at least 4 yrs away- I will have to pick him up on my BC/BS - I don't currently have him on mine. So, when I turn 65 in a few years I too was wondering if I should pick up part B. Sounds like I should, even though I will still be on his plan as a secondary insurance. It is not that he can just take self only where he works. It is for family - he does not have a choice. Is there something else I should consider or am I needing to re-evaluate. So confusing!

I have been retired and had only FEHB (no Medicare) for 9 years and it works fine. However, it's an HMO and since I moved out of their service area when I retired they agreed to let me keep them but I drive a ways for service. In the HMO I never have to pay anything above my stated co-pay. Now I'm looking at fee-for- service plans to get service closer to home and the brochures talk about paying 115% of medicare allowance or some such complicated thing and I can't tell whether i would pay more out-of-pocket for seeing a Dr., etc. Does anyone have experience with this? I'm afraid if I leave them and then am not happy I won't have the option of going back to them.