Dual Fed, FEHB VERA

[Anonymous]

We are dual feds. My DH has FEHB under his name and we’ve both been with the fed for 20+ years. If I take the VERA, is there a way to switch the FEHB to my name? If I make the switch during open season in Nov, and retire in Jan, would that work?

[Anonymous]

I don’t see why not but why would you do that?

[Anonymous]

Ask your HRD retirement specialist in this case. You should be able to switch since you met the five years requirement.
In the good old days, you shouldn't have to worry since DH will still be working in Fed, but in this age, you want to be able to switch to your name and bag it, i get it...
ask your HR to override so it is under your name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask your HRD retirement specialist in this case. You should be able to switch since you met the five years requirement.
In the good old days, you shouldn't have to worry since DH will still be working in Fed, but in this age, you want to be able to switch to your name and bag it, i get it...
ask your HR to override so it is under your name.

I still don't understand why switching is better.

[Anonymous]

If you didnt hold the insurance for five years, I dont think you can do that

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask your HRD retirement specialist in this case. You should be able to switch since you met the five years requirement.
In the good old days, you shouldn't have to worry since DH will still be working in Fed, but in this age, you want to be able to switch to your name and bag it, i get it...
ask your HR to override so it is under your name.

I still don't understand why switching is better.

This way, OP don't need to worry that DH losses his job! The insurance will be carried to retirement for both parties. Yay

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ask your HRD retirement specialist in this case. You should be able to switch since you met the five years requirement.
In the good old days, you shouldn't have to worry since DH will still be working in Fed, but in this age, you want to be able to switch to your name and bag it, i get it...
ask your HR to override so it is under your name.

How have I met the 5 year requirement? Because I was on the policy but it wasn’t in my name? And what is the override?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask your HRD retirement specialist in this case. You should be able to switch since you met the five years requirement.
In the good old days, you shouldn't have to worry since DH will still be working in Fed, but in this age, you want to be able to switch to your name and bag it, i get it...
ask your HR to override so it is under your name.

I still don't understand why switching is better.

This way, OP don't need to worry that DH losses his job! The insurance will be carried to retirement for both parties. Yay

Oh, I get it now. Makes sense but wouldn't this be considered a life changing event? Also keep in mind your premium will be after tax money, not pre-tax money if you change.

[Anonymous]

I thought you had to be covered under the insurance for five years leading up to your retirement in order to be able to do that. Does being on your spouses retirement count?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought you had to be covered under the insurance for five years leading up to your retirement in order to be able to do that. Does being on your spouses retirement count?

Yes it counts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought you had to be covered under the insurance for five years leading up to your retirement in order to be able to do that. Does being on your spouses retirement count?

It should!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask your HRD retirement specialist in this case. You should be able to switch since you met the five years requirement.
In the good old days, you shouldn't have to worry since DH will still be working in Fed, but in this age, you want to be able to switch to your name and bag it, i get it...
ask your HR to override so it is under your name.

I still don't understand why switching is better.

This way, OP don't need to worry that DH losses his job! The insurance will be carried to retirement for both parties. Yay

If Dh loses his job then it counts as a qualifying event to switch the insurance over to op’s name with nothing lost. If DH doesn’t lose his job then they are now needlessly paying for insurance with post tax rather than pre tax dollars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought you had to be covered under the insurance for five years leading up to your retirement in order to be able to do that. Does being on your spouses retirement count?

It should!

Yes, as long as you are on a FEHB plan it counts for retirement regardless of whether it is under your name or your (fed/retired fed spouse’s name). Hence why OP’s plan to switch coverage is a needless waste of money.

Please take an actual retirement seminar before making these major financial decisions rather than crowdsourcing on dcum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ask your HRD retirement specialist in this case. You should be able to switch since you met the five years requirement.
In the good old days, you shouldn't have to worry since DH will still be working in Fed, but in this age, you want to be able to switch to your name and bag it, i get it...
ask your HR to override so it is under your name.

I still don't understand why switching is better.

This way, OP don't need to worry that DH losses his job! The insurance will be carried to retirement for both parties. Yay

If Dh loses his job then it counts as a qualifying event to switch the insurance over to op’s name with nothing lost. If DH doesn’t lose his job then they are now needlessly paying for insurance with post tax rather than pre tax dollars.

hmm good point! They would deduct straight out of the pension payout worksheet pre-tax.
However, does the event qualification apply to retiree or only to FTE in this case?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought you had to be covered under the insurance for five years leading up to your retirement in order to be able to do that. Does being on your spouses retirement count?

It should!

Yes I have triple checked this as it is my situation.