FEHB stands for Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. It is the main health insurance program for most eligible federal employees, retirees, and eligible family members.

Source: OPM FEHB Plan Comparison

Usually yes, if you meet the rules. You generally must retire on an immediate annuity and have been continuously enrolled in FEHB for the five years immediately before retirement.

Source: OPM FEHB Continuation

If you meet the eligibility rules and retire on an immediate annuity, FEHB can continue. Premiums are usually deducted from your annuity.

Source: OPM FEHB Eligibility

For standard FEHB retirees, Medicare Part B is generally optional. Many retirees enroll because Medicare becomes primary after retirement and FEHB becomes secondary.

Source: OPM Medicare vs FEHB

While actively working, FEHB is usually primary and Medicare is secondary. After retirement, Medicare generally becomes primary for Medicare-covered services.

Source: OPM Medicare Coordination

Many federal retirees enroll because Part A is usually premium-free if you paid enough Medicare taxes.

Source: OPM Medicare

In some cases, yes. Certain annuitants may suspend FEHB to enroll in Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, TRICARE, CHAMPVA, or other qualifying coverage.

Source: OPM FEHB Suspension Form

The plan brochure is the official statement of benefits. It controls details such as deductibles, copays, provider rules, Medicare coordination, prior authorization, and exclusions.

Source: OPM FEHB Plan Comparison

PSHB stands for Postal Service Health Benefits Program. It is a separate health benefits program for eligible USPS employees, annuitants, and eligible family members. PSHB began in 2025.

Source: OPM PSHB

No. PSHB has separate plans, rules, and Medicare coordination requirements for Postal employees and annuitants.

Source: OPM PSHB

Some do, but not everyone. OPM says certain Medicare-eligible Postal annuitants and family members must enroll in Medicare Part B to maintain PSHB coverage. There are important exceptions.

Source: OPM PSHB

PSHB created Medicare Part B rules that are different from standard FEHB rules. Some Postal annuitants must enroll in Part B to maintain PSHB coverage.

Source: OPM PSHB

OPM provides PSHB plan brochures and comparison resources.

Source: OPM PSHB Brochures

It can. Eligible family members may be covered, but Medicare Part B requirements may apply differently.

Source: OPM PSHB

A continuing monthly benefit that may be paid to an eligible spouse, former spouse, or other survivor after a federal retiree dies.

Source: OPM Survivor Benefits

A surviving spouse often needs a payable survivor benefit to continue FEHB coverage after the retiree's death.

Source: OPM Family FEHB Continuation

Usually yes. OPM generally requires spousal consent to elect less than the maximum.

Source: OPM Survivor Benefits

Under FERS, if you have at least 18 months of creditable civilian service, your surviving spouse may be eligible for the Basic Employee Death Benefit.

Source: OPM Survivor Benefits

Sometimes life insurance can supplement survivor income, but it should not be treated as a simple one-for-one replacement without analysis.

Source: OPM Survivor Benefits

Yes, a court order may award a former spouse a portion of your retirement benefits or survivor benefits.

Source: OPM Court-Ordered Benefits

FERS was designed as a three-part system: FERS pension, Social Security, and TSP.

Sources: OPM FERS Information and SSA Federal Employees

Traditional CSRS employees generally did not pay Social Security retirement taxes on CSRS-covered federal earnings.

Source: SSA Federal Employees

No, not for benefits payable January 2024 and later. The Social Security Fairness Act ended the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset. However, not every federal retiree receives an increase. The change mainly affects people who receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security, including some CSRS retirees.

CSRS Offset is a separate issue and should still be reviewed carefully.

Source: SSA Social Security Fairness Act

CSRS Offset applies to certain employees who have both CSRS and Social Security coverage. When eligible for Social Security, the CSRS annuity may be reduced.

Source: OPM CSRS Offset FAQ

The best claiming age depends on health, income needs, spouse, survivor goals, tax situation, and retirement age.

Source: SSA Retirement Planner

Generally yes. A portion is usually taxable, while part may represent recovery of already-taxed employee contributions.

Source: OPM Tax Information

Traditional TSP withdrawals are generally taxable as ordinary income. Roth TSP withdrawals may be tax-free if qualified.

Source: TSP Tax Rules Booklet

They can be. It depends on your combined income, filing status, and other retirement income sources.

Source: IRS Social Security Income

It depends on the state. Some tax federal pensions, some partially exempt them, and some do not tax retirement income.

Source: IRS State Government Resources

Federal employees often have several separate beneficiary records: TSP, FEGLI, FERS/CSRS lump-sum, and unpaid compensation.

Sources: OPM Forms and TSP Forms

Usually no. A valid federal beneficiary designation can control even if your will says something different.

Source: TSP Beneficiaries

After major life events such as marriage, divorce, remarriage, birth or adoption of a child, death of a beneficiary, estate plan changes, or retirement.

Source: TSP Designating Beneficiaries

Benefits are generally paid according to a legal order of precedence, which may not match your wishes.

Source: TSP Beneficiaries

A benefits-focused review of your federal Leave and Earnings Statement. It helps identify what you are paying for, what benefit codes appear, how your TSP contributions are set up, and what insurance elections are active. It is not an official government estimate.

Your pay stub can reveal important details about TSP contributions, FEGLI, FEHB, tax withholding, retirement deductions, and other benefit elections.

A personalized planning report that compares what your current benefits may provide against what you may need in retirement. It can help identify potential gaps in income, life insurance, survivor protection, healthcare coordination, TSP withdrawal planning, or retirement timing.

No. A Pay Stub Review or GAP Analysis can be useful for education and planning, but it is not the same as an official OPM adjudication.

Source: OPM Retirement Center

Federal employees within 10 years of retirement, carrying FEGLI Option B, unsure about TSP contribution strategy, concerned about survivor benefits, preparing for Medicare decisions, or trying to understand whether their current benefits match their retirement goals.

Helpful documents include a recent Leave and Earnings Statement, SF-50, TSP statement, FEHB plan info, FEGLI election info, Social Security estimate, beneficiary records, and any agency retirement estimate.

No. Federal Benefits Exchange is an independent education company and is not OPM, USPS, TSP, SSA, Medicare, or any other government agency.

Yes. The webinar is free and educational, with no credit card required.

No. There is no obligation. If you choose to request a Pay Stub Review, GAP Analysis, or additional consultation afterward, that is a separate, optional next step.

No. The webinar is educational and cannot fully account for your service history, health coverage, spouse, tax situation, beneficiary forms, TSP balance, or retirement dates.

Federal Benefits Exchange's privacy policy explains how personal information is collected, used, and shared.

Source: Privacy Policy

The best official sources include OPM for federal retirement, FEHB, FEGLI, and PSHB; TSP.gov for Thrift Savings Plan rules; SSA.gov for Social Security; Medicare.gov for Medicare; IRS.gov for tax rules; and your agency HR or benefits office.