Q & A
Understanding Coordination of Benefits
Federal Employees Health Benefits program carriers are obligated to follow standard coordination of benefit rules established by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) in order to make sure that payments to providers and customers do not duplicate payments of other health benefits coverages the member may have. OPM allows retired and former spouse enrollees to suspend FEHB coverage to enroll in any one of the following programs if eligible, thus eliminating the FEHB premium: a Medicare HMO, Medicaid, Tricare, or CHAMPVA. OPM does not contribute to any applicable premiums. If the individual later wants to re-enroll in the FEHB program, generally they may do so only at the next open season unless they have involuntarily lost the other coverage. Read more…
Source: http://www.fedweek.com, October 21, 2013