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      Ask the Experts — Benefits & HR

      Benefits & HR
      Forum.

      Is retirement the next chapter of your glorious life — or are you already living it? You worked hard for your federal retirement benefits. This forum is dedicated to helping you understand, take charge of, and stop worrying about them. Be prepared. Be happy.

      What this forum covers Benefits guide
      FEHB
      Federal health benefits — the 5-year rule, PSHB transition, open season
      FEGLI
      Life insurance coverage elections at retirement — what to keep, what changes
      OPF
      Your Official Personnel File — the record that drives your annuity calculation
      FAQ
      30+ subject areas covered in the site FAQ — Benefits & HR included
      Forum Focus

      Stop worrying.
      Be prepared.

      Federal employees and retirees worry about the same things: will I have enough money? What happens to my health care? Will Social Security be there? The answer to every one of those worries is the same — preparation and knowledge. This forum is dedicated to providing both.

      Preparing for retirement

      Understanding and taking charge of HR and benefits issues before you leave — FEHB 5-year eligibility, FEGLI coverage elections, TSP decisions, sick leave conversion, and the timeline of what to complete before your separation date.

      Managing benefits in retirement

      Navigating HR and benefits issues after you retire — open season elections, FEGLI reduction options, Medicare coordination, survivor annuity decisions, and changes to your benefit elections when life circumstances change.

      HR and Official Personnel File

      Understanding your Official Personnel File (OPF) — the record that drives your annuity calculation. Catching and correcting errors before they become post-retirement problems. What your HR office is responsible for and what only you can monitor.

      Forum host position currently vacant. The Benefits & HR Forum host position is open. In the meantime, the resources linked below cover the major benefits and HR topics in depth. Visit the Ask the Experts page for information on all active forum hosts.

      Benefits & HR resources on this site

      Benefits overview — FEHB, FEGLI, Medicare, FEDVIP, FLTCIP, FSAFEDS Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) — 5-year rule, PSHB, open season FEGLI life insurance — coverage options, annuitant rates, elections at retirement Medicare — Parts A, B, C, D and coordination with FEHB Long-Term Care (FLTCIP) — Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program Dental & Vision (FEDVIP) — BENEFEDS enrollment and plan options Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAFEDS) — HCFSA, DCFSA, and LEX HCFSA Life Event Changes — updating your benefits elections after major life events FAQ — Benefits & Finance subject area with links to specific topics

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      Limits of Liability and Disclaimer: While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in providing retirement and benefits information, they make no representations or warranties with respect to accuracy or completeness. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. Consult a financial or HR professional where appropriate. The publisher and author are not privy to an individual's OPF — contact the HR department maintaining your OPF to ensure all aspects of your personal situation are covered. Neither the publisher nor author shall be liable for any loss or commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.