Returning to Work for the Government after Retirement

Title: Returning to Work for the Government after Retirement

Article Snip: "...Each year, some federal retirees return to government employment, for personal, career or financial reasons. If you are thinking of becoming one of them – or if you are considering your options to do so if you signed up for OPM’s deferred resignation program, are separated via buyout or RIF, here are some things to think about.

If you are a CSRS retiree, your annuity will stop if you fall into one of the followings four categories. ..."

Reference: www.fedweek.com
Returning to Work for the Government after Retirement

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‘USPS Retirement Health Benefits’ Webinar on Feb. 19 for Current Employees

Title: ‘USPS Retirement Health Benefits’

Article Snip: "...Postal Service employees may participate in an upcoming webinar that will address benefits available after retirement. The session, “USPS Retirement Health Benefits: Medicare, Dental and Vision,” will be held Wednesday, Feb. 19, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern. ..."

Reference: news.usps.com
USPS Retirement Health Benefits,

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Some Ozempic users are developing serious eye issues that lead to blindness

Title: Some Ozempic users are developing serious eye issues that lead to blindness

Article Snip: "...Blockbuster GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro might sharpen your figure, but they could also cloud your vision in the process.

A review published in JAMA Ophthalmology uncovered at least nine cases of patients who experienced vision loss after taking semaglutide or tirzepatide, the active ingredients in Wegovy and Zepbound, respectively.

This study adds to a growing body of research documenting vision problems in patients using these drugs. A 2024 study suggested ..."

Reference: nypost.com

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WebMD | Ozempic Side Effects

Title: WebMD | Ozempic Side Effects

Article Snip: "Ozempic (semaglutide) helps people with type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar if diet, exercise, and other diabetes medications haven’t worked. ...It can come with side effects, but not everyone who takes Ozempic will get every possible effect. ...GI problems are the most common side effects of Ozempic. Luckily, they tend to be mild to moderate ...About 1 in 5 people (20%) in the clinical trial had it. ...Almost 1 in 10 people (10%) in the clinical trial threw up when taking Ozempic. ..."

Reference: www.webmd.com

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Big Pharma (Drug Dealers) Making Big Profits Getting Your Doc to Feed You More Drugs

Title: Big Pharma Wants to Dance All Over Rural America’s Health

Article Snip: "...Pharmaceutical giants like Eli Lilly, Viatris, AbbVie, ASCEND Therapeutics, Pfizer, Novartis, and Endo International are all major companies cashing in on the high-profit transgender hormone market. Big Pharma knows if they can get a brainwashed kid hooked on non-FDA-approved puberty blockers, they have a client for life.

The worst drug dealers in America nowadays aren’t inner-city thugs; they’re guys in white lab coats.

And business is booming. Eli Lilly’s revenue at the end of the year was almost $41 billion, up 27.4 percent from 2023. ..."

Reference: redstate.com
Pharmaceutical Giants, America's Corporate Drug Pushers,Big Pharma Corruption, Transgender Hormone Market, Pushers of the Transgender Movement, Pill-Head America,

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Destruction of Retirees | Housing,Taxes, Insurance, Medical Care and Supplementing Expenses of 'Adult' Children

Title: Have Your Property Taxes and Insurance Ballooned? You’re Not Alone. Here’s Why These Costs Can Exceed Mortgage Payments For Many

Article Snip: "...Variable costs like property taxes and homeowner’s insurance premiums comprise 35% of the average monthly mortgage payment. ...Property taxes and homeowner’s insurance premiums continue to take a big chunk out of homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments. To offset these costs, homeowners are implementing various solutions, including downsizing, relocating, cutting back on expenses, and deferring large purchases. These efforts could help make homeownership more affordable for many homeowners."

Reference: www.investopedia.com
Destruction of Baby Boomers,Destruction of Retirees,

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The rare few boomers that worked hard and made sacrifices to pay off mortgages reap the rewards now, but many did not prepare

Title: The boomer housing crisis is pacing to get even worse

Article Snip: "...Many boomers find themselves aging into a system that is not willing or equipped to care for them, and instead struggle to subsidize their own care while facing an affordability crisis.

In 2021, 11.2 million seniors—about one in three—were cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing...“The senior housing industry would need to develop twice as many units as it has ever developed in any single calendar year every year to keep up.” What’s more, the early pandemic pulled the brakes on the housing industry, as leaders tell the Journal of labor shortages and weakened demand. ..."

Reference: fortune.com
Boomer retirement planning, Senior housing industry, Aging at Home (The Greatest Desire of Retirees),

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13 Things Medicare Gives You for Free

Title: 13 Things Medicare Gives You for Free

Article Snip: "Medicare beneficiaries often pay monthly premiums, copays, annual deductibles and prescription drug costs. But what you may not know is that some services don’t cost anything at all. ...Medicare includes different parts, which provide different types of coverage — hospital insurance (Part A), medical insurance (Part B), Medicare Advantage plans (Part C), and prescription drug coverage (Part D).

While some services come at a cost, Medicare also offers many services with no out-of-pocket costs at all. That said, some of these freebies may not be available with Medicare Advantage, and there may be limitations on how often you can take advantage of a free service. Still, it’s worth knowing about these 13 things Medicare gives you for free. ..."

Reference: www.kiplinger.com
Medicare, Free Stuff,

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Do you know how PSHB and Medicare work together?

Title: Do you know how PSHB and Medicare work together?

Article Snip: "USPS will offer an informational webinar throughout the year...The session, “PSHB and Medicare in Retirement,” will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern on the following Mondays: Feb. 10, March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9, July 14, Aug. 11 and Sept. 8.

Participants must register before each event on the webinar website. ...

"

Reference: usps.com
PSHB and Medicare, BCBS,

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MEDICARE | 2025 Annual Update to the Code List of CPT/HCPCS Codes

Title: MEDICARE | 2025 Annual Update to the Code List of CPT/HCPCS Codes

Article Snip: "We maintain and annually update a List of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)/Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Codes (the Code List), which identifies all the items and services included within certain designated health services (DHS) categories or that may qualify for certain exceptions. We update the Code List to conform to the most recent publications of CPT and HCPCS codes and to account for changes in Medicare coverage and payment policies. Code List updates for years 2022 and earlier were published in the Federal Register as an addendum to the annual Physician Fee Schedule final rule.

2025 Annual Update to the Code List

Below you will find the Code List that is effective January 1, 2025 and a description of the revisions effective for Calendar Year 2025. To submit a comment, go to www.regulations.gov and enter the docket number “CMS-2024-0301” in the search field. Select the “Comment” button and follow the instructions. To be considered, comments must be received on or before December 26, 2024.

List of codes effective January 1, 2025, published November 26, 2024

Annual Update to the List of CPT/HCPCS Codes Effective January 1, 2025 (PDF)

"

Reference:Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services www.cms.gov
List of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)/Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Codes (the Code List)

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What happens if a PSHB employee covered by EGWP signs up for Medicare Part D?

Title: What happens if a PSHB employee covered by EGWP signs up for Medicare Part D?

Article Snip: "If a PSHB employee covered by an Employer Group Waiver Plan (EGWP) signs up for a separate Medicare Part D plan, they are essentially double-paying for prescription drug coverage, as their EGWP through PSHB already provides that coverage; they should contact their PSHB plan to potentially opt out of the EGWP and enroll in their chosen Part D plan instead, but be aware that doing so could result in a gap in coverage and potential late enrollment penalties depending on their situation.
Key points to remember:

Redundant coverage:
When a PSHB employee is already covered by the EGWP, enrolling in a separate Part D plan means they are paying for prescription drug coverage twice.

Opting out of EGWP:
If a PSHB employee wants to switch to a different Part D plan, they should contact their PSHB plan to properly opt out of the EGWP and enroll in their chosen plan.
Potential penalties:
Depending on the circumstances, opting out of the EGWP without enrolling in another Part D plan could lead to a late enrollment penalty when they try to enroll later.

"

Reference: AI Generated Referencing OPM.GOV
Medicare Part D,Medicare Part D vs. PSHB Part D Employer Group Waiver Plan (EGWP),EGWP,

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APWU/NPMHU/USPS | One Time Retirement Incentive

Title: NPMHU/USPS | One Time Retirement Incentive

Article Snip: "...NPMHU and the USPS have reached an agreement on the terms of a One Time Retirement Incentive. The parties have agreed that the Postal Service will make lump sum incentive payments totaling $15,000 (less applicable taxes and deductions) to eligible..."

Reference: npmhu317.blogspot.com
NPMHU/USPS | One Time Retirement Incentive

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OPM extends long-term care program suspension | New enrollments are on hold until December 2026

Title: OPM extends long-term care program suspension | New enrollments are on hold until December 2026

Article Snip: "...The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has extended the suspension period for all new Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program applications.

The agency, also known as OPM, initially suspended applications for two years beginning in 2022. This suspension has been extended until Dec. 19, 2026.

In a statement, OPM said the suspension is needed because of ongoing volatility in long-term care costs and a diminished insurance market..."

Important notice about premiums:
FLTCIP enrollees with the automatic compound inflation option (ACIO)
The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) held the 2023 Enrollee Decision Period from September to November 2023, providing FLTCIP enrollees personalized options to help mitigate the impact of a premium rate increase, effective January 1, 2024. Impacted enrollees with ACIO for inflation protection had the option to pay their premium increase in three phases. The second phase of the premium increase is effective January 1, 2025. We mailed a letter in early December notifying those who are affected. Log into your My LTCFEDS account for more information

Reference: usps.com
Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP)

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Problems with Medicare Advantage Plans Keep Mounting

Title: Problems with Medicare Advantage Plans Keep Mounting

Article Snip: "...Complaints and problems with Medicare Advantage include denial of service and slow care approvals. Consumers need to pay attention. ... People tend to like their Medicare Advantage plans — until they don’t. ...

...

MA faces mounting criticism for denying and delaying some needed care while costing taxpayers billions more than government-run, so-called fee-for-service, traditional Medicare. ... The reasons for Medicare Advantage’s expanding popularity are readily apparent: lower costs for individuals, simpler selections and extras, such as dental and vision coverage and even gym memberships, not provided by traditional Medicare. ..."

Reference: www.kiplinger.com
Compare Original Medicare & Medicare Advantage,Why do doctors not like Medicare Advantage plans?,Medicare Part D vs. PSHB Part D Employer Group Waiver Plan (EGWP),

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Is Medicare Part D better for postal a retiree than PSHB Part D Employer Group Waiver Plan (EGWP)?

Title: Is Medicare Part D better for a postal retiree than PSHB Part D Employer Group Waiver Plan (EGWP)?

Article Snip: "...For many retirees, Medicare Part D can be considered better than a PSHB Part D EGWP because it often offers more flexibility in plan selection, wider drug coverage options, and may have lower out-of-pocket costs due to broader access to the Medicare Part D marketplace, while the EGWP might be more limited in its drug formulary and could potentially cost more for certain medications depending on individual needs; additionally, opting out of the EGWP may result in losing prescription drug coverage altogether while still paying the same premium. ... However, it's important to compare plans carefully before making a decision:

Review your medication needs:

Analyze which medications you take regularly and compare their coverage and costs under both the PSHB EGWP and available Medicare Part D plans."

Reference: AI Generated

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What happens to my FEGLI Basic Life premium when i turn 65?

Title: What happens to my FEGLI Basic Life premium when i turn 65?

AANSWER: Coverage is free after you turn age 65 or retire (if later).

According to OPM, on the date of this posting (1/7/2025), your 'Option A - Standard' effective at the end of the month after the month in which you become age 65 or retire (if later), your Option A coverage will reduce by 2 percent of the pre-retirement amount per month until it reaches 25% of the pre-retirement amount ($2,500.00). Coverage is free after you turn age 65 or retire (if later). You cannot choose No Reduction for Option A.

Reference: The Federal Retirement News and Reference Source

More Reading: FEGLI in Retirement: Here’s the One Thing to Avoid; stwserve.com

FEGLI in retirement, Expense Reductions at age 65 years old,Life Insurance,FEGLI,Reference (2025 - FEGLI),

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Japanese woman who was the world’s oldest person at 116 has died

Title: Japanese woman who was the world’s oldest person at 116 has died

Article Snip: "...TOKYO (AP) — Tomiko Itooka, a Japanese woman who was the world’s oldest person according to Guinness World Records, has died, an Ashiya city official said Saturday. She was 116. ...According to the Gerontology Research Group, the world’s oldest person is now 116-year-old Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, who was born 16 days after Itooka. ..."

Reference: www.wsbtv.com

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Baby boomer homeowners fear losing their properties as they spend down their savings

Title: Baby boomer homeowners fear losing their properties as they spend down their savings

Article Snip: "...Many baby boomers are struggling with rising home repair costs, insurance premiums, and property taxes while also facing a scarcity of affordable retirement housing options. And working all their lives isn't enough to prevent a growing number of older people from experiencing homelessness.

Rising rents and home prices, largely caused by a housing shortage and other cost-of-living spikes, are hitting older adults especially hard. Overall homelessness surged to its highest level on record..."

Reference: www.businessinsider.com
Destruction of Retirees,Baby Boomers Struggling in Retirement,cost-of-living,Biden/Democrat Inflation Silent Tax on Retirees,

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Retiree, 71, heading to church service fights back when group of thug teens attack

Title: Retiree, 71, heading to New Year’s Day church service fights back when teen girls attack, try to rob her in NYC subway station

Article Snip: "...elderly woman on her way to a New Year’s Day church service fought back when a violent group of teen girls pummeled her during a botched robbery inside a Brooklyn subway station, cops said. Linda Rosa, 71 – a retired MTA computer operation worker who lives in East New York – got off a No. 3 train at Hoyt Street..."

Reference: nypost.com
Attacks on Retirees,Lawless America Under Democrats,

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