The Foreign Service Journal, March 2019

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MARCH 2019 59 AFSA NEWS RETIREE VP VOICE | BY JOHN NALAND AFSA NEWS Views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the AFSA Retiree VP. Contact: naland@afsa.org | (703) 437-7881 News You Can Use: AFSA Retiree Services Website The Foreign Service retiree’s email expressed exaspera- tion. He had diligently fol- lowed the instructions on the Office of Personnel Man- agement website on how federal retirees can change health insurance providers during Open Season, but the online application kept rejecting his login attempts. Happily, I was able to quickly explain that Foreign Service procedures are different from Civil Service procedures. I also forwarded to him instructions from the AFSA website on how to change health plans. AFSA frequently receives inquiries like that from retired members asking about rules and regulations regarding federal benefits. Below are 10 frequent con- cerns, along with citations to relevant guidance, posted in the Retiree Services section of the AFSA website. Health Care Plans: While many retirees stick with the same Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) insurance provider for decades, if you want to change health plans during the annual Open Season from mid-November to early December, instructions and the required form are in the Annual Annuitant Newslet- ter published by the State Department and posted on the AFSA website. AFSA also provides its members with access to the Checkbook Guide to Health Plans for Feds, a well- regarded comprehensive tool to easily assess the pros and cons of each plan. Social Security : A key financial decision is when between ages 62 and 70 to apply for Social Security benefits. Starting early in that age range will pay you less per month but for more years. Starting later pays more per month but for fewer years. The starting age also affects survivor benefits that may be payable. A discussion of the pros and cons was included in a November 2018 presenta- tion at AFSA HQ. A video is on the AFSA website. Medicare Part B: Another key decision is whether at age 65 to add Medicare Part B coverage to supplement your FEHB coverage. Given the signifi- cant cost of Medicare Part B, many retirees find it difficult to make that decision. Paula Jakub, CEO of the American Foreign Service Protective Association (AFSPA) outlined the pros and cons in an August 2018 presentation at AFSA HQ. A video is on the AFSA website. Annuity Supplement: Most retirees who are receiv- ing an Annuity Supplement must report their annual wage earnings to the State Department in early January or payment of their supple- ment will be suspended. Details, instructions and the required form are in the State Department’s Annual Annuitant Newsletter. Marital Changes: Post- retirement divorce, marriage or death of spouse should be reported promptly to the State Department so benefits adjustments can be made. Instructions are in the State Department’s Annual Annuitant Newsletter. Beneficiary Designa- tions: Marital changes are also an occasion to update beneficiary designations for your retirement benefits, federal life insurance and Thrift Savings Plan. Instruc- tions and mailing addresses are in the State Depart- ment’s Annual Annuitant Newsletter. Survivor Benefits: Next- of-kin need to know how to notify the State Department when the time comes to apply for a survivor annuity and federal life insurance benefits. Delays could leave them without money to pay the mortgage and other routine expenses. Instruc- tions are in AFSA’s Directory of Retired Members and the State Department’s Annual Annuitant Newsletter. Retiree ID Badge: If you visit Main State or Colum- bia Plaza (MED and Office of Retirement) often, you may want to obtain and then renew a Retiree ID card. Instructions are in the Retiree Services section of the AFSA website and the State Department’s Annual Annuitant Newsletter. Taxes: If you are consid- ering moving to a different state, check out AFSA’s annual Tax Guide, which allows you to compare state tax rates. The guide is in the January-February issue of The Foreign Service Journal each year and is posted on the AFSA website. Change of Address: If you move, please send your new contact informa- tion to member@afsa.org to continue to receive The For- eign Service Journal and the annual Directory of Retired Members. To notify the State Department, log on to Annuitant Express to update your records. Logon instruc- tions are in AFSA’s Directory of Retired Members and the State Department’s Annual Annuitant Newsletter. Information on other retirement benefits issues can also be found in the Retiree Services section of the AFSA website. Examples include: videos of expert presentations on long-term care insurance and the Thrift Savings Plan, information on the Re-employed Annui- tant Program (formerly WAE), State Department guidance on the impact of divorce on the division of Foreign Service retirement benefits, and back issues of the bi-monthly AFSA Retiree Newsletter, which includes updates on retirement issues. n