Federal Disability Retirement

Re: health insurance while waiting DR approval

I M Free — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:36:47 GMT

You will never know, unless you apply and try. Again good luck!

Re: health insurance while waiting DR approval

onlineemail — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 18:11:19 GMT

Very good advice.. I could let go and do just that. If I knew that while waiting for approval of DR and not working at USPS, terminated, I would get my health ins back. thanks

Re: health insurance while waiting DR approval

I M Free — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 17:45:07 GMT

I'm sorry. Some of the Terms you use I don't understand. And the fact this forum is buggy and changes lines and adds letters is confusing too. You need to look into having an Attorney represent you in this process. It could be the most important thing you have ever done. Forget about any Unemployment, and the proposed Obama Health plan, and NWA, and TCC, and COBRA, and Sick leave, and Annual Leave, and FEHB benefits. You need to work on your Disability case only at this point. Almost everything else you seem to mention is not relevant to OPM Disability retirement.

Re: health insurance while waiting DR approval

onlineemail — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:44:07 GMT

Yes wrong ok...this is why I love these sites. I read and read and get more confused but so much is happening fast but every so slow. I thanks each one of you. I read this TCC things to say it is for "former employees whose FEHB coverage ended because they separated from service, unless they were separated for gross misconduct. This includes employees who are not eligible to continue FEHB into retirement;" I read "former employees " to be just let you go and you read - let go taken Cobra 18 months then take TCC.

Either way I will be "let go" on a NWA, worded ... I will be filing for but need the letter saying they can not accommodate&n... and my injury in any modified position, helping me be assured a win for DR. I am hoping to be able to have my last day be sometime in Dec to allow me to get unemployment&... the rate cut on Cobra in 2009 from this Obama thing. I have to use up all my A. leave else it counts against unemployment time. If I do not start using AL it soon will bring me into 2010. If I can swing it all I can have unemployement and Cobra to tied me over till DR gets approved. I do not see me in any LWOP as they want us out.

Re: health insurance while waiting DR approval

I M Free — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 16:03:28 GMT

Oh no, you are seriously mistaken. TCC IS Conversion Coverage http://www.opm.gov/ins... which can be provided after your COBRA would lapse. Typical Continuation coverage can cost double or triple what your COBRA policy cost. There is NO way you can coordinate your FEHB Benefits during your transition leaving the Government, and filing for Disability Retirement. Either benefits will continue to work, or they will be terminated, especially if you are about to be removed from service very soon. It took my Agency 6 Months to terminate me, while I was in LWOP or AWOL, or whatever they were calling it. My Benefits continued during this period. Bottom line, unless you are being fired for Gross Misconduct, you are able to take your current FEHB benefits into Disability Retire... and pay just the small co premium. That is assuming you win your case. If not you will be offered COBRA at full price, and then 18 Months later, Conversion coverage at about 3 times the cost. Hopefully you should never see COBRA, OR TCC.

Re: health insurance while waiting DR approval

onlineemail — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:15:38 GMT

I M Free, itis not called Cobra, sorry it took a bit but found it, it is call TCC, acts like Cobra, and gets same benefits&nbs... Cobra from Obam. 65% but only if your off roles by Dec 31 09. Else one would pay, for my plan, $500 per month...100 a month to 500.... Not thinking it would be to my advantage to go on LWOP unless they would do it until my DR is approved. To much other outside benefits&... lose. This NPR thing is killing us..

Re: health insurance while waiting DR approval

I M Free — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:03:24 GMT

Yes, it's called COBRA. After that comes Continuation Coverage, and soon the Obama plan will cover everyone for free.

Re: health insurance while waiting DR approval

onlineemail — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:44:52 GMT

SOL yea,, story of my life right now.... I do not know if they will terminate me before submitting or approval of DR but there is something akin to Cobra for federal employees as above stated, not sure yet what it is. Approval could take longer then a year though,, Mr Mcgill any idea?

Re: health insurance while waiting DR approval

I M Free — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:37:37 GMT

If you are being Terminated in the near future, COBRA would be an option, despite what you wrote. There are a few exceptions. You can get Billy Mays Health Plan. It was the most important product he ever promoted. Of course he said that about all his products. We will miss you Billy!

Re: health insurance while waiting DR approval

RSSMDFEDINIT — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:58:20 GMT

If the agency is separating you prior to submitting/approval of your DR application you may be SOL in regard to health insurance during that time. Upon approval (as long as its been less than one year since separation) insurance should be reinstated. Mr. Mcgill would be the best one to reply to your situation, and the legal specifics involved.

Re: health insurance while waiting DR approval

onlineemail — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:16:27 GMT

if they let me go why would I be in a LWOP status? I wil use up abut 5 months leave once they say no work and they give me two week separation pay. how do I stay on LWOP? Just the fact I file for DR will put me on LWOP after I use up my AL AND SL? I am getting there I will call my HR, I have also gotten bum info out of them so more I know now more I can Question them if it does not sound right...

Re: health insurance while waiting DR approval

I M Free — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:15:06 GMT

Good Answer! Don't forget Life Insurance deductions too. OPM didn't. On the day OPM took over my Health benefits, they gave me a new FAMILY, and changed my plan #. Most would think this is funny, but they wanted thousands of extra dollars in back co premium payments.

Re: health insurance while waiting DR approval

RSSMDFEDINIT — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:44:03 GMT

Check with your supervisor and/or your HR Office. Although you will be on LWOP you are still on the payroll. You can still get health insurance; although, the agency will pre-pay your part of the premium (check to make sure if that is your agency's policy in regard to LWOP and health insurance premiums). If so, upon approval of your DR application you will receive back pay from your last work day (last day in a pay status). Your part of the premium (what the agency pre-paid) will be deducted from the back pay lump sum. This was my situation. My last work day was 9/28/2007. My DR application was approved on 7/20/2008, and finalized on 9/30/2008. My back pay (at 60% of my high-3) was from 9/28/2007 through 9/30/2008. My pre-paid health insurance, federal taxes, and the gross interim pay was deducted from my gross back pay (state taxes WERE NOT deducted).

health insurance while waiting DR approval

onlineemail — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:56:55 GMT

I will be filing for DR in a few weeks soon as I get my NWA letter. I will be using up my leave time so will get my health ins while doing that2 months maybe.... what happens after? I will not be getting pay check how do I keep health ins up till I can get the fed ins one through DR? thanks... I get os confuses reading,, I see I can't get the Cobra thing..