None of our moderators are familiar enough with the Blue Cross FEHB plans as most of our knowledge is based on private market health insurance. We will post your question to our forum in hopes that it might attract a more expert opinion. We do know that Tricare offers several plan options, so your ability to select your own physicians will depend on which plan you select. Tricare has a very informative website that might also be useful in answering your questions http://www.tricare.mil/mybe..
. — June 29, 2009 @ 10:11 am

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I am not an expert at this, and finding anyone who can coordinate FEDVIP, Medicare and TFL doesnt exist. However there is a publication at OPM entitled "Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and Medicare. at
http://www.opm.gov/insure/arc
hive/health/medicare/75-12-FI
NAL.pdf

I currently have Federal Std BCBS, Medicare and TFL. ..a situation where I am paying too much. My wife is under 65 (will turn next august). She is covered under the Fed BCBS and Tricare standard. The result is that I am paying out $500/month, to increase in 2011 to 550/month. With the upcoming premiuim hike, I have decided to reduce my BCBS to the Basic option. Next year, when my wife turns 65 and is under Medicare, I may opt to suspend the Federal BCBS or move to an even lower cost GEHA low option. Most of my contemporaries (retired buddies) opt for Medicare + GEHA low option. I still have the advantage in that I , in addition , have TFL, which , I feel, is more than adequate. I feel that if I'm not paying anything out of pocket, I'm probably paying too much for insurance. That way, if you have some reserves, you can co-insure yourself, especially since TFL and Medicare cover catastrophic occurences.

I am not an expert at this, and finding anyone who can coordinate FEDVIP, Medicare and TFL doesnt exist. However there is a publication at OPM entitled "Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and Medicare. at
http://www.opm.gov/insure/arc
hive/health/medicare/75-12-FI
NAL.pdf

I currently have Federal Std BCBS, Medicare and TFL. ..a situation where I am paying too much. My wife is under 65 (will turn next august). She is covered under the Fed BCBS and Tricare standard. The result is that I am paying out $500/month, to increase in 2011 to 550/month. With the upcoming premiuim hike, I have decided to reduce my BCBS to the Basic option. Next year, when my wife turns 65 and is under Medicare, I may opt to suspend the Federal BCBS or move to an even lower cost GEHA low option. Most of my contemporaries (retired buddies) opt for Medicare + GEHA low option. I still have the advantage in that I , in addition , have TFL, which , I feel, is more than adequate. I feel that if I'm not paying anything out of pocket, I'm probably paying too much for insurance. That way, if you have some reserves, you can co-insure yourself, especially since TFL and Medicare cover catastrophic occurences.

Source:  http://www.opm.gov/insure/a...