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Kaufmanrider

My take, it appears Elevate has a $500 individual and $1000 family deductible that must be paid before plan payment/copays kick in and they offer the ability to earn 500 in incentives (per person max $1000 family). Elevate Plus has no deductible. Copays kick in from day one. Not sure about incentive...

Kaufmanrider

Windylotus wrote: ↑Wed Jun 12, 2019 9:43 am GEHA (HDHP) for the family. They contribute $150 per month to your HSA account.

I agree, after over 20 years of BC/BS I switched. They fund 1800 a year (150 a month. Family deductable is 3000. After that they pay 95%. Preventative dental and eye exams included in plan.

Kaufmanrider

I have had a term life policy with Transanerica for 4 years now. I signed up for monthly direct debit (ACH) payments for my premium. Never had any issues.

Kaufmanrider

I asked a similar question to NARFE (National Active and Retired Federal Employees) as i am considering going back to work as a Fed retiree. They told me IRA, 401, HSA contributions etc., don't matter. It is based off your gross pay before deductions, withholdings. This year I'll be OK (55), but in ...

Kaufmanrider

I use Schwab.com for my accounts, IRA and Brokerage, and have not had any issues.

Kaufmanrider

Those Feds that have the GEHA HDHP. How does the pass through contributions work? Since they start their contribution in Feb say $125/month for 2018, will their contributions be $125 short? If you keep the insurance in 2019 will they contribute to both 2018 and 2019 contributions in Jan 2019? Hope ...

Kaufmanrider

My experience is different than yours but only because I take an injectable biologic that skews BCBS basic in my favor. If you look at the GEHA HDHP, prescriptions are 25% copay after deductible, and since my injections are $24k per year, the injections alone cost me $8250 under the GEHA HDHP plan ...

Kaufmanrider

No issues with any billing, claims, or approval for procedures. This includes dental preventative and vision exams. We're happy and will renew. We had BCBS Basic for over 10 years and we were happy with them also. It came down to cost, benefits and tax savings. Being retired the HSA is a plus. You c...

Kaufmanrider

The family deductible of $3000 must be met with all family members out of pocket expenses added together. After, it's 5% copay (25% for prescriptions). Family out of pocket max is $10,000 but any one family member will be covered 100% when that individual family member reaches the individual out of ...

Kaufmanrider

[/quote] Right, that's because you are using the TDA platform, what is avialable in the HSA Bank investment platform? [/quote] HSABank does not have any investing options. They offer you the chance to have a TDAmeritrade account linked to your HSA or an account with DEVENIR linked to your account, o...

Kaufmanrider

The other consideration is the HSA account that GEHA uses. What is the maintenance fee and administration fee? What are the investment options/cost? The HSA is through HSA Bank. GEHA covers the fee as long as you stay with HSA Bank. The investment options at HSA Bank aren't that good, but you can l...

Kaufmanrider

I switched from BCBS basic to GEHA HDHP last year. GEHA also include a vision plan. Staying with GEHA again.

Kaufmanrider

About 5 years ago i called Select Quote. They got me a policy through Transamerica with a higher payout for about half the cost of my existing insurance. Needless to say, i switched.

Kaufmanrider

Can someone clarify when the HSA would actually be "set up." OPM says medical expenses are only reimbursable after the HSA is set up. The GEHA pass through contribution would not be available until February 15, but I assume if I am contributing to my HSA the account will be set up when I ...

Kaufmanrider

GEHA does have Health Incentives and I always take advantage of them. :happy https://www.geha.com/savings/health-rewards I have been researching the Mail Handlers Consumer Driven HDHP Plan as it does interest me, however, do they provide the Health Incentive "money" to the HDHP? The websit...

Kaufmanrider

Haven't done it but this might be helpful.

https://uspirg.org/news/usp/you-should- ... freeze-pin

Kaufmanrider

Never heard of them but you might check out the Webinars and information offered through the National Active and Retired Federal Employees, NARFE. I happen to be a member.

https://www.narfe.org/federalbenefitsinstitute/

Kaufmanrider

One thing to consider is the maximum check amount that you can deposit using any mobile app they use. Other than for convenience, the last time I went to the physical bank was to deposit such a check. Greater than the max allowed by the two banks I do business with. Happens rarely, but it does happ...

Kaufmanrider

We are planning a trip from the U.S. to Italy next year and I would appreciate some help with these two questions: 1. Is 10 days long enough to visit Rome, Tuscany, and Florence? 2. It seems like all the flights from the U.S to Rome cost close to $2,000. However, there are often flights to London f...

Kaufmanrider

Where is the water heater located in the house?

What state do you live in? I am sure building codes differ.

What has the contractor recommended to correct the issue?

Kaufmanrider

I can't answer your questions, but I can say our situation is similar to yours. I am a retired FED, veteran with no service connection and I had been using VA. Spouse not a FED and not a veteran. I opted to forgo VA and try the GEHA HDHP this year for the HSA benefits. We are fairly healthy, in our ...

Kaufmanrider

From the article: "Siegel’s results showed an annualized return of 9.7 percent from 1886-2012 for the timing model versus a 9.4 percent return for a simple buy and hold strategy. Once transaction costs were factored in, the timing model would have dropped to a return of 8.1 percent."

Kaufmanrider

I guess I am lucky, my Health Insurance provider covers my HSA Bank fees. :D I logged onto my account to check investing fees and open a TD Ameritrade Account as I just started my HSA plan this year. I found this statement on my investment options page: $0.00 monthly investment service fee may be ch...

Kaufmanrider

[/quote] I'd be careful here. I'm in the same boat, and reading the FAQ very carefully as well as googling, you're not actually eligible to make HSA contributions until you have had an HDHP effective on the first day of the month in question.. Since the effective date for new enrollees is January 7,...

Kaufmanrider

I am a federal retiree and I signed up for GEHA HDHP this open season. I received a letter from HSA Bank before Christmas welcoming me and providing account set-up instructions. I'm up and running.

Kaufmanrider

I just put Goodyear Assurance All Season on my 2015 Prius. Sam's Club had a sale, $320 installed. Stock tires lasted 46k miles. I guess time will tell with these.

Kaufmanrider

After retirement and before I relocated I worked part-time at an assisted living/memory care facility. They needed someone to drive their mini bus and take residents to medical appointments, take them on shopping trips, assist with basic maintenance issues, resident activities, etc. When I interview...

Kaufmanrider

Maybe it's on where you live? I used U-Haul to move my daughter. Twenty foot box truck was $119 for two days and 180 miles. Of course I had a full one bedroom apartment worth of furniture, not just a bed and desk. The moving help I hired cost more then the truck, but they earned their money and save...

Kaufmanrider

I worked for the Federal Prison System, Bureau of Prisons. Started in 1988 making $16,000 a year. Retired in 2014 making $97,000 a year. Wife was stay at home but last few years before I retired worked part-time at Lowes making about $12-14,000 a year. Federal job did have some perks. Retired after ...

Kaufmanrider

My advice is to contact the local American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in your local area and ask to speak to a "Service Officer." These organizations have members who have been trained in VA benefits. They will, for free, submit applications to the VA for benefits and work on ...

Kaufmanrider

We are about 35 miles East, but Forney has good schools, many affordable new/newer homes, 150k and up and a young demographic, families with young children. Depending on traffic it could take 45min to an hour to Farmers Branch.

Kaufmanrider

I am with the zero turn crowd. I have an acre plus, and mow my parents acre plus. I had a riding lawn tractor (craftsman) for 10 years. In 2013 I went to a Husqvarna 48 inch zero turn. I can now do in an hour what used to take me 2-4 hours.

From March-Oct I mow my Bermuda every 3-4 days.

Kaufmanrider

49 years, 5 months. It's been 2 years.

Kaufmanrider

I switched to WAEPA a few years ago as they had better rates for higher coverage then FEGLI. About 6 months ago I called Select Quote and got a term policy until I turn 66 with a low fixed premium. Lower than WAEPA.

Kaufmanrider

I have had no issues with the use of the USPS by Amazon. In fact, I now routinely get my Amazon Prime orders delivered on Saturday and Sunday. UPS never delivered on weekends.

Kaufmanrider

Annual, semi annual, quarterly, bi monthly, monthly, it doesn't matter. Pick your method. At the end of the year when you file you get one form with one dollar amount for your 72t distributions for the year. Personally, I also do monthly.

Kaufmanrider

72t.net is a good resource.

Kaufmanrider

You are correct. Keep enough cash in your IRA to cover your distribution. When I rebalance annually, I move just enough money into cash within the account to cover that year's distribution.

I might add, I consider that cash as part of my bond allocation.

Kaufmanrider

Unfortunately, because my son receives treatment from the VA for service connected disabilities I am not eligible for HSA contributions for 90 days following him receiving VA healthcare. This is per GEHA and OPM. He is under 26 and I feel more comfortable keeping him on my family plan just in case h...

Kaufmanrider

In the past I had a dentist who was not in network for my BCBS Basic Preventative Dental, but they were in network for my FEP Dental-GEHA. Dental office had to Bill BCBS first, which they denied payment. Dental office then billed GEHA and included the BCBS denial. GEHA paid.

Kaufmanrider

The past two years I have contemplated changing from BC/BS Basic to one of these two HSA's as my wife and I are in good health and I was looking for extra tax deductions in retirement. However, as my son is a 100% disabled vet and receives medical care from the VA I was informed by GEHA and OPM I wo...

Kaufmanrider

When you submit your withdrawal request after separation you tell them how much to deduct, either based on marital status and number of dependents or a dollar amount or maybe its a percentage? Go to TSPs website and review the full withdrawal form TSP 70.

Kaufmanrider

As of Oct 4 email he is still out and he expects the market to continue down. He is not your normal market timer. His philosophy is Buy and Hold, then sell and get out before a bear market and stay out until the bulls run again.

Kaufmanrider

will do. I checked my MPG yesterday (calculated by actual fill) and it was 55. We bought a,2015 prius in June. Just had 5000 mile service. Since purchase we are averaging 48 miles per gallon. Originally we bought it for mostly city driving but in July learned I had to drive dallas to Houston a coup...

Kaufmanrider

I have been tempted to sell the past few days but then I take a deep breath and look back on my investing/401 k history. I bought and held SP500, 100% from 1988 through 2008. In 2008 I panic sold and tried to outsmart the market and time it. My friend kept telling me just roll the dice and let it ri...

Kaufmanrider

Your social security in most cases will be larger. Your special supplement you receive is a percentage of what your SS would have been at retirement age. OPM uses a special formula which I am told is very complicated and is done by hand as they have not found a computer program that does it correctl...

Kaufmanrider

Bought a 2015 Prius 3 last month. Just under 2000 miles and we are averaging 47 miles to the gallon. Very happy with the purchase. I love that it costs as much to fill up my motorcycle as it does the Prius.

Kaufmanrider

I follow using ETF's in my Schwab IRA. I have all the recommendations in the strategy but have added International bonds and Corp. Bonds at 3% each. 60/40 asset allocation.

Happy with my diversification and rebalancing is a snap, maybe 10-15 minutes.

Kaufmanrider

I have AAA for a number of years and very happy. We have used their towing service on a number of occasions, always been within 30 minutes. My son got his truck stuck on the tank trails while at Fort Hood one time. AAA sent a tow on base and pulled him out. Our mechanic is AAA approved, so 10% of th...

Kaufmanrider

INTRESIS wrote:Is it true that if you pay off your entire balance right away every month, you won't get the full 2% cash back?

I pay my card off monthly and get 2%. 1% for my payment of the statement balance and 1% for new charges toward the next statement balance.

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