u/JustMe39908

To add to the body of posts regarding timelines for OPM to finalize retirements. Here is one with court orders.

DoD DRP 2.0 with a VERA. 9/30/2025 separation date. All of my time was with DoD. No military buyback, but I did have a break in service which I had to buy my time back from. That was completed years before DRP was even imagined.

AL payout: Came with my last paycheck in October, 2025.

OPM notified or retirement received: 10/24/2025

OPM received retirement application package: 10/27/2025

Interim Pay issued: 11/21/2025

Assigned to Specialist: 11/25/2025

Case Finalized: 5/15/2026

Overall, the timeline was in-line with what my agency retirement specialist told me it would be. Actually, a little faster. But, I think I just ended up with an experienced agency retirement specialist.

Good luck to everyone!

Edit to correct. I fat-fingered 2025 instead of 2026 for the case finalized date.

To add to the body of posts regarding timelines for OPM to finalize retirements. Here is one with court orders.

DoD DRP 2.0 with a VERA. 9/30/2025 separation date. All of my time was with DoD. No military buyback, but I did have a break in service which I had to buy my time back from. That was completed years before DRP was even imagined.

AL payout: Came with my last paycheck in October, 2025.

OPM notified or retirement received: 10/24/2025

OPM received retirement application package: 10/27/2025

Interim Pay issued: 11/21/2025

Assigned to Specialist: 11/25/2025

Case Finalized: 5/15/2026

Overall, the timeline was in-line with what my agency retirement specialist told me it would be. Actually, a little faster. But, I think I just ended up with an experienced agency retirement specialist.

Good luck to everyone!

Edit to correct. I fat-fingered the Case Finalized line and had the wrong year.

Probably an oddball situation that I was hoping someone would know the answer to. I have time before I need to act.

I am a federal retiree under 65, but I am working for another employer. I plan to work beyond 65. My employer's health insurance is cheap, but not great for me so I am using my FEHB insurance. I have a family plan because my kids are on my insurance.

Do I have to start Medicare part B at 65? If I was a federal employee, I would not. If I had insurance through my employer, I would not. But if I get my health insurance through FEHB and am employed elsewhere, do I have to take Medicare to avoid the penalty?

If I do have to take Medicare, can I sign up for the self-only HDHP plan from my employer and avoid needing to take Medicare? It is free but can I have a HDHP that I never intend to use when I have a traditional plan? I thought that that did not work because of the HSA, but I don't care about that.

Anyone else in this situation?