National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association - MI Federation

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association - MI Federation NARFE is dedicated to the welfare of the entire "federal family." It provides advice and advocacy.

08/24/2026

If a FERS employee dies in service, the surviving spouse may qualify for a lump-sum death benefit plus a monthly annuity. See how both are calculated.

08/21/2026

We now have the online retirement application. It's not as easy to review ahead of time, but the paper applications are still at OPM.gov," said Tammy Flanagan.

08/20/2026

If you’re a certain age, it can impact your payments.

08/19/2026

A civil rights agency accused of halting a sexual harassment case filed on behalf of female prison guards is now blaming an administrative judge for doing so in error.

08/19/2026

THIS LINE CHANGES HOW YOU READ THE NOTICE

The reviewed source confirms this point: A Medicare Summary Notice is not a bill; the sample identifies the maximum amount the reader may be billed.

Source: Medicare.gov.

Use the graphic as a guide to the reviewed source, then read the official material below before making a decision or taking action.

Save this post for reference, and share it with someone who may need the same official information.

Official sample Medicare Summary Notice:
Use the sample to find the notice summary, claim line, and instructions for what to do next.
https://www.medicare.gov/publications/summarynoticea.pdf

08/19/2026

Medicare isn't one plan. It's four separate parts, and the biggest mistake I saw in my years at Social Security was assuming they all work together. They don't.

Here's what each part actually covers:

• Part A covers hospital stays — most people don't pay a premium for this if they worked enough.
• Part B covers doctors and outpatient care — you pay a monthly premium, $202.90 in 2026, and a $283 deductible.
• Part C is Medicare Advantage — an alternative to Original Medicare that bundles A, B, and usually D, but you trade in your Original Medicare rights.
• Part D covers prescriptions — many plans have a $2,100 out-of-pocket cap, but premiums vary.

The gaps are real: Original Medicare doesn't cover dental, vision, or hearing — and there's no annual limit on what you can pay out of pocket. Many people on 55+ are shocked by this.

Know someone turning 65? Share this with them before they enroll — the wrong choice can cost them for years.

08/19/2026

Forced Distributions Will Apply to Current Ratings Cycle, Says OPM

Recently finalized rules requiring that employee performance evaluations fit a mandated pattern will apply to the rating cycle closing next month, OPM has said, a process that will involve “calibration” by senior agency officials that potentially will reduce many of the ratings set by employees’ supervisors.

[link in comments]

While a recent memo on carrying out the changes does not specify an implementation schedule, in response to questions from FEDweek, OPM said that what it calls “standardized” rating “applies to both the FY26 and FY27 performance appraisal cycles.”

“Agencies must establish a calibration program for the FY26 performance appraisal closeout no later than September 20, 2026 (end of FY26 appraisal cycle). Additionally, agencies must design their new GS performance management systems, and have them approved by OPM, prior to October 1, 2026 (for FY27 implementation),” it said.

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P. O. Box 7085
Ann Arbor, MI
48107

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+17343950546

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