FEDlogic - Federal & State Benefit Navigation & Advocacy

Have you reached age 65 and do you want help navigating Medicare? Have you or a family member been diagnosed with a critical illness or disability? Need help navigating Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, or any federal or state benefits? 

NSM has partnered with FEDlogic to provide federal and state benefit information and advocacy to NSM employees and their household members. FEDlogic’s team of experienced and compassionate experts offer their knowledge and guidance to help you discover and maximize your federal and state benefits. Examples include assistance with Medicare, Medicaid, Healthcare.gov, Social Security, Veteran’s Benefits and many more. Consultations are free, unlimited and confidential for you and your household members. FEDlogic’s experts can provide you with peace of mind, ensuring that you identify and maximize all of your benefits.  

Call 877-837-4196 to speak with an expert, or scan the QR code to visit the employee resource website. 



Click here for the employee digital flyer. 

Click here for the employee resource guide, including information on monthly webinars. 
 

Additional Medicare Information & Resources

Medicare open enrollment: October 15 - December 7

Website: www.medicare.gov
Phone: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)

Once on the website, navigate to Basics > Talk to Someone. You will see this phone number and you'll have the option to chat with someone from Medicare live. This website also has a link to sign up for Medicare, get help with costs from your state office, and get free health insurance counseling. These are all great options that we recommend exploring. 
 

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Question: Can I remain on an NSM medical plan if I'm Medicare eligible? 
Answer: Yes! See below for more information on Coordination Between NSM Plans and Medicare. There are 3 options.

Question: Who is the Primary if I have both NSM's coverage and Medicare?
Answer: When someone has both NSM's plan and Medicare, NSM's plan always pays as the primary. Medicare Part A only covers inpatient hospital, skilled nursing, etc. But, for those types of claims, the NSM BCBS plan would pay first and then Medicare as secondary. 

Question: Can I participate in a Health Savings Account (HSA) & Medicare?
Answer: No. Unfortunately, if you are participating in Medicare Part A, you cannot participante in the Health Savings Account (HSA). You can remain on our High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), but regrettably you cannot partner that plan with an HSA. 

Question: What is an Advantage Plan?
Answer: Medicare Advantage plans, sometimes called "Part C" are offered by private companies and are approved by Medicare. We aren't able to offer Advantage plans through NSM, but we would encourage you to investigate those plans and see if one is right for you. 

Coordination Between NSM Plans & Medicare - 3 General Options (in no particular order)

Recommendation - Weigh your options and do a cost comparison. Talk to someone at Medicare: https://www.medicare.gov/talk-tosomeone or contact FEDlogic for a consultation. 

Option 1 - Declining NSM's group health plan and enrolling just in Medicare
In most cases, you can decide to enroll in Medicare at age 65 and decline NSM's group health plan. Before you do that, here are some things to keep in mind:

• For the same monthly premiums and annual out-of-pocket costs, the NSM plan may cover a larger percentage of your health care costs than Medicare. NSM's plan may also include benefits that are not covered by Medicare at all. 
• If any family members (a spouse and/or children) are covered by NSM's group plan, they would lose their health care insurance. Despite a dependent losing their coverage, this could still be the best option for you and your family. You can purchase medical insurance plans through healthcare.gov and other resources. Contact FEDlogic if you'd like assistance deciding which option is best for you and your family. 
• If you change your mind, it may be difficult to rejoin NSM's plan, outside of open enrollment. Also, once you enroll in Medicare, you can't make new contributions to a tax-advantaged health savings account (HSA). So, using pretax income to pay for future health care may not be possible. 

Option 2 - Stay on NSM's medical and sign up for Medicare Part A 
You can remain on NSM's plan and enroll in Medicare Part A. You may delay enrolling in Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D. The following factors may determine if this is the right course of action for you:

• If Medicare taxes have been deducted from your paycheck for 10 years or more during your working life, you have probably earned premium-free Medicare Part A coverage. 
• You may enroll in premium-free Medicare Part A and delay enrollment in Medicare Part B. Paying the monthly premium for Medicare Part B may not be to your advantage. However, delaying enrollment in Part B and/or Part D does come with special rules. You'll want to investigate this option to ensure you will not have to pay late-enrollment penalties later. When your situation changes and you want to enroll, make sure you know the rules and timeframes for special enrollment periods. 

Option 3 - Stay on NSM's medical and sign up for Medicare Part A & Part B
You can choose to enroll in Original Medicare (Part A & Part B) while being enrolled in NSM's health plan. The particular concerns are:

• In most cases, NSM's plan will be the primary payer of your health care costs, and Medicare would be the secondary payer. 
• Special rules apply to Medicare Part D and the prescription drug coverage in a group helath insurance plan. 
• Overall, you may end up paying a lot more for your health care. For example, you could end up having to send a monthly check to Medicare for your Part B premium and also paying your group plan premium through payroll deductions.