Benefits

  • Disabled federal workers with dependents would be among the hardest hit by proposed changes to federal workers' compensation benefits, according to an analysis by the Government Accountability Office. The Labor Department has proposed setting a uniform level of compensation — 70 percent of the pre-injury salary — regardless of dependents and further reducing benefits to 50 percent when employees reach retirement age. But in its report which simulated those proposed changes, GAO raised concerns about the effects on beneficiaries.

    November 27, 2012
  • Wouldn't it be great if you could get Jimmy Choo shoes or Savile Row suits at Payless Shoes or Wal-Mart? The hitch is you can't, and it's a reality federal workers and retirees need to consider when picking their 2013 health plan, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

    November 27, 2012
  • Whether your family consists of just a husband or you have 18 dependents, a family is a family as far as Uncle Sam is concerned. And that ticks off couples who resent paying the same health premiums as those charged a large family, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. Is that right?

    November 26, 2012
  • Under temporary rules issued by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, feds can continue to contribute to their Thrift Savings Plan. FRTIB will waive a rule that prevents contributions for six months after taking a hardship withdrawal.

    November 23, 2012
  • In inspirational movies, a heroic general often says things like, "failure is not an option." And that's silly, of course, because failure is always an option and that's especially true for millions of current and former federal workers - some of whom are sleepwalking their way through the health insurance hunting season, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

    November 21, 2012
  • When it comes to picking a federal health plan, two cannot live as cheaply as one - you want to be the Lone Ranger, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

    November 20, 2012
  • What do the Office of Personnel Management, the General Services Administration and the Defense Intelligence Agency have in common? Although their missions are very different, they are among the 40-plus agencies that are shelling out time and money to make it easier for their employees to pick the best health plan for 2013.

    November 19, 2012
  • Federal health benefits expert Walton Francis will talk about FEHBP open season, and Federal Times reporter Sean Reilly will discuss sequestration and other issues affecting federal workers. November 14, 2012

    November 14, 2012
  • There are several ways to select your 2013 federal health plan: You can do nothing, and stay where you are. You can let your pet chimp or clever goldfish make the selection. Or, you can do a little homework and save yourself $1,000 or more next year. It's your call, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

    November 14, 2012
  • Benefits consultants Walton Francis and Ed Zurndorfer offer top tips for federal employees considering a new health plan. Open Season runs from Nov. 12 to Dec. 10.

    November 12, 2012
  • NARFE's David Snell joins host Mike Causey to talk about best health care buys for federal retirees. Sean Reilly from the Federal Times will discuss the presidential election and its impact on feds. November 7, 2012

    November 07, 2012
  • Trish Gilbert, executive vice president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, joins host Mike Causey on today's show. Mike will also talk about the upcoming elections with writers from the Federal Times. October 31, 2012

    October 31, 2012
  • Health insurance is a must-have item for everybody. But there is more than health insurance at issue during the big benefits hunting season that kicks off Nov.12 and runs through Dec. 10. Sleep through it at your peril, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

    October 24, 2012
  • John Montague talks about life insurance and Sean Reilly discuses the U.S. Postal Service's finances and more this week on Your Turn.

    October 24, 2012
  • Federal employees will see a slight increase — averaging 3.4 percent — in what they pay towards their 2013 health plan premiums.

    October 18, 2012