Pay & Benefits
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Despite high agreement that improvements are necessary, it will likely still be years before Congress and the Defense Department can fully address major quality-of-life challenges for military personnel through appropriations.
January 31, 2024 -
The Department of Veterans Affairs, pivoting to align with the Defense Department, will soon remove health care coverage requirements that advocates have said discriminate against LGBTQ+ and unmarried veterans.
January 29, 2024 -
DoD will update its policy for coverage of infertility treatments, giving access to active-duty members who are either unmarried or in same-sex marriages.
January 24, 2024 -
Close to 87% of TSP participants are now contributing enough to their retirement accounts to receive the maximum matching contribution rate from the government.
January 23, 2024 -
In today's Federal Newscast: Foggy Bottom has signed an agreement with the Smithsonian to assist in international expansion. New requirements in the law require better living conditions in military barracks. And the Office of Management and Budget is proposing new pay rules for feds working above their pay grade.
December 27, 2023 -
In today's Federal Newscast: Service members will see basic allowance for housing rates increase by an average of 5.4% starting January 1. Senate Republicans say they smell a rat in the case of the missing OPM use-of-official-time webpage. And a bipartisan bill in Congress aims to increase the salary of VA radiation specialists from an annual $195K to $280K.
December 15, 2023 -
'Tis the season to be jolly. But don't get too distracted from important priorities, like end-of-year financial planning. For some orientation, the Federal Drive with Tom Temin spoke with Thiago Glieger, a wealth adviser with RMG Advisers of Rockville, Maryland, a firm that specializes in federal employees.
December 07, 2023 -
There are some notable changes to health care for 2024. Retired or not, it would serve you well to understand those changes and your options. With some timely advice, the editor of the Checkbook Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees, Kevin Moss, talked with the hosts of the podcast Fed Life, Tom Temin and Drew Friedman.
December 05, 2023 -
Our readers in Japan respond to a recent Federal News Network interview with the director of the Defense Health Agency -- telling us the civilian employee health care crisis in that country is far from resolved.
November 28, 2023 -
Eligible participants can enroll or change plans during open season for TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select until Dec. 12. Changes will take effect on Jan. 1.
November 24, 2023 -
The Office of Personnel Management faces a tight deadline to set up a new health insurance marketplace for Postal Service employees and retirees to enroll in new plans, starting next year.
November 17, 2023 -
Don’t just roll over your plan, says Kevin Moss, who researches FEHB plans for Consumers’ Checkbook. “It’s quite possible that you’re overpaying versus some less expensive options that could provide just as good or … even better coverage for a lower price.”
November 17, 2023 -
A dental plan is more than just an add-on when making your annual health care insurance selections. You want dental care that supports you and your family at every stage of life, explains UnitedHealthcare Dental’s Haley Landherr.
November 16, 2023 -
With more than 150 health plan options in the FEHB program, one of the most common questions from FEHB participants is which specific plans are available to them. One expert at OPM details where participants can look to find the answers.
November 16, 2023 -
Whatever the reason, and whether or not you end up making a change at the end, the Office of Personnel Management encourages all FEHB enrollees to take a look during Open Season at the health care changes coming in 2024.
November 14, 2023