Benefits

  • Is your health plan about to become your new Best Friend Forever? Your exercise enabler, your gym partner? It could all happen in January thanks to new affinity partnership programs that will be launched by a federal health plan near you, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

    September 29, 2011
  • Host Mike Causey is joined by Steve Bauer, executive director of the Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund, and Federal Times editor Steve Losey. September 28, 2011

    September 28, 2011
  • Postal workers and federal employees groups are urging the \"supercommittee\" to reject President Barack Obama\'s proposed increase in employee retirement contributions and support his cap on contractors\' salaries. The Federal-Postal Coalition also wants lawmakers to preserve Saturday mail delivery, despite USPS\' wishes.

    September 28, 2011
  • Can you stand a little good news? Do you remember how to react to it? The good news is that health insurance premiums in the FEHBP are only going up an average of 3.8 percent next year. That\'s almost half the increase in 2011. Check out what you will be paying next year, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

    September 28, 2011
  • Federal employees will see an average of 3.8 percent increase in healthcare premiums in 2012, the lowest rate hike since 2008 and about half of last year\'s increase. On average, enrollees with self-only coverage will pay $2.32 more per bi-weekly pay period, and enrollees with family coverage will pay $6.18 more, the Office of Personnel Management said.

    September 27, 2011
  • Todd Harrison, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, joined the Federal Drive with Tom Temin and Amy Morris to discuss how deficit-reduction proposals would affect military recruiting.

    September 27, 2011
  • What do modern federal workers have in common with St. Joan of Arc who was, by the way, burned at the stake? The answer, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says, is that both managed to maintain a good attitude during some very trying times.

    September 26, 2011
  • Thanks to congressional inability to approve budgets, federal agencies must make decisions quickly on whether to offer buyouts and early retirements within the next few weeks, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

    September 23, 2011
  • Enrollment in the federal long-term-care insurance program increased by 45,000 employees during the open season that ended June 24. It indicates that the aging federal workforce values the benefit despite recent rate hikes.

    September 22, 2011
  • Why is it that when many federal workers and retirees take a pill for a headache, sinus or their blood pressure they also feel a pain in the butt? Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says its all about the high price of prescription drugs.

    September 22, 2011
  • Federal Times Editor Steve Watkins and senior writer Sean Reilly will talk about the future of the U.S. postal service, and NARFE legislative director Daniel Adcock will discuss the changes that Congress wants to make to your retirement benefits. September 21, 2011

    September 21, 2011
  • Should federal and military investors have more options — more high-risk, high-reward funds within their Thrift Savings Plan? Some people want to walk on the wild side, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey reports.

    September 15, 2011
  • Jessica Klement, chief lobbyist for the Federal Managers Association and Federal Times senior writer Steve Losey join host Mike Causey on today\'s program. September 14, 2011

    September 14, 2011
  • It used to be normal for senior correspondent Mike Causey to walk through federal buildings, meet with feds in the halls or have lunch at the OPM cafeteria. That all changed after Sept. 11.

    September 09, 2011