Whenever new federal health premiums are announced, the proper/popular/prudent response from a space like this is to express outrage over yet another monsterous rip-off of dedicated feds and families.

But I gotta tell you folks as an outsider looking in, who is closer to retirement than mid-career crisis, the FEHBP looks pretty darn good to most Americans who do not happen to work for the federal government.

According to the Office of Personnel Management the “average” premium next will go up 8 percent in January 2009. That is also when the next federal pay raise kicks in that could be worth 4-plus percent to feds in the Washington area. It’s also when retirees will get a Cost of Living Adjustment that is on track to be around 6 percent. The government will continue to pay around 72 percent of the total average premium.

Nobody likes to see health premiums go up, but medical inflation is a fact of life. Earlier this year I talked with two outside health insurance experts, who follow the FEHBP plan closely. One predicted that FEHBP premiums, on average, would go up 16 percent next year. The other said it would be more like 15 percent.

One fact often overlooked by people inside government is that FEHBP coverage is for life. And if your spouse outlives you, he or she can carry coverage for life. And premiums are the same, in the same plans, for healthy 22 year olds as they are for not-so-healthy 100 year olds. And there are some in the FEHBP. In addition, people can switch plans each year, with dozens to choose from. Nobody can be turned down, denied coverage or given limited coverage because of age, health or preexisting medical conditions.

By contrast, many private companies, those that still offer insurance, herd employees into HMOs or give them very limited choices. And when a covered individual retires, they typically lose coverage. Or are put in a plan with limited benefits and/or higher premiums. Or both.

Some private sector employees get health insurance coverage through their union which means they must belong to the union, which is only fair. And they pay union dues and premiums. And if they don’t pay enough in union dues (if they have low-paying jobs, or go to part-time) they lose coverage.

I’ve told this grass-is-always-greener story before. But in case you missed it: A couple of years back a beautiful woman member of my health club asked if she could speak to me alone. She said she was looking for a life companion. I blushed, yet on reflection could hardly blame her for falling for me. Falling hard!!! Alas, it was not to be. My flowing muscles, controlled by an encyclopedic brain protected by a headful of Hollywood hair was not what attracted her to me.

What she wanted to know is is if I knew a 45 to 65 year old federal worker or retiree who was covered by the FEHBP. Objective: Matrimony!

She had cancer and was afraid she was going to lose coverage at the prestigious law firm where she worked as an accountant.

Nearly every time I tell this story, which is amusing and yet deadly serious, a female fed tells me she has had the same experience. Often it is some geezer (I mean mature man) who is looking for a twosome: FEHBP coverage and a built-in nurse.

Much more on the FEHBP to come. Higher premiums really do strain things for some people. But for now, match up your life-time FEHBP plan (warts and all) with what the vast majority of Americans don’t have.

Oh, and as for the lady at the health club, she still hasn’t found Mister Right, but she has beaten the cancer.

Nearly Useless Factoid

The most common social phobia is the fear of public speaking.

To reach me: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com

Copyright © 2024 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.