Decision 2016: Now, what’s for lunch?

Meg Greenfield, the late great editor of The Washington Post’s influential editorial page is supposed to have said that after every funeral, no matter how crushed or sad people are, somebody has to say, “What’s for lunch?” Meaning that no matter what, life goes on. Which is good. Because it does.

This column was written before the polls closed. Before any of the ballots had been counted. Presumably we’ll know by today, maybe as early as Tuesday evening. Unless it’s another Bush-Gore Florida hanging chads event. But let’s suppose it’s over and either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump is president-elect. Now what?

Some people will be happy, some distraught with the election outcome. But you gotta eat. Get the kids off to school. Pay the rent or mortgage. Walk the dog. Somebody will ask what’s for lunch and we’ll have to figure that out. And move on. The mundane, not just a new president, is important too.

For members of the federal family, workers, retirees and many ex-spouses, November is an important real-world month. The Open Season, when people pick their health plan for the coming year, begins Nov. 14 and runs through Dec. 12. The Federal Employee Health Benefits program is the nation’s largest employer-supported plan. It covers nearly 9 million people. For some, the plan they pick for 2017 will be more important, in some cases much more important, than who won the presidency.

Getting the best deal for your insurance buck is important. Premiums and co-payments can be a very big deal. If you or a family member has a catastrophic illness or accident next year, the limit-to-you out of pocket payments you will have to make could be financial deal-breakers.

Most federal workers and virtually all retirees ignore Open Season. They stay in the same plan year-after-year. Even when premiums go up too much, when benefits change or their doctors (unbeknownst to them) leave the plan. Finding that out after the fact is too late. And can be a financial disaster for some people.

The Open Season also covers other important benefits like the federal vision (as in your eyes) insurance program, the dental programs and flexible spending accounts and the Long Term Care Insurance Program. During the open enrollment period, LTC Partners (which runs the Long Term Care Insurance Program) will be hosting a virtual benefits fair: an online marketplace for all the Office of Personnel Management-sanctioned federal programs and health plans. This will include webcasts on key topics conducted by benefits expert Tammy Flanagan. On Nov. 14 (first day) and Dec. 7 a.m. people can visit, online, with all the participating carriers and plans from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

Today at 10 a.m., our Your Turn radio show guest is Joan Melanson, from LTC Partners. She will talk about the various programs, plans and options feds/retirees have, and how the Open Season will work. Making the right choices could save you lots of money and, in some cases, literally save your financial neck next year. You can listen live (10 a.m. EST) at www.federalnewsradio.com or, in the D.C. area, on 1500 AM. If you can’t listen the show will be archived so you can check it out, and refer a friend, later on.

So whether your are happy or sad about the election, all of a sudden its your time again.

Nearly Useless Factoid

By Michael O’Connell

Daredevil Evel Kneivel’s first public jump was a stunt to drum up motorcycle sales. He was supposed to jump over as container filled with rattlesnakes, but he came up short and ended up hurling snakes into the audience.

Source: Esquire

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