benefits
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Open season is upon us. That's the annual period when federal employees get the chance to change their health plans. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says the vast majority of them -- 96 percent -- don't take advantage of this opportunity and may be losing out on considerable savings.
November 12, 2014 -
Health plan expert Walton Francis says that about half of all federal employees are paying too much for heath care. Now that it's Open Season, feds have a chance to turn that around.
November 10, 2014 -
Larry Fink, chief executive officer of BlackRock, spoke at a meeting Monday of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, which administers the Thrift Savings Plan.
October 29, 2014 -
A WhiteHouse.gov petition asks President Barack Obama to grant government employees off the Friday after Christmas, creating a four-day weekend.
October 22, 2014 -
In a letter to leaders in the House and Senate tax commitees, IRS Commissioner John Koskinen reminded Congress of the importance to make a firm decision on whether to extend a mass-transit subsidy before November.
October 10, 2014 -
At its monthly board meeting Thursday in Washington, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) announced that 87.5 percent of FERS employees are actively contributing to their TSP accounts. The percentage just surpasses the previous record high of 87.4 percent in January 2003. Although participation is increasing, a lower percentage of participants are contributing full match to their TSP accounts.
August 21, 2014 -
While federal employees gave high marks on usefulness and importance to the Thrift Savings Plan, only a small percentage said they had flexible spending accounts because they saw little value in the program. The results are part of a survey that OPM has been doing since 2004 to gauge worker opinions on the health and wellness benefits it offers.
July 10, 2014 -
Last month, Tammy Flanagan, senior benefits director for the National Institute of Transition Planning, joined Federal News Radio's senior correspondent, Mike Causey, to answer feds' questions as part of an exclusive online chat. The experts fielded dozens of questions from readers -- but couldn't get to all them. So, Federal News Radio went back to the experts to answer another round of questions for readers. In this special Q&A, find the experts' take on everything from the best date to retire this year and what happens to insurance premiums when you retire to whether the Thrift Savings Plan plans to offer in-plan conversions.
May 09, 2014 -
When it comes to retirement benefits, not all federal workers pay the same, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey say. In fact, the giant Federal Employees Retirement System, or FERS, now has three tiers.
May 05, 2014 -
Office of Personnel Management Director Katherine Archuleta says she wants to keep premium increases for federal employees' health coverage "in check." In a keynote speech at the annual FEHB Program Carrier Conference in Arlington, Va., Thursday Archuleta also called on insurance carriers to make prescription drugs more affordable and urged more federal employees to sign up for wellness programs.
March 27, 2014 -
Married federal couples face a tough but important choice when they retire, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. Should they provide a survivor benefit?
March 25, 2014 -
If you are in perfect health and plan to stay that way, or if $1,200 a year more or less means little to you, you can skip this column. Otherwise, listen up, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
March 24, 2014 -
When you are dealing with Uncle Sam, especially his complex work rules, it is hard to get a straight yes or no answer, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. But there is a way to survive a federal career -- with a little help from the experts.
March 21, 2014 -
When Robert Gates was secretary of Defense, he tried three years in a row to increase out-of-pocket expenses for TRICARE participants. But Congress voted that down every time.
March 05, 2014 -
The early-out offer at the Social Security Administration is one of the first this year in government. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says it could open up the promotion pipeline for younger, mid-career employees and jump-start early retirement offers in other agencies too. So how are things in your office?
January 31, 2014