open season
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If past is prologue, most federal and postal workers will either sleepwalk through the open season and do nothing. Others will wait until the last minute, shop frantically and, in most cases, stick with the plan they've been in for years, says Senior Correspondent Mike Causey.
October 09, 2014 -
The Office of Personnel Management released the latest costs for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Tuesday, which show an increase of less than 4 percent for the fourth straight year.
October 07, 2014 -
Is the upcoming weekend a time for dinner, dancing and romance or are you going to curl up with a batch of health-insurance brochures? The latter might the smarter choice, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
December 06, 2013 -
Walton Francis, author of the Checkbook Guide to Federal Health Plans, will answer your calls and emails about open season. December 4, 2013
December 04, 2013 -
If you live a perfect lifestyle and your parents and grandparents celebrated their 85th anniversary in the Bridal Suite of your local Motel 6, you can skip today's column, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. Otherwise, listen up.
December 04, 2013 -
In most serious situations, it's good to have a fallback Plan B. When shopping for health insurance you need four of them, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
December 02, 2013 -
If you are like many federal workers -- and most retirees -- you won't do anything during the health-insurance Open Season, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. And that could be a very costly mistake, especially for workers and particularly retirees in the most popular plans: Blue Cross Standard option and Blue Cross Basic. Both are excellent but one costs nearly twice as much as the other.
November 29, 2013 -
Suppose Congress passed a law requiring you to work an extra five years? You'd be furious, right? Suppose, because you are just plain cheap, you forced yourself to work an extra five years? Guess what? It happens every day, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
November 27, 2013 -
Should you and your significant other be in the same federal family health plan? Or should you each enroll in self-only plans? Think about it, because the health insurance hunting season closes Dec. 9, and picking the wrong plan could cost you big-time, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
November 26, 2013 -
Millions of federal workers are shopping online while they are at work. But don't get mad or hang your head in shame, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. This is a good thing that could save everybody -- especially the taxpayers -- a lot of money.
November 22, 2013 -
Walton Francis, author of the Checkbook Guide to the Health Plan for Federal Employees, and NARFE's David Snell will answer your open season questions. November 20, 2013 (Encore presentation November 27, 2013)
November 20, 2013 -
Trying to decide whether to formalize or end a relationship? If so, this is the perfect time to step back and consider your options, because your health and your finances could be at stake, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
November 19, 2013 -
Being single has its advantages. Especially when you are shopping for a health plan or a new doctor, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. So, just how good is the single life?
November 14, 2013 -
Walton Francis, editor of the Consumers' Checkbook Guide to Federal Health Plans, will answer your calls and emails about open season. November 13, 2013
November 13, 2013 -
You may be the healthiest person in the IRS or the most organic couple with the EPA, but that doesn't let you off the hook when it comes time to hunt for a health plan, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
November 13, 2013