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NALC Health Benefit Plan
FEHB Program Carrier Letter
Also known as the"Call Letter". This letter is sent to all FEHB insurance carriers every year outlining what OPM wants and not wants in the Health plans. The letter # 2008-06 dated March 11, 2008 has been sent to all health plan carriers. Here are a few examples in their summary for 2009. Encouraging carriers to offer an alternate choice for Medicare-eligible enrollees as a sub-option within their existing plan option(s). Proposals should be for a pilot, featuring Medicare wrap-around benefits, with the same premium as the high, standard, or basic option for which it would be a sub-option. (This proposal should raise eyebrows and watched real closely).
OPM strongly encourage proposals for enhanced hearing benefits for adults, including hearing aids. (What do you change to stay cost neutral as outlined below?).
OPM continues to encourage proposals for High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) with Savings Accounts (HAS) and Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRA).
(The good old save a little now and pay a lot later insurance programs).
OPM expect your benefit proposals to be consistent with the policies outlined in this letter. Proposals should be cost neutral by offsetting any proposed increases in benefits with corresponding medical savings or benefit reductions, unless stated otherwise. As a reminder, we will not entertain any proposals for enhanced FEHB dental benefits and we are not encouraging any changes to current dental or vision benefits for 2009.
Now you get an idea of what some of the insurance carriers have to deal with from OPM.
Update in Health Care
Under a proposal, offered by Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., FERS employees would be eligible for cash payment of 15 percent of their hourly rate in the highest three salary years for accumulated sick leave beyond 500 hours, up to a dollar maximum of $10,000.
Rep. Danny Davis, D-ILL has offered HR-5550, to allow employees to continue covering their children under FEHB family health insurance until age 25. Under current policy, coverage cuts off at age 22, meaning that in some cases insurance coverage is lost while the dependent is still in college. Davis said that in addition, young working adults often take jobs that do not provided health insurance, or that they can't afford to buy coverage that is offered. Rep. Danny Davis is also asking GAO for a report on creating a short term disability benefit that would pay for time off for caring for a parent, child or spouse with a serious health condition or for the employee's own serious health conditions when their unable to perform their jobs. The study will also analyze disability benefits offered by state and local governments and the private sector.
OPM has sent Congress a legislative proposal to create a new federal insurance program, a short-term disability insurance benefit. Employees eligible for FEHB would be eligible for the benefit, which would come at the employee's sole cost and would be provided by a national insurance company chosen after a competition. Precise term of the coverage and premium rates would be determined in negotiation, although the proposal anticipates both basic and extended coverage options.
In Unity, Robert M Hinton
NALC Health Benefit Rep
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