Rate changes for
 covered by the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program according to OPM will increase by approximately 3.2 percent during the 2015 period. Although premium rates have increased annually over the past four years, the work of OPM has managed to keep those rate increases under 4 percent.
Dental and Vision rates on average will increase by 1.7 percent for dental coverage and 1.5 percent for vision coverage. Although Federal employees will see an increase, their rates remain amongst the most competitive in the industry due largely to the size of the workforce; but not to dismiss the careful negotiations entered into by OPM to provide high quality benefits with a focus on cost-containment.
Parents have been very concerned about coverage for their sons and daughters between the ages of 22 and 26. Now via the Affordable Care Act (ACA), these young people are covered expanding protection to over 400,000 young people across the nation. Parents can rest comfortably in knowing their children’s health will be protected and covered by their Federal health care plans.
With the expansion of ACA, there is greater competition in the industry among carriers resulting in lower costs for entities seeking and relying on their services to offer quality benefits to their employees. The Office of Personnel Management states that there will be 257 plan choices to include 4 new plan choices for Federal employees in 2015.
Federal employees with a self only option on average will pay $2.93 more bi-weekly and those with family coverage will pay $6.89 more. Those persons with HMOs will see an average increase of 4 percent and Fee-for-Service plans will see an average increase of 3.1 percent.
P. S. Always Remember to Share What You Know.
Dianna Tafazoli
