Feds' health insurance premiums to increase 7.2 percent

[The Straight Story]

Feds' health insurance premiums to increase 7.2 percent

The average amount federal employees pay for their health insurance plans will rise 7.2 percent in 2011, the Office of Personnel Management announced on Friday.

The upcoming premium increase for plans in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program is less than the 8.8 percent rise participants experienced in 2010, despite a range of new benefits to be added, according to OPM Director John Berry.

The total average premium increase for FEHBP plans will be 7.3 percent, or $27.10 per pay period, OPM said. Of that amount, the government will increase its contribution to employees' health care costs by $18.86 per pay period, or 7.3 percent. That leaves federal workers with an average increase of $8.24 in their premiums, or 7.2 percent.

The average nonpostal employee will see premiums rise by $5.53 per pay period for individual coverage, and by $11.45 for family coverage. For postal workers, premiums will cost an extra $6.10 per pay period for individual coverage and $12.73 more per pay period for family plans.

According to OPM, the increase is due to changes in the health care market and added plan features, such as tobacco cessation incentives, preventative screenings at no cost to enrollees, and extending coverage to adult children age 26 or younger. The new cutoff age for dependent coverage, mandated by the health reform law, will take effect on Jan. 1, 2011.

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=46245&dcn=todaysnews

[ixion]

1. Hurray! The Insurance companies are saved!

Thank goodness the 'reform' bill passed. :eyes:

[PoliticAverse]

2. "at no cost to enrollees"

According to OPM, the increase is due to...added plan features, such as... preventative screenings at no cost to enrollees

I do not think "no cost" means what they think it means...