Federal employees have fewer health insurance choices this year

[The Straight Story]

Federal employees have fewer health insurance choices this year


The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program typically includes an array of health insurance options. But this year the choices are more limited than before because 32 health insurance plans are leaving FEHBP or reducing their coverage across the country.

"It's kind of a disturbing trend," said Dave Snell, retirement benefits service department director for the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. "It cuts down on choices, for one, and the federal program is all about choice."

Snell said primarily health maintenance organization plans are eliminating their FEHBP coverage leaving some regions with fewer options. According to the Office of Personnel Management, 10 states -- Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Maine, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina and Vermont -- will no longer have an HMO choice.

That leaves other options, such as fee-for-service plans or consumer-driven plans, with high deductibles.

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleID=43998&dcn=todays_most_popular

[global1]

1. The Only Answer Is......

Universal Single Payer.

[elleng]

2. Somehow I suspect that many won't complain

about fewer HMO choices. Am I wrong? Have they improved their acts?