Civilian health-care premiums increasing

  • Published
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Air Force civilian health-care plan premiums are expected to increase an average of more than 10 percent in January. That means employees with 'self-only' coverage will pay about $5 more per pay period and those with 'family coverage' will pay $11.95 more.

Employees will have the opportunity to review and update plans during the Federal Employee's Health Benefits program's open season, Nov. 10 to Dec. 8.

The number of health-plan carriers is also increasing by 17 for a total of 205 options available for employees to choose from in 2004, said Janet Thomas of the benefits and entitlements service team, or BEST, at the Air Force Personnel Center here.

Other changes include two new "consumer-driven" plans allow employees to manage their own health-care needs and health dollars. Also, nine health-plan carriers are dropping out of the Federal Employee's Health Benefits program this year.

"Insurance carriers leaving the FEHB or making significant service changes are required to notify their customers, and we also send letters to those affected," Thomas said. "But it is still the employee's responsibility to ensure his or her plan is in order.

"Open season is the best time for people to review their health-care coverage -- not only to make desired changes, but to ensure their plan hasn't been altered or discontinued," she said.

Office of Personnel Management officials released guides comparing costs, benefits and quality indicators. Those guides are available online at www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp. Individual plan brochures will be available soon, officials said.

"There are several guides so employees need to make sure they have selected the correct one," Thomas said.

Most full-time employees will review guide RI 70-1 and temporary employees will review RI-70-8.

More information is available online www.opm.gov/insure or at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/dpc/BEST/menu.htm.

All Air Force-serviced civilian employees must make their open season changes by one of two methods:

-- AFPC's Employee Benefits Information System Web site at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/dpc/BEST_GRB/EBIS.htm. Employees with self and family coverage or other insurance can use the site’s automated system to make their elections and avoid having to transfer to a counselor to complete their transaction. Also, making the election via the Web enables employees to print a copy of their health benefits election form as soon as they complete their election, officials said.

-- The BEST automated phone system at (800) 997-2378 or commercial 527-2378 if calling within the San Antonio area. Hearing impaired employees may call the TDD line at (800) 382-0893, or commercial 565-2276 within San Antonio. Overseas employees may use the toll-free direct access number for the country that they are in. Benefits counselors are available weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CST.

During this open season, eligible employees may also enroll in the flexible spending account program for calendar 2004. There are two types of FSA accounts: the Health Care Flexible Spending Account and the Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account. FSA enrollment is conducted directly with the third-party program administrator at www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds or toll-free (877) 372-3337, or TDD at (800) 952-0450.

Employees eligible for FEHB, even if not currently enrolled, are eligible to elect a health care FSA. All employees with qualified dependents may enroll in the dependent care FSA except temporary employees with no fixed work schedule whose tour of duty is six months or less. (Courtesy of Air Force Personnel Center News Service)