1. Do you want an HMO, a PPO or FFS? This affects your flexibility in choosing doctors, specialists and facilities.

2. Do you want a traditional, consumer-driven or high-deductible health plan? Choosing the appropriate plan can save you valuable dollars.

3. How healthy are you? Does anyone in your family have a chronic health condition?

4. Premiums – How important is cost to you? Remember, your annual healthcare costs are more than just premiums – they include out-of-pocket expenses, too. The right to go to your current physician may be more important than premium costs.

5. What is your maximum annual out-of-pocket exposure? Look beyond the limit explained in the Outline of Coverage for hidden costs such as deductibles or co-pays that do not count toward the annual limit.

6. How is hospitalization covered? Normally this question get asked as you’re on the way to the hospital.

7. Do you need a referral to see a specialist?

8. Which of these services do you want covered? Well-child visits, Annual OB/GYN, Maternity care, annual physical, Chiropractic care, Mental health, Physical therapy, Health programs, Prescription drug coverage, dental coverage.

Do you have more questions? Give me a call at 303-922-4304, or email me at ann@annvanderslice.com.

When you learned to drive, you were taught to be on the lookout for others on the road including cars, bicyclists, small children and pets. What does driving have to do with your federal benefits? The same principles you learned as a new driver can help you navigate your federal career.

Sure, there are certain things you have no control over regarding your benefits, but you do have the ability to play defense (drive defensively) and use your benefits to your advantage. With a nod to racecar driving (not recommended on federal highways), here are some defensive tips you can consider depending on where you are in your federal career.

We gotta get out of this place
If it’s the last thing we ever do
We gotta get out of this place
‘Cause girl there’s a better life
For me and you
~ The Animals

At a recent retirement class, a group of federal employees (don’t ask me to name names) got up and actually sang this as their theme song.  Which got me thinking…with all the noise around shrinking government and making federal employees out to be the “bad” guys, what would the real effects of some of the current proposals be?

A recent article in FedSmith (3 Reasons for Federal Employees NOT to Do a “Pension Max”) outlined the things that can go wrong when utilizing a life insurance policy to replace your federal annuity survivorship benefits.  For balance, let’s take a look at  how a properly implemented plan can save you money, provide flexibility and give you control of that survivorship benefit.

The “Pension Max” strategy typically applies to married federal employees and usually only works if you are under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS).  If you are married, the two components to consider for your surviving spouse are whether they will need a portion of your annuity to continue to live the same lifestyle if you (the federal retiree) passes away first and whether they will need access to your Federal Employee Health Benefits.

Gravity is typically a science term associated with the downward force that draws an object or living thing to earth. Because health insurance premiums aren’t an object or living thing – they aren’t subject to gravity’s force and tend to go up each year. So what can you do to create your own gravity and hold your health care costs down?

The average FEHB premium will increase 7.2% this year on top of last year’s 8.8% increase. While premiums are usually the first thing a federal employee or retiree looks at when choosing a health plan, paying attention to overall costs such as deductibles, co-pays for office visits and prescription drugs, and other out-of-pocket expenses can actually lower your overall healthcare expenses.