Health Care Reform For You, Not U.S

IBD Editorials ^ | September 30, 2009 | INVESTORS BUSINESS DAILY Staff

[Kaslin]

Government: Federal employees are squawking that Congress might change their gold-plated health coverage, with its wide array of choices. Why isn't what the politicians plan for us good enough for them?

The National Association of Retired Federal Employees sent an e-mail to its members this week warning of two amendments to the Senate's health bill that "threaten the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)."

One was a proposal from Iowa's Charles Grassley, ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee. It required federal workers and members of Congress to join state-based health exchanges to purchase health insurance instead of the FEHBP.

The Finance Committee changed it to make enrollment in the exchanges optional rather than mandatory for federal employees and lawmakers. But the NARFE warned that "Grassley's staff has said they still plan to push the stronger language."

The interest group warned its members that "the Grassley amendment would effectively end FEHBP and require federal workers to join the health exchanges. You worked too hard for your FEHBP health benefits, and we cannot allow them to be taken away."

A second amendment giving the federal worker advocate group the jitters comes from liberal Democratic finance panel member Ron Wyden of Oregon. Wyden wants to, as NARFE puts it, "open the FEHBP to certain low-income, nonfederal civilians."

[Kaslin]

[Earthdweller]

Don't worry about the little people. Spend the money, put it in your pocket and save your own skin. Hey hey, ho, ho....useless boomers have got to go.

[Secret Agent Man]

For the whole series of Zero dollar bills, go here:

"Flickr Archive of Zero Bills"

[alrea]

Should it amaze anyone that even liberal lawmakers pushing for a single payer Euro-socialistic health system for the rest of us found that a system squarely based on robust competition and the widest range of consumer choice was what they would want for themselves and their families?

ping

[muawiyah]

Hidden in all of this is the Postal Reform Act that guaranteed Postal employees (and Postal retirees) the exact same benefits that existed at the time the USPS was created. In short there's a crowd consisting of probably 40% of federal retirees who are GUARANTEED FEHBP.

Your typical Congresscritter has no such guarantee.

[HoosierHawk]

The group warns its members that "without the opportunity to study nonfederal enrollees in a separate FEHBP risk pool, the introduction of any new community into the FEHBP could result in unanticipated premium increases."

Of course, it would never occur to the group that a "new community" may result in lower premiums. Think "postal."

[sickoflibs]

Iowa’s Charles Grassley amendments warms my heart, whats nice about being in minority is even the RINOS act like conservatives.