47 minute read
Open Season: FEHB and FEDVIP Premiums and Information
PEN SEASON
REPORT
2021 OPEN SEASON: NOVEMBER 8 – DECEMBER 13
FEHB PREMIUMS
On September 29, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced the premium rates for the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program’s 2022 plan year.
The enrollee share of premiums for non-Postal employees and all annuitants will increase an average of 3.8 percent in 2022. (Postal employees pay a different rate because of collective bargaining agreements.) The average increase in the government share of premiums will be 1.9 percent.
The overall average total premium will be 2.4 percent more in 2022, which is lower than the average FEHB increases experienced in most of the past five years and competitive with premium increases projected for or reported by other large private- and public-sector employers.
FEHB carriers may offer up to three plan options of any plan type: Self Only, Self Plus One or Self and Family. Overall, the FEHB program will offer 275 health plan choices in 2022. The actual number of choices available to any given enrollee will be lower and will vary by geographic location.
Changes in FEHB coverage may be made during Federal Benefits Open Season, November 8 to December 13. Also included in Open Season are the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) (see p. 50) and the Federal Flexible
EVEN MORE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT NARFE.ORG/ OPEN-SEASON.
Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS).
There is no need for enrollees to re-enroll in FEHB and FEDVIP unless they want to change plans or their current plan ceases participation. However, employees must re-enroll in FSAFEDS every year to continue to participate.
ENROLLEE PREMIUMS
The tables on pages 37, 38 and 40 list the 14 open-to-all fee-for-service (FFS) plans, the four restricted FFS plans and the largest participating HMOs; the 2022 cost of each plan for both employees and retirees; and the increase/ decrease from 2021.
Rates listed are applicable to most non-Postal federal employees as well as all retirees and survivors. For a listing of all premiums, go to www.opm. gov/healthcare-insurance/ open-season/.
Changes in FEHB enrollee premiums vary from plan to plan, but, on average, enrollees with Self Only coverage will pay $3.17 more per biweekly pay period; enrollees with Self Plus One coverage will pay $7.61 more per biweekly pay period; and enrollees with Self and Family coverage will pay $10.09 more per biweekly pay period. (Employees pay premiums on a biweekly
Plan Option
APWU HEALTH PLAN
High Self High Self & Family High Self Plus One CDHP Self
Code Total Premium Govt Pays Enrollee Pays
Enrollee Increase/Decrease
biweekly monthly biweekly monthly biweekly monthly biweekly monthly 471 351.25 761.04 244.86 530.53 106.39 230.51 2.73 5.91 472 842.96 1826.41 574.13 1243.95 268.83 582.46 2.53 5.48 473 737.59 1598.11 524.63 1136.70 212.96 461.41 5.45 11.80
474 278.61 603.66 208.96 452.75 69.65 150.91 0 0
CDHP Self & Family 475 660.58 1431.26 495.44 1073.45 165.14 357.81 CDHP Self Plus One 476 605.53 1311.98 454.15 983.99 151.38 327.99 0 0 0 0
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD SERVICE BENEFIT PLAN
Standard Self 104 372.33 806.72 244.86 530.53 127.47 276.19 4.02 8.701 Standard Self & Family 105 888.24 1924.52 574.13 1243.95 314.11 680.57 13.99 30.31 Standard Self Plus One 106 814.24 1764.19 524.63 1136.70 289.61 627.49 8.80 19.06 Basic Self 111 320.74 694.94 240.56 521.21 80.18 173.73 1.58 3.42 Basic Self & Family 112 786.42 1703.91 574.13 1243.95 212.29 459.96 11.02 23.88 Basic Self Plus One 113 720.76 1561.65 524.63 1136.70 196.13 424.95 6.96 15.08 Blue Focus Self 131 212.58 460.59 159.44 345.44 53.14 115.15 0 0 Blue Focus Self & Family 132 502.70 1089.18 377.03 816.89 125.67 272.29 0 0 Blue Focus Self Plus One 133 457.02 990.21 342.77 742.66 114.25 247.55 0 0
GEHA BENEFIT PLAN
High Self 311 349.72 757.73 244.86 530.53 104.86 227.20 -3.28 -7.11 High Self & Family 312 876.38 1898.82 574.13 1243.95 302.25 654.87 -11.88 -25.74 High Self Plus One 313 769.39 1667.01 524.63 1136.70 244.76 530.31 -7.17 -15.54 Standard Self 314 250.66 543.10 188.00 407.33 62.66 135.77 0 0 Standard Self & Family 315 659.40 1428.70 494.55 1071.53 164.85 357.17 0 0 Standard Self Plus One 316 538.94 1167.70 404.21 875.78 134.73 291.92 0 0 HDHP Self 341 252.83 547.80 189.62 410.85 63.21 136.95 1.84 3.99 HDHP Self & Family 342 667.99 1447.31 500.99 1085.48 167.00 361.83 7.96 17.23 HDHP Self Plus One 343 543.59 1177.78 407.69 883.34 135.90 294.44 3.96 8.57
GEHA INDEMNITY BENEFIT PLAN
Elevate Plus Self 251 316.51 685.77 237.38 514.33 79.13 171.44 3.77 8.16 Elevate Plus Self & Family 252 762.53 1652.15 571.90 1239.11 190.63 413.04 3.74 8.11 Elevate Plus Self Plus One 253 707.14 1532.14 524.63 1136.70 182.51 395.44 6.70 14.51 Elevate Self 254 194.97 422.44 146.23 316.83 48.74 105.61 1.42 3.08 Elevate Self & Family 255 545.93 1182.85 409.45 887.14 136.48 295.71 3.97 8.61 Elevate Self Plus One 256 448.44 971.62 336.33 728.72 112.11 242.90 3.27 7.07
MHBP
Value Self 414 223.87 485.05 167.90 363.79 55.97 121.26 2.62 5.66 Value Self & Family 415 541.02 1172.21 405.77 879.16 135.25 293.05 6.31 13.69 Value Self Plus One 416 530.43 1149.27 397.82 861.95 132.61 287.32 6.20 13.43 Standard Self 454 313.04 678.25 234.78 508.69 78.26 169.56 6.46 14 Standard Self & Family 455 727.48 1576.21 545.61 1182.16 181.87 394.05 15.02 32.54 Standard Self Plus One 456 720.55 1561.19 524.63 1136.70 195.92 424.49 30.66 66.42 HDHP Self 481 305.59 662.11 229.19 496.58 76.40 165.53 3.64 7.88 HDHP Self & Family 482 710.09 1538.53 532.57 1153.90 177.52 384.63 8.45 18.31 HDHP Self Plus One 483 676.28 1465.27 507.21 1098.95 169.07 366.32 8.05 17.44
NALC
High Self 321 343.14 743.47 244.86 530.53 98.28 212.94 3.45 7.47 High Self & Family 322 776.15 1681.66 574.13 1243.95 202.02 437.71 3.33 7.22 High Self Plus One 323 758.98 1644.46 524.63 1136.70 234.35 507.76 7.71 16.70 CDHP Self 324 218.55 473.53 163.91 355.15 54.64 118.38 0 0 CDHP Self & Family 325 512.73 1110.92 384.55 833.19 128.18 277.73 1.27 2.75 CDHP Self Plus One 326 482.16 1044.68 361.62 783.51 120.54 261.17 0 0 Value Self KM1 179.37 388.64 134.53 291.48 44.84 97.16 0 0 Value Self & Family KM2 420.99 912.15 315.74 684.11 105.25 228.04 1.05 2.26 Value Self Plus One KM3 395.70 857.35 296.78 643.01 98.92 214.34 0 0
SAMBA
High Self 441 403.70 874.68 244.86 530.53 158.84 344.15 -3.28 -7.11 High Self & Family 442 968.87 2099.22 574.13 1243.95 394.74 855.27 -11.88 -25.74 High Self Plus One 443 888.14 1924.30 524.63 1136.70 363.51 787.60 -7.17 -15.54 Standard Self 444 326.74 707.94 244.86 530.53 81.88 177.41 -0.04 -0.09 Standard Self & Family 445 745.44 1615.12 559.08 1211.34 186.36 403.78 1.85 4.00 Standard Self Plus One 446 703.25 1523.71 524.63 1136.70 178.62 387.01 -0.20 -0.44
For restricted fee-for-service plans, see page 48.
OPEN SEASON CHANGES for employees are effective at the beginning of the first pay period after January 1, 2022. Changes for retirees and survivor annuitants are effective January 1, 2022, and premium changes will be reflected in February 1, 2022, annuity payments. If verified enrollment is required, the change notice from OPM should suffice for annuitants; the notification from their agency will suffice for employees.
2022 PREMIUMS — LARGEST HMOS*
State(s) Plan Option Total Premium Govt Pays Enrollee Pays
Enrollee Increase/Decrease
Code biweekly monthly biweekly monthly biweekly monthly biweekly monthly
DC, MD, VA AETNA OPEN ACCESS - CAPITOL REGION
High Self JN1 577.64 1,251.55 244.86 530.53 332.78 721.02 31.33 67.87 High Self & Family JN2 1,298.62 2,813.68 574.13 1,243.95 724.49 1,569.73 65.95 142.89 High Self Plus One JN3 1,285.75 2,785.79 524.63 1,136.70 761.12 1,649.09 69.88 151.40 Basic Self JN4 341.29 739.46 244.86 530.53 96.43 208.93 8.28 17.93 Basic Self & Family JN5 781.03 1,692.23 574.13 1,243.95 206.90 448.28 14.57 31.57 Basic Self Plus One JN6 717.20 1,553.93 524.63 1,136.70 192.57 417.23 17.11 37.06
DC, MD, VA AETNA DIRECT - CAPITOL REGION
CDHP Self N61 289.97 628.27 217.48 471.20 72.49 157.07 1.43 3.11 CDHP Self & Family N62 731.30 1,584.48 548.48 1,188.36 182.82 396.12 3.62 7.85 CDHP Self Plus One N63 635.94 1,377.87 476.96 1,033.40 158.98 344.47 3.15 6.83
DC, MD, VA CAREFIRST BLUECHOICE
Standard Self 2G4 417.96 905.58 244.86 530.53 173.10 375.05 4.92 10.66 Standard Self & Family 2G5 993.04 2,151.59 574.13 1,243.95 418.91 907.64 7.58 16.43 Standard Self Plus One 2G6 835.90 1,811.12 524.63 1,136.70 311.27 674.42 9.22 19.97 HDHP Self B61 278.91 604.31 209.18 453.23 69.73 151.08 3.95 8.56 HDHP Self & Family B62 662.67 1,435.79 497.00 1,076.84 165.67 358.95 9.38 20.32 HDHP Self Plus One B63 557.80 1,208.57 418.35 906.43 139.45 302.14 7.89 17.10
ID, WA KAISER PERMANENTE—WASHINGTON
High Self 541 401.32 869.53 244.86 530.53 156.46 339.00 -0.62 -1.34 High Self & Family 542 882.89 1,912.93 574.13 1,243.95 308.76 668.98 -6.03 -13.06 High Self Plus One 543 882.89 1,912.93 524.63 1,136.70 358.26 776.23 -1.32 -2.86 Standard Self 544 288.56 625.21 216.42 468.91 72.14 156.30 0.83 1.80 Standard Self & Family 545 663.69 1,438.00 497.77 1,078.50 165.92 359.50 1.91 4.14 Standard Self Plus One 546 663.69 1,438.00 497.77 1,078.50 165.92 359.50 1.91 4.14
DC, MD, VA M.D. INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE ASSOCIATION (MDIPA)
High Self JP1 467.07 1,011.99 244.86 530.53 222.21 481.46 24.92 53.99 High Self & Family JP2 1,309.69 2,837.66 574.13 1,243.95 735.56 1,593.71 67.22 145.64 High Self Plus One JP3 912.20 1,976.43 524.63 1,136.70 387.57 839.73 47.91 103.80
CA KAISER PERMANENTE—NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
CA
High Self 591 462.60 1,002.30 244.86 530.53 217.74 471.77 -8.93 -19.35 High Self & Family 592 1,104.27 2,392.59 574.13 1,243.95 530.14 1,148.64 -25.39 -55.01 High Self Plus One 593 1,104.27 2,392.59 524.63 1,136.70 579.64 1,255.89 -20.68 -44.81 Standard Self 594 376.10 814.88 244.86 530.53 131.24 284.35 -6.88 -14.91 Standard Self & Family 595 880.06 1,906.80 574.13 1,243.95 305.93 662.85 -20.33 -44.05 Standard Self Plus One 596 880.06 1,906.80 524.63 1,136.70 355.43 770.10 -15.62 -33.85 Prosper Self KC1 303.95 658.56 227.96 493.92 75.99 164.64 0.75 1.62 Prosper Self & Family KC2 711.24 1,541.02 533.43 1,155.77 177.81 385.25 1.75 3.79 Prosper Self Plus One KC3 711.24 1,541.02 524.63 1,136.70 186.61 404.32 -0.17 -0.37
KAISER PERMANENTE—SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
High Self 621 351.06 760.63 244.86 530.53 106.20 230.10 1.54 3.33 High Self & Family 622 811.37 1,757.97 574.13 1,243.95 237.24 514.02 -0.74 -1.60 High Self Plus One 623 811.37 1,757.97 524.63 1,136.70 286.74 621.27 3.97 8.60 Standard Self 624 225.39 488.35 169.04 366.26 56.35 122.09 1.72 3.73 Standard Self & Family 625 520.90 1,128.62 390.68 846.47 130.22 282.15 3.97 8.60 Standard Self Plus One 626 520.90 1,128.62 390.68 846.47 130.22 282.15 3.97 8.60
DC, MD, VA KAISER PERMANENTE—MID-ATLANTIC STATES
High Self E31 349.20 756.60 244.86 530.53 104.34 226.07 1.50 3.25 High Self & Family E32 803.17 1,740.20 574.13 1,243.95 229.04 496.25 -0.87 -1.89 High Self Plus One E33 803.17 1,740.20 524.63 1,136.70 278.54 603.50 3.84 8.31 Standard Self E34 280.27 607.25 210.20 455.44 70.07 151.81 1.04 2.24 Standard Self & Family E35 644.60 1,396.63 483.45 1,047.47 161.15 349.16 2.38 5.15 Standard Self Plus One E36 644.60 1,396.63 483.45 1,047.47 161.15 349.16 2.38 5.15 Prosper Self T71 170.26 368.90 127.70 276.68 42.56 92.22 -6.79 -14.71 Prosper Self & Family T72 485.23 1,051.33 363.92 788.50 121.31 262.83 -5.56 -12.05 Prosper Self Plus One T73 400.11 866.91 300.08 650.18 100.03 216.73 -9.80 -21.23
CO
KAISER PERMANENTE— COLORADO
High Self 651 356.72 772.89 244.86 530.53 111.86 242.36 -3.28 -7.11 High Self & Family 652 806.19 1,746.75 574.13 1,243.95 232.06 502.80 -11.88 -25.74 High Self Plus One 653 806.19 1,746.75 524.63 1,136.70 281.56 610.05 -7.17 -15.54 Standard Self 654 304.23 659.17 228.17 494.38 76.06 164.79 -0.19 -0.42 Standard Self & Family 655 687.56 1,489.71 515.67 1,117.28 171.89 372.43 -0.43 -0.93 Standard Self Plus One 656 687.56 1,489.71 515.67 1,117.28 171.89 372.43 -0.43 -0.93 Prosper Self N41 180.07 390.15 135.05 292.61 45.02 97.54 -6.38 -13.84 Prosper Self & Family N42 442.97 959.77 332.23 719.83 110.74 239.94 -15.71 -34.04 Prosper Self Plus One N43 406.95 881.73 305.21 661.30 101.74 220.43 -14.43 -31.28 *Based on information provided by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). If your plan is not listed, it simply means that your plan is not one of the largest.
KEY: Employees pay biweekly
Annuitants pay monthly 2022 PREMIUMS — RESTRICTED FEE FOR SERVICE
Plan Option Code Total Premium Govt Pays Enrollee Pays
Enrollee Increase/ Decrease
biweekly monthly biweekly monthly biweekly monthly biweekly monthly
COMPASS ROSE HEALTH PLAN (members of the Intelligence Community, employees of Departments of Defense and State)
High Self 421 351.02 760.54 244.86 530.53 106.16 230.01 0.19 0.40 High Self & Family 422 842.47 1825.35 574.13 1243.95 268.34 581.40 -3.54 -7.67 High Self Plus One 423 772.26 1673.23 524.63 1136.70 247.63 536.53 0.47 1.01
FOREIGN SERVICE BENEFIT PLAN (American Foreign Service personnel, Departments of State and Defense, USAID, Foreign Agricultural and Commercial services, other executive branch employees assigned overseas; Foreign Service retirees)
High Self 401 292.76 634.31 219.57 475.73 73.19 158.58 1.44 3.11 High Self & Family 402 724.22 1569.14 543.17 1176.86 181.05 392.28 3.55 7.69 High Self Plus One 403 710.11 1538.57 524.63 1136.70 185.48 401.87 6.75 14.62
RURAL CARRIER BENEFIT PLAN (active and retired rural letter carriers)
High Self 381 375.67 813.95 244.86 530.53 130.81 283.42 4.09 8.86 High Self & Family 382 811.02 1757.21 574.13 1243.95 236.89 513.26 17.43 37.76 High Self Plus One 383 772.12 1672.93 524.63 1136.70 247.49 536.23 20.74 44.93
PANAMA CANAL AREA BENEFIT PLAN
High Self 431 325.92 706.16 244.44 529.62 81.48 176.54 5.33 11.55 High Self & Family 432 686.68 1487.81 515.01 1115.86 171.67 371.95 12.72 27.55 High Self Plus One 433 656.57 1422.57 492.43 1066.93 164.14 355.64 12.16 26.34
NARFE PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE TO OPM’S OPEN SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT
In response to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announcing September 29 that Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program premiums for America’s active and retired federal workers will increase by an average of 2.4 percent in 2022, NARFE National President Ken Thomas issued the following statement:
“In a time of ever-increasing health care costs, I commend OPM for its hard work in keeping the FEHB average premium increase below that of the private market. The portion of FEHB premiums paid by federal civil servants and retirees will increase by an average of 3.8 percent; many other health systems are seeing greater increases.
“While federal employees and retirees will continue to feel the pinch of rising health care costs, NARFE appreciates the diligence with which OPM staff negotiated rates to provide highquality benefits at a reasonable price.
“Today’s announcement brought some additional good news for both retirees and employees:
“First, the number of plans that offer enrollees Medicare Part B premium reimbursement has grown, to 29. That helps annuitants looking for coverage that meets their needs and fits their budgets.
“For those employees who have not been able to draw down their flexible spending accounts this year, there’s a bright spot: All unused 2021 funds in health care and dependent care FSAs can be used for reimbursement through 2022 if the employee re-enrolls in FSAFEDS. This is the right thing to do for federal employees and their families, given the difficulty scheduling elective procedures and closure of schools and child care centers due to the pandemic.
“While higher costs for coverage may be unavoidable, federal employees and retirees should be aware that they have many options to choose from during Open Season. Although most enrollees will see an increase of less than 5 percent if they reenroll in their current plans, it’s still important to reevaluate your options. NARFE encourages all participants to thoroughly review the plans to select the one that best fits their needs. All federal employees and annuitants are encouraged to join NARFE’s upcoming Open Season webinars to help narrow their choices.
“Congress can also do its part to help lower health care costs by passing legislation to lower prescription drug prices. FEHB carriers indicated that rising drug prices were a major contributor to the 2022 rate increases. As Congress considers the Build Back Better Act, NARFE urges leaders to preserve provisions to allow the Department of Health and Human Services to negotiate drug prices for Medicare and to require FEHB plans to take advantage of those lower, negotiated prices. This would lower premiums and out-of-pocket costs for federal employees and retirees.”
FEHB PREMIUMS FROM P.36
basis; retirees pay premiums on a monthly basis.)
Enrollees with Self Only coverage in the popular Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Standard option will pay $127.47 per biweekly pay period in 2022; those with Self Plus One coverage will pay $289.61 per biweekly pay period; and those with Self and Family coverage will pay $314.11 per biweekly pay period.
CHANGES FOR 2022
New Reimbursement for Medicare Part B Premiums.
In addition to existing plan options that offer some form of Medicare Part B reimbursement depending on the FEHB enrollees’ enrollment in Medicare Part B or Medicare Advantage, the following four plan options will now offer some reimbursement for an enrollee’s Medicare Part B premiums for those who also enroll in the carrier’s Medicare Advantage Plan: • Humana Value Plan • MHBP Standard Option • Compass Rose • Rural Carrier Benefit
New Plan Options. There are 23 new plan options for 2022: • BCBS of Colorado (HDHP) • HealthKeepers, Inc.—Virginia (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Atlanta (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Austin, TX (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Central and NW, IL (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Chicago and NW, IN (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Cincinnati area (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Columbus, GA (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Corpus Christi, TX (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Daytona (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Houston (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Lexington (Value) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Louisville (Value) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Macon, GA (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Orlando (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Phoenix (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst— portions of Kansas and
Missouri (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—San
Antonio (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—South
Florida (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Tampa (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Tennessee (HDHP) • Humana CoverageFirst—
Tucson, AZ (HDHP) • Kaiser Foundation Health
Plan of Southern California (PROSPER)
Plan Terminations. OPM has not indicated that any health plans will drop out of the FEHB program for the 2022 plan year.
However, all HMO enrollees should review their plan’s 2022 brochure to see if they still live or work in their plan’s service area. Typically, two sources let enrollees know if a plan is terminating: • Pre-Open Season letter from
OPM to all agency benefit officers. • Mailed notice to members from terminating plans.
INFORMATION SOURCES
Employees will receive Open Season information from their agencies, and most eligible annuitants, survivor annuitants and former spouse annuitants will receive information from OPM.
Additional information will be added to OPM’s website as it becomes available before Open Season begins on November 8.
Plan carriers will not automatically send enrollees their 2022 brochures. You must request a plan brochure or download it from www.opm.gov/ insure.
FEHB FAQS FOR OPEN SEASON
What are the parameters used to determine the dates for the annual Open Seasons for health, dental and vision insurances as well as for flexible spending accounts?
Each year, Open Season runs from the Monday of the second full workweek in November through the Monday of the second full workweek in December. This year’s Open Season begins Monday, November 8, and ends Monday, December 13.
This is the time of year to ensure that you have the right health, dental and vision insurance coverage for you and your family.
It is also the time for current employees to consider how much money to put aside in flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket medical and dependent care expenses for the upcoming year.
Ihave had the same health insurance plan since the day I first joined the federal government years ago. Why is it important to have a federal Open Season every year?
Most Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plans will see benefit and rate changes for the upcoming year. Some plans might drop out of the program, and others may change their service areas or coverage options. There are many different types of plans available in just about any ZIP code. It is wise to review your coverage during this period each year to decide what coverage and premium best suits your needs for the upcoming year.
Another program to consider during Open Season is the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). Through this program, you have the option to supplement your health insurance plan with separate dental and/ or vision insurance coverage that could potentially reduce your outof-pocket costs for these types of care. You may also cancel your participation in these programs during this period.
A flexible spending account through FSAFEDS can save employees money through lower tax withholding. You can fund your account through pretax contributions from your salary and use the account to pay for health care out-of-pocket or dependent care costs.
Typically, you cannot enroll, change your enrollment or cancel your coverage in these programs outside of an Open Season unless you experience a qualifying life event.
Why are the enrollee shares for some Self Plus One enrollments the same or higher than Self and Family enrollee shares for the same plan?
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) provided the following answer to that question:
“For most enrollees, the enrollee share for Self Plus One will be lower than the enrollee share for Self and Family. However, it is possible that some plans will have higher enrollee shares for self-plus-one enrollments than for self-andfamily enrollments.
The statutory formula that is used to calculate the government contribution is based on the average of all plan premiums and requires that OPM calculate a maximum contribution for each enrollment type.
In other words, there is a limit to how much the government will contribute toward the cost of a Self Only, Self Plus One or Self and Family enrollment. The government contributes the lesser of the maximum contribution or 75 percent of the total premium. The remaining amount is the enrollee share (how much the enrollee must pay).
In some cases, such as plans with a premium cost that is above the program average, this calculation may result in a higher enrollee share for a Self Plus One enrollment than a Self and Family enrollment.”
Which benefit is the most important to consider?
The answer to that question can vary depending upon your medical needs in the upcoming year.
For those not enrolled in Medicare Part B, the catastrophic protection benefit is very important. It puts a dollar limit on what you must pay out of pocket in terms of co-payments and coinsurance for the expenses that the plan covers.
If a federal employee is married to another federal employee and they don’t have any eligible children under their FEHB plan, then it’s usually less expensive to maintain a separate Self Only FEHB plan versus a shared Self Plus One plan.
However, you should consider using OPM’s online plan comparison tools and/or the
SEE WELL. BE WELL.®
ENROLL NOVEMBER 8 – DECEMBER 13, 2021 (MIDNIGHT EST).
Open Season is the perfect time to thank your eyes for all that they do. Enroll in your VSP® Vision Care benefit for access to great care and eyewear.
NEW FOR 2022
High Option plan at Premier Program locations now includes:
$250
featured frame brand allowance
$0 COPAY
for your eye exam
Visit choosevsp.com to learn more about vision benefits available through VSP Vision Care.
Consumers’ Checkbook Guide to Federal Health Plans to carefully compare your options, including physician networks and prescription drug coverage (NARFE members receive a 20 percent discount).
If I make an Open Season enrollment change and I have to go to the doctor after January 1, which plan do I contact to provide the insurance coverage based on my visit?
If you are an annuitant, you should contact your new plan. Your Open Season enrollment is effective January 1.
However, if you are an active employee, your new plan is not responsible for providing coverage until the effective date of your enrollment change, which for most active employees is the first day of the first full pay period in January.
As an active employee, if you need medical services before the effective date of your Open Season enrollment or change, you should contact your old plan.
Your old plan will provide coverage according to its new 2021 contract for care received in January before the effective date of your new plan. These expenses will count toward your prior year’s deductible.
Can I enroll online in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) without contacting the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)?
BENEFEDS is an enrollment and premium processing system sponsored by OPM that you must use to enroll in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program.
BENEFEDS includes a secure website and a call center. BENEFEDS also handles billing and premium administration. It’s the only place to enroll in a FEDVIP plan. You can enroll securely online at www.benefeds. com or by telephone at 1-877888-3337, TTY 1-877-889-5680.
Is it possible to make a serious mistake in choosing an FEHB plan?
There really aren’t any bad plans in the FEHB. It’s just that there may be a plan that is better suited for you based on how and where you want to obtain your health care in the upcoming year.
Federal employees, retirees
HONORING YOUR SERVICE WITH A BRIGHT SMILE.
We stand with the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) in supporting federal employees. We’re dedicated to supporting healthy smiles by offering worldwide dental coverage with no deductibles for in-network services.
Learn more at bcbsfepdental.com
THANK YOU FOR A CENTURY OF SERVICE
PROUD CIRCLE SPONSOR OF
and their survivors enjoy the widest selection of health plans in the country. You can choose from among consumer-driven and high-deductible plans that offer catastrophic risk protection with higher deductibles, health savings/reimbursable accounts and lower premiums; fee-forservice (FFS) plans and their Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO); or Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO), if you live (or sometimes if you work) within the area serviced by the plan.
Common mistakes include: enrolling in a costly plan or option when you don’t need one; a plan that doesn’t cover a specific benefit that you need; Self Only coverage when you need additional coverage or vice versa; or you enroll in a plan that requires you to use preferred providers and there are none in your area. You might also make a mistake if you live outside the United States and Puerto Rico, and neglect to enroll in a plan that offers “overseas” benefits.
Are there any useful tools online that can help me make decisions during this Open Season?
Several resources can help you understand the relationship between the three annual Open Season programs and aid you in choosing an FEHB plan and/or a FEDVIP plan. If actively employed, you also have resources to assist you with setting up a health care or dependent care Flexible Spending Account.
To find all the information you need to make informed decisions during Open Season in one place, start with NARFE’s Federal Benefits Open Season portal at www.narfe.org/open-season. Of particular interest are the five NARFE Federal Benefits Institute webinars dedicated to Open Season topics, including one on which FEHB plan is right for you, which will be streamed live on November 4.
You can use the following link to access the Office of Personnel Management’s FEHB plan comparison tools once 2022 rates are made public: www.opm.gov/healthcareinsurance/healthcare/planinformation/compare-plans/. You should also review the brochure for each plan that you consider.
Most of the FEHB plans offer tools on their individual websites that you might find useful. If you have questions about a specific plan, call the
IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR ALL FEHB PARTICIPANTS
• RESEARCH PREFERRED PROVIDERS.
Fee-for-service (FFS) plans use preferred provider organizations (PPOs) and doctors to help contain program costs and keep premiums at a reasonable rate. Usually, you will save a lot on out-of-pocket costs if you use your plan’s preferred hospitals or doctors. However, PPO arrangements are business contracts that are not always renewed. PPO arrangements can be made and also can be discontinued from one year to the next. In addition, there may not be PPO arrangements in all parts of the country. If you are enrolled in a FFS plan or thinking of enrolling in one, you should check with the hospitals and doctors you use and ask them if they are PPO providers in your plan. You also can review your plan’s PPO directory to see if your doctor or hospital is a PPO provider for your plan. • ASK QUESTIONS. Make sure to confirm information in your plan’s brochure by speaking with a plan representative. Do not assume anything. For example, plans may describe benefits in terms of “annual” or “annually.” This would seem to mean “each year,” when, in fact, it may mean that a year must have elapsed before it will cover you again. • ID CARDS. New plan identification cards showing your enrollment are issued by the health plan. If you do not change to another plan or option during Open Season, you don’t necessarily get a new ID card from the plan. • NO MORE SURPRISE BILLING. The No Surprises Act, passed in 2020 and effective January 1, 2022, protects patients from “surprise” medical bills following treatment by out-of-network health care providers at in-network medical facilities.
customer service phone number provided for the plan.
For a more sophisticated set of online tools, consider using the Consumers’ Checkbook Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees. Some agencies have purchased access to this program for their employees, so if you are actively employed, refer to the following web link to see if your agency has secured access for you: www.checkbook.org/ newhig2/year22/more.cfm. If you don’t currently work for an agency that provides such access, you can use the discount code 20NARFE to receive 20 percent off the regular cost of using the website. The site also offers some “Open Season Tips” at www. checkbook.org/newhig2/year22/ advice/11-fehb-open-season-tips.
FSAFEDS has tools and calculators on its website to assist employees with determining the appropriate amount they might want to set up in a flexible spending account during the Open Season for any qualified expenses they anticipate incurring in the upcoming year. These tools are available at the following link: https://fsafeds. com/support/savingscalculators.
In my agency, who can I go to for assistance or answers to my Open Season questions?
For help with or questions about your Open Season options, contact your human resources office or your agency’s shared service center. Your agency should have provided you with its contact information.
If you still need assistance after speaking with those sources, try contacting your agency’s headquarters’ level agency Benefit Officer using the following link for contact details: https://apps.opm.gov/ abo/index.cfm#list.
If you have remaining questions that your agency can’t address, contact NARFE’s Federal Benefits Institute at fedbenefits@narfe.org.
Does MHBP have a plan for retirees? We do now.
MHBP has a plan for every stage of your life, thanks to
the introduction of the new Aetna MedicareSM Plan (PPO)
with Extended Service Area (ESA) for MHBP in 2022.
Our new Medicare Advantage plan provides highly competitive rates and lots of great features, including: • Prescription coverage • $0 deductible, copayments and coinsurance for medical care • $900 Medicare Part B premium reduction for eligible members • Added programs such as SilverSneakers® and Healthy Home Visits
Plans offered by First Health Life & Health Insurance Company. This is a brief description of the features of this Aetna plan. Before making a final decision, please read the Plan’s Federal brochure(s). All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations and exclusions set forth in the Federal brochure. A single annual $42 associate membership fee makes all MHBP plans available to you. For more information about MHBP plans, refer to MHBP.com Aetna Medicare is a HMO, PPO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in our plans depends on contract renewal. Plan features and availability may vary by service area. SilverSneakers is a registered trademark of Tivity Health, Inc. © 2021 Tivity Health, Inc. All rights reserved. Y0001_GRP_4112_2022_M 19.22.321.1-NOV
SOUND INTERESTING? FIND OUT MORE.
Call 1-800-410-7778 (TTY:711)
Visit MHBP.com Get live help with a one-on-one consultation, live chat or webinars
FEDVIP PLANS
Average premiums for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) will increase 0.81 percent for dental and rise 0.95 percent for vision in 2022, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced September 29. FEDVIP is separate from and different from the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. Visit www. benefeds.com for the most up-todate information.
DENTAL INSURANCE
There are 12 total dental coverage providers. Seven are nationwide: • Aetna Dental • Blue Cross Blue Shield Dental • Delta Dental’s Federal
Employees Dental Program • GEHA Connection Dental
Federal • The MetLife Federal Dental
Plan • United Concordia Dental • UnitedHealthcare Dental Plan
Five are regional: • Dominion National • EmblemHealth Dental • HealthPartners Dental Plan • Humana Dental • Triple-S Salud
Dental plans provide comprehensive dental coverage, including preventive services covered at 100 percent when you use an in-network provider. There are no deductibles when using in-network dentists. Rates are based on ratings regions; you can find these regions by visiting narfe.org/open-season and scrolling to “FEDVIP Dental and Vision Coverage.”
In addition, there is no waiting period for major services such as crowns, bridges, dentures and implants. Under most plans, there is no 12-month waiting period or age limit for orthodontic coverage.
Please review the dental plans’ benefits material for detailed information on the benefits covered, cost-sharing requirements and provider directories.
VISION INSURANCE
There are five vision plan providers: • Aetna Vision Preferred • Blue Cross Blue Shield Vision • The MetLife Federal Vision Plan • UnitedHealthcare Vision Plan • VSP Vision Care
Vision plans provide comprehensive vision coverage, including routine eye exams and vision correction without a referral. Plans also include low-vision exams and eyeglass frames and lenses, or contact lenses instead of glasses, at many eye doctor offices or optical retail stores. In addition, there are lens options such as shatter-resistant polycarbonate, scratch-resistant, anti-reflective, UV coatings, and tinted and progressive lenses, as well as discounts on laser eye surgery. Review the vision plans’ benefits material for detailed information on the benefits covered, cost-sharing requirements and provider directories.
PREMIUMS
Premiums will vary by plan and by enrollment type. Premiums
for the dental plans are based on home ZIP codes. See the specific plan brochure or call the plan’s customer service number to determine your region and premium. There is no government contribution to FEDVIP premiums.
If you are a federal employee, your premiums will be taken from your salary on a pretax basis when your salary is sufficient to make the premium withholding.
If you are an annuitant, premiums will be withheld from your monthly annuity check when your annuity is sufficient. Based on the Internal Revenue Code, pretax premiums are not available for annuitants.
For information on each plan’s premiums, visit www. opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/ dental-vision/.
FEDVIP ELIGIBILITY
Federal and U.S. Postal Service employees eligible for the FEHB or the Health Insurance Marketplace (Exchange), unless excluded by law or regulation, are eligible to enroll in FEDVIP. Annuitants are eligible regardless of FEHB or Health Insurance Marketplace eligibility.
Eligible family members include your spouse, unmarried dependent children under age 22, and unmarried dependent adult children incapable of selfsupport because of a mental or physical disability that existed before age 22. The Affordable Care Act does not provide coverage under dental and vision plans for dependents up to age 26, as it does for health insurance.
• OPEN SEASON NOTIFICATION. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will send you notification by mail or by email if you have provided OPM with your email address. Both notices will provide details on Open Season and guidance on how to obtain information and materials. • PLAN PARTICIPATION. Make sure your current plan will participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program for 2022. This is especially important if you are currently enrolled in a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan. • STAYING PUT. If, after reading your current plan’s brochure—particularly about changes and premiums for 2022—you decide to continue your current coverage, you do not have to do anything. Your enrollment in your current plan will continue into next year, and the new premiums will be deducted from your February 1, 2022, monthly annuity payment. • MAKING A CHANGE. For Open Season changes, call the Open Season Express number provided in your FEHB Open Season notice, log on to Open Season Online at the internet address provided in your Open Season notice, or contact the Open Season Processing Center provided in your Open Season notice. • LOW ANNUITY.If your monthly annuity is not enough to cover your plan’s 2022 premiums, you have the option to change to a plan that you can afford. You also may pay your monthly premiums directly to OPM if you want to stay with your current plan but your monthly annuity is not sufficient to cover the premium amount. • MEDICARE ENROLLEES. Make sure you read your plan brochure’s sections titled “When You Have Medicare” and “Coordinating Benefits With Other Coverage.” Section 9 of every FEHB brochure should provide these details. Call a service representative from the plan to address any questions you might have about the coordination of your FEHB benefits with Medicare.
• AGE 65 AND NOT ENROLLED IN MEDICARE.
Fee-for-service (FFS) plans include a section in their brochures titled “When You Are Age 65 or Over and Do Not Have Medicare.” This section details how, by law, the plan must use Medicare’s approved amounts on which to base its payments.
Prepare for Open Season with NARFE
UPCOMING WEBINARS: NEW!
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2 P.M. ET Federal Dental and Vision Insurance: FEDVIP Explained
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2 P.M. ET
Which FEHB Plan is Right for You?
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2 P.M. ET So Many Choices: Which FEHB Plans Work Best with
Medicare A & B?
Online Q&A sessions follow each webinar. For details and to register, visit NARFE.org/Institute.
NARFE FEDERAL BENEFITS INSTITUTE
Questions? Members can call 800-456-8410 x2 or email NARFE’s federal benefits specialists for one-on-one help fedbenefits@narfe.org. Not a member? Join NARFE today at NARFE.org/Join.
Medical Frontiers:
Combating Leading Illnesses
BY DAVID TOBENKIN
Pulmonary disease, heart disease, stroke, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease—these are some of the leading medical scourges that cut short Americans’ natural lifespans. This story examines high-level medical progress in preventing, diagnosing and treating these conditions over the past decade and looks forward another decade to see how medical science may progress in fighting them.
NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org 53
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a progressive lung disease that leads to a person’s inability to breathe. It affects both airways and lung tissue, often at the same time. The overall prevalence of COPD in the U.S., which currently affects about 6.5 percent of women and 4.3 percent of men over the age of 18, has been slowly declining over the past 10 years, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Over that period, deaths from the disease declined from about 36 to 34 individuals in every 100,000 women, and from about 48 to 41 individuals in every 100,000 men.
These changes are mostly due to a strong decline in tobacco smoking rates among the U.S. population over the past 50 years, though shifts in the prevalence and death rate for COPD happen at a slow pace, says James Kiley, a physician and director of the Division of Lung Diseases at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Better treatments for COPD have contributed to improvements in the symptoms that patients experience and, for example, are reducing breathlessness, diminishing cough and sputum production, and helping to prevent flare-ups of the disease, Kiley says. Pulmonary rehabilitation also helps many patients restore lung functionality and improve breathing, and it may reduce mortality. Advanced techniques such as insertion of endobronchial valves or lung transplant can improve outcomes for people with COPD.
Kiley believes that over the next 10 years, research will target improving early detection of the disease so that proven and emerging therapies can be assessed for their efficacy in treating COPD and its symptoms earlier. These efforts should not diminish Americans’ best practices to prevent COPD, such as reducing tobacco smoking as well as other harmful environmental exposures. Heart Disease
Heart disease is a catch-all phrase for a variety of conditions that affect the heart’s structure and function. Between 2009 and 2019, there was an overall 11.5 percent decrease in age-adjusted mortality from heart diseases. However, this decline was primarily due to a decrease in death from coronary heart disease, the most common form of heart condition; deaths from other forms, such as heart failure and atrial fibrillation, have increased modestly over this period, notes Jerome Fleg, a medical officer in the Division of Cardiovascular Sciences at the NHLBI.
Fleg says the decline in death from coronary heart disease is likely due to a combination of reductions in blood cholesterol level and smoking rates, and more widespread use of coronary angioplasty (a procedure to widen blocked arteries) to improve blood flow in patients who have a heart attack. A decline in the valvular disease death rate may be attributable to the increasingly widespread use of catheter-based methods to treat severe aortic valve disease.
Predicting mortality trends for heart disease over the next decade is challenging, Fleg says, particularly given the continued increase in Americans’ rates of diabetes and obesity, and poorer blood pressure control in recent years. He notes that it is unclear whether the increasing use of personalized treatment using genetic profiling, artificial intelligence and remote monitoring will offset these unfavorable trends.
NEWDESIGN
The Biggest Event In Silver Dollar History!
LOW AS$4395 each
Actual size is 40.6 mm is 40.6 mm
The American Silver Eagle has been the most popular silver coin on the planet since its introduction in 1986. Its beautiful, iconic design inspires collectors, and investors love it because it’s struck in one full ounce of 99.9% fine silver, and guaranteed for weight and fineness by the U.S. Government. Now in 2021, for the first time ever, the coin’s design is changing.
The Most Important Coins in the Modern Era
When President Ronald Reagan signed the Liberty Coin Act into law, he didn’t know American Eagles would have the impact they’ve had, year after year. The coins were so popular that between 1986 and 2020, over 535 million were struck. That’s more than HALF A BILLION coins, easily making Silver Eagles the most bought coins in the world. Hugely popular now, Silver Eagles may soon become even more popular!
Collectors Crave Firsts
Collectors covet coins with Key Dates. Key Dates mark significance in a coin’s history...firsts, lasts, lowest mintage, new finishes and new designs. Now, for the first time in over three-and-a-half decades, the Silver Eagle is getting a new design, leading to a historic “first” unlike anything we’ve seen. The iconic Heraldic Eagle reverse is being replaced by a beautiful new “Eagle Landing” design. This is arguably a bigger deal than even the actual introduction of the coin because there’s so much more interest now than in 1986, with investors and collectors!
If You Knew Then What You Know Now...
If you’d had a crystal ball in 1986, you undoubtedly would have grabbed every Silver Eagle you could get. Those coins in uncirculated condition continue to be sought-after. Now you’re getting another chance to land a big Silver Eagle first, a Key Date. Additionally, since these newly designed Silver Eagles are only being released during the second half of 2021, it’s quite possible this will be one of the lowest mintages we’ve seen. That’s significant because it could make 2021 a DOUBLE Key Date, with both a new design and a low mintage. Demand for these coins is already sky-high, but if that happens, watch out! No one can predict the future value of silver, but many Americans are rushing to stock up, for themselves, and their loved ones.
Don’t Wait, Order Now!
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Don’t wait another 35 years! Get your 2021 new design Silver Eagles in Brilliant Uncirculated (BU) condition by calling 1-888-201-7639 right now, and using the offer code below. Buy more, save more!
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Stroke
Stroke, which in 80 percent of cases is a blockage of blood and nutrient flow to the brain that results in brain tissue damage, is the No. 1 cause of adult disability. Approximately 800,000 individuals suffer a stroke every year. The U.S. mortality rate has declined from 43.5 to 37.6 individuals per 100,000 between 2007-2017, although health disparities remain, such as greater mortality in the Southeastern United States, says Clinton Wright, director of the Division of Clinical Research at the NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). The disability level for those affected by strokes has also declined.
Developments in treating stroke over the last 10 years have been transformational in improving outcomes, Wright says. There has been a revolution in the ability to remove clots in large vessels that are blocked in the brain, but, he notes, only a small percentage of patients arrive in time and are eligible for this treatment. The availability of clotbusting medications has grown from about 5 percent of patients with brain blockages that would benefit from these treatments to 15 to 20 percent.
In the next decade, “I expect we will see as much improvement as in the last 10 years; we will be able to deliver care to more people with more types of treatments to treat more types of strokes,”
Wright says. He predicts that the treatability of strokes will continue to rise. Furthering the ability to access smaller blood vessels to remove clots will allow increased use of older as well as novel treatments, such as drug treatments that help protect brain tissue, stabilize it or decrease inflammation, since removal of clots allows medicines to reach the tissue. The ability to access such tissue will also spur innovation in drugs by the pharmaceutical industry, Wright believes. Given the importance of promptness for many stroke treatments, it is imperative that
individuals recognize the symptoms of
stroke—including drooping face, arm drift, problems speaking, problems with eyes and sight, and instability of gate—and seek immediate diagnosis and care by calling 911. Wright emphasizes the urgency: “There are windows for many types of stroke treatments; the worst thing to
– Kathryn Ruddy
see is a patient whom we could have helped who we cannot because he or she came in too late.
Cancer
Cancer is a disease in which some of the body’s cells grow uncontrollably and spread to other parts of the body. A wide variety of cancers exist that afflict different systems and organs. Breast, prostate and lung cancers—which are some of the largest killers of adults among all cancers—are discussed below.
A decade ago, there were approximately 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 40,000 deaths due to the disease in this country each year, which is expected to increase in 2021 to approximately 270,000 cases and 42,000 deaths, says Kathryn Ruddy, medical oncologist at Mayo Clinic and cochair of the Symptom Control/ Survivorship Cross-Disciplinary Group at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center.
“In light of the 8 percent increase in the U.S. population over the last decade, these numbers reflect improvements in our breast cancer therapies that have allowed us to cure more patients and help people live longer,” Ruddy says. “Many of the new drugs that have proven to improve mortality from breast cancer are targeted therapies, and others are chemotherapies. And advances in surgery, such as minimizing the number of lymph nodes removed for many patients, and radiation techniques, such as reducing radiation of unaffected tissues, have reduced the morbidity [adverse medical impacts] of breast cancer treatment.”
“Ten years from now, it is nearly certain that new treatments will evolve, perhaps including additional types of immunotherapy, which harness the immune system to fight the cancer,” Ruddy says. “These will hopefully help us continue to
Finally . . . a better mobility solution than Scooters or Power Chairs.
The Zoomer’s versatile design and 1-touch joystick operation brings mobility and independence to those who need it most.
If you have mobility issues, or know someone who does, then you’ve experienced the difficulties faced by millions of Americans. Simple tasks like getting from the bedroom to the kitchen can become a time-consuming and potentially dangerous ordeal. You may have tried to solve the problem with a power chair or a scooter but neither is ideal. Power chairs are bulky and look like a medical device. Scooters are either unstable or hard to maneuver. Now, there’s a better alternative . . . the Zoomer.
My Zoomer is a delight to ride! It has increased my mobility in my apartment, my opportunities to enjoy theout-of-doors, and enabled me to visit the homes of my children for longer periods of time. The various speeds of it match my need for safety, it is easy to turn, and I am most pleased with the freedom of movement it gives me. Sincerely, A. Macon, Williamsburg, VA After just one trip around your home in the Zoomer, you’ll marvel at how easy it is to navigate. It is designed to maneuver in tight spaces like doorways, between furniture, and around corners. It can go over thresholds and works great on any kind of floor or carpet. It’s not bulky or cumbersome, so it can roll right up to a table or desk – there’s no need
Zoomer conveniently rolls beneath table or desk
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Swivel Away Footrest Powerful Battery/ Dual Motors
to transfer to a chair. Its sturdy yet lightweight aluminum frame makes it durable and comfortable. Its dual motors power it at up to 3.7 miles per hour and its automatic electromagnetic brakes stop on a dime. The rechargeable battery powers it for up to 8 miles on a single charge. Plus, it’s exclusive foldable design enables you to transport it easily and even store it in a closet or under a bed when it’s not in use. Why spend another day letting mobility issues hamper your lifestyle? Call now and find out how you can have your very own Zoomer.
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The Zoomer Chair is a personal electric vehicle and is not a medical device nor a wheelchair. Zoomer is not intended for medical purposes to provide mobility to persons restricted to a sitting position. It is not covered by Medicare nor Medicaid. © 2021 Journey Health and Lifestyle 85032
reduce mortality and morbidity for patients with breast cancer.”
Prostate cancer death rates declined by about half from the mid-1990s to the mid-2010s due to earlier detection through prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and advances in treatment, but remained stable from 2014 to 2018, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).
Recent changes in the grading system for prostate cancer have improved tumor characterization and disease management. The ACS notes that careful monitoring of disease progression (called active surveillance) instead of immediate treatment is appropriate for many patients, particularly men who are diagnosed at an early stage, have less aggressive tumors and are older.
Current research is exploring new biologic markers for prostate cancer that could be used to minimize unnecessary treatment by distinguishing early-stage cancers that are more likely to progress if left untreated from those that are less likely to progress.
For lung cancer, mortality has declined by 54 percent in men since 1990, and by 30 percent in women since 2002. This is mainly due to reductions in smoking, with the pace accelerating in recent years; from 2014 to 2018, the rate decreased by more than 5 percent per year in men and 4 percent per year in women. According to ACS, cigarette smoking is by far the most important risk factor for lung cancer, with approximately 80 percent of lung cancer deaths in the nation still caused by smoking.
NIH’s National Cancer Institute (NCI) states that much progress has been made by scientists in identifying many different genetic alterations that can drive lung cancer growth. A great deal of research has been conducted to find ways to detect lung cancer earlier. According to the NCI, several methods are currently being studied to see if they decrease the risk of dying from lung cancer. Scientists also have seen some promising results for study of treatment options for advanced stages of the disease.
Alzheimer’s Disease
The National Institute on Aging at NIH defines Alzheimer’s disease as an irreversible, progressive brain disorder that slowly destroys an individual’s memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. It is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, and one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, according to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2021 Alzheimer’s Facts and Figures.
Ten years ago, mortality and morbidity were far less well-understood than today, which affected how patients were counseled after receiving a diagnosis, says Vijay Ramanan, a neurologist at the Mayo Clinic.
“Currently, mortality and morbidity are thought to be highly individualized,” Ramanan says. “Every patient with Alzheimer’s disease is different; symptoms can vary, and some progress more rapidly and others more slowly. Researchers are actively trying to understand the reasons for this. Over the past 10 years, new medical techniques have evolved, such as positron emission tomography (PET) imaging approaches that can noninvasively detect proteins involved in the disease [amyloid and tau].” The approaches may, in the near future, help detect these biomarker changes in the brain long before symptoms of Alzheimer’s appear.
“Through more precise diagnosis and aggressive application of medication therapies and lifestyle modifications—such as exercise, cognitive and social activity, and healthy sleep and diet— patients are in a better position to optimize brain health with the goal of staying sharper and more independent for longer than they were in the past,” Ramanan says.
The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a drug, aducanumab, for potential use in mild stages of Alzheimer’s disease as a treatment to slow the progression of the disease, though many questions remain about its ultimate efficacy.
“This new treatment is pivotal, while not a cure,” says Maria C. Carrillo, the chief science
– Vijay Ramanan
officer at Alzheimer’s Association. “This is the first of a number of new treatments to come. History has shown us that approvals of the first drug in a new category invigorates the field, increases investments in new treatments and encourages greater innovation. We are hopeful for this drug and for better treatments for Alzheimer’s.”
“Ten years from now, it is probable that new biomarker and genetic tests will help to predict who is at risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease and to better delineate who is most likely to experience more precipitous cognitive decline from the disease, versus those for whom it may be more slowly progressing,” Ramanan says. “It is also quite possible that there will be multiple new treatments that act on different mechanisms of the disease. There is reason for optimism that further advances will help prevent cognitive decline where possible, or, at a minimum, keep it at bay.”
—DAVID TOBENKIN IS A FREELANCE WRITER BASED IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON, DC, AREA.
