ON THE TELEPHONE: This publication can be heard on the telephone by persons who have trouble seeing or reading the print edition. For more information, contact the National Federation of the Blind NFBNEWSLINE® service at 866-504-7300 or go to www.nfbnewsline.org.
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The Association, since July 1970, has been classified by the IRS as a tax-exempt labor organization [not a union]; however, dues and gifts or contributions to the Association are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.
NATIONAL OFFICERS
WILLIAM SHACKELFORD
President; natpres@narfe.org
KATHRYN E. HENSLEY Secretary/Treasurer; natsectreas@narfe.org
TO JOIN NARFE, RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP OR FIND
A LOCAL CHAPTER: CALL (TOLL-FREE) 800-456-8410 OR GO TO www.narfe.org
TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL LISTING:
CALL (TOLL-FREE) 800-456-8410 EMAIL memberrecords@narfe.org OR GO TO www.narfe.org, log in and click on “My Account”
TO REACH A FEDERAL BENEFITS SPECIALIST: EMAIL fedbenefits@narfe.org
NARFE HEADQUARTERS
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703-838-7760
Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET
REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS
REGION I Jeff Anliker (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont)
Tel: 413-813-8136
Email: jeff.anliker@outlook.com
REGION II Larry Walton (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) Tel: 443-831-1791
Email: rvp2@narfe.org
REGION III Lynn Harper (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Puerto Rico) Tel: 478-951-3260
Email: lynn_harper@msn.com
REGION IV Robert L. Helfrich (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin) Tel: 317-501-1700
Email: rlhelfrich@yahoo.com
REGION V Cindy Reneé Blythe (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota) Tel: 785-256-1450
Email: mrsdocbusyb@yahoo.com
REGION VI Marshall L. Richards (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Republic of Panama and Texas) Tel: 903-660-2784
Email: pappysdad@yahoo.com
REGION VII Sharon Reese (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) Tel: 575-649-6035
Email: rvp7@narfe.org
REGION VIII Robert H. Ruskamp (California, Hawaii, Nevada and Republic of Philippines) Tel: 703-628-3234
Email: ruskampr@gmail.com
REGION IX Steven Roy (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington) Tel: 425-344-3926
Email: stevenroy1@yahoo.com
REGION X Robert Allen (Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia) Tel: 757-404-3880
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NARFE’S MISSION STATEMENT
To support legislation and regulations beneficial to federal civilian employees and annuitants and potential annuitants under any federal civilian retirement system and to oppose those detrimental to their interests.
To promote the general welfare of federal civilian employees and annuitants and potential annuitants, to advise and assist them with respect to their rights under retirement, health and other employee and retiree benefits laws and regulations, and to represent their interests before appropriate authorities.
To cooperate with other organizations and associations in furtherance of these general objectives.
Ready for Open Season and the PSHB?
As I write this column, a successful, exciting and fulfilling FEDcon24 is behind us. With nearly 500 NARFE members meeting in St. Louis, I hope those who attended our premier conference gained insight from our various tracks and speakers. Our keynote speaker Alex Sheen, founder of because I said I would, a social movement and nonprofit dedicated to bettering humanity through promises made and kept, provided FEDcon24 attendees with useful information and inspiration to motivate us, as NARFE leaders, to make (and keep) promises to act and to contribute to the success of their local chapters and federations, and missions of our organization through membership recruitment, advocacy, or otherwise.
OPEN SEASON
During the upcoming annual federal benefits Open Season which will take place from Monday, November 11, 2024, to Monday, December 9, 2024, federal employees and annuitants can change their Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plan. One of the biggest changes that will affect NARFE members resulted when Congress enacted the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022. This law created the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program, which will provide coverage to all postal employees and annuitants starting in January 2025. The program was created to reduce postal health
insurance costs by integrating Medicare Part D with PSHB and increasing postal annuitant enrollment in Medicare Part B through incentives for current annuitants and requirements for future annuitants. For those who have questions about PSHB, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has set up a helpline. The phone number is 1-833-712-PSHB (7742). Callers will receive several prompts to select information on various topics. Additionally, callers can reach a live person at USPS Headquarters, who will help answer their questions.
REMEMBRANCE
Every November, we celebrate Veteran’s Day because it allows us to honor America’s veterans who have dedicated their lives to our country and to also give thanks to the men and women who serve in the military right now to protect our country and to ensure that we continue to enjoy our freedoms in wartime and peacetime. We must thank them on November 11 and throughout the year. We also must express our gratitude to those veterans who, following their military service, continued to serve our country in a civilian position.
As the holiday season begins and 2024 draws to a close, all of us at NARFE National Headquarters are deeply thankful for all you do and extend our best wishes to you and your family for a happy, healthy and safe Thanksgiving Day.
Thank you for your support. Remember—an interested member is an involved member!
WILLIAM SHACKELFORD
NARFE NATIONAL PRESIDENT natpres@narfe.org
READ NARFE MAGAZINE ONLINE
NARFE’S website offers a digital flipbook of this and previous issues. You can read the magazine online on your computer, phone or tablet, or download it to peruse later. www. narfe.org/magazine-issues
NARFE Salutes Service Members This Month
Veterans Day, November 11, is an opportunity to thank those who selflessly protected our great nation. NARFE not only is grateful for their service in uniform, but also appreciates the many who chose to transition into federal jobs as civilians.
Across the country, a significant percentage of NARFE’s members are veterans. Executive agencies must give veterans preference over other applicants in the hiring process, which has helped the federal
government remain the leading employer of vets, ahead of the manufacturing, professional, education and retail sectors. The percentage of veterans in the federal workforce has steadily increased in the past decade, from 25.8% in fiscal year 2009 to some 32% today. The federal government also is the leading employer of disabled veterans, with more than five times the number of disabled veterans employed by the federal government than any other entity.
WEBINARS ON DEMAND
Catch up on past NARFE Federal Benefit Institute presentations in NARFE’s webinars on demand! There, you’ll find videos, slides and transcripts of question-and-answer sessions from webinars dating back to January 2019. View them at www. narfe.org/webinar.
In addition to advocating on behalf of the many NARFE members who served in uniform, NARFE has long represented civilian federal employees who have had the honor of working alongside the military to support our nation’s defense and to provide care for our veterans in facilities around the country. NARFE is grateful for their dedication.
To read about three wounded warriors who transitioned from military service to federal service, visit www.narfe.org/ honoring-veterans
TSP UPDATE ONLINE
Get the most recent monthly and annual Thrift Savings Plan returns (G, F, C, S, I and L Funds) online at www.narfe.org/ tsp-funds.
TRACKING RETIREMENT CLAIMS
Find out how many retirement claims the Office of Personnel Management Retirement Services receives and processes each month, with average processing times and total inventory, at www.narfe.org/opmprocessing.
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Majority Supports Discharge Petition: Floor Vote
Expected for H.R. 82
As we look back on the progress made over the past few months, the Social Security Fairness Act, H.R. 82, has continued to gain significant traction in the fight to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). With more than 320 cosponsors secured at press time, the bill sat as the second most cosponsored bill in all of Congress. However, despite this overwhelming bipartisan support, the bill had yet to advance through the House Ways and Means Committee. As legislative days rapidly dwindle in the 118th Congress, the path forward has led to a critical decision: filing a discharge petition.
On September 10, 2024, Representative Abigail Spanberger, D-VA, officially filed the discharge petition for H.R. 82. This procedural tool, the discharge petition, is not just a tool; it’s a game-changer. It’s designed to bypass the committee process, forcing a bill to the floor for a vote if it garners the signatures of 218 House members—a majority of the House. The discharge petition is a powerful yet rarely used method of advancing legislation that has been stalled in committee despite broad
support. It’s a beacon of hope in the legislative process. In contrast to the House Consensus Calendar rule, which
allows bills with at least 290 cosponsors to be scheduled for a floor vote after being on the calendar for 25 legislative days if the committee of jurisdiction has not advanced the bill, the discharge petition requires fewer signatures—218—but operates differently. While the Consensus Calendar rule can be effective, it depends on a lack of committee action. Last Congress, as the bill was poised for a floor vote via the House Consensus Calendar, the House Ways and Means Committee advanced the bill without recommendation. While the bill moved forward, the committee’s
NOVEMBER ACTION ALERT: URGE MEMBERS TO VOTE “YES” ON H.R. 82: Visit NARFE’s Legislative Action Center at www.narfe.org to send a message to your representative urging them to support H.R. 82, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) repeal bill, when it receives a floor vote. With 218 members signing a discharge petition, a vote on H.R. 82 is expected when Congress returns after the election. Now is as crucial a time as ever to contact your legislators to ask for their support bill.
procedural maneuver effectively prevented a floor vote. The discharge petition, however, directly circumvents the committee, placing the bill on the calendar for a floor vote once the required signatures are obtained. This approach is particularly crucial when time is running out, as it ensures the bill cannot be indefinitely stalled by inaction at the committee level.
The decision to pursue a discharge petition came after months of persistent advocacy and the realization that committee action was unlikely within the limited legislative days remaining. The petition provides a final push to ensure that H.R. 82 receives the attention it deserves before the end of the legislative session.
MYTH VS. REALITY
MYTH: Once the 218 required signatures for a discharge petition are collected, the bill is immediately brought to a vote.
REALITY: After a discharge petition secures 218 signatures, the bill is placed on the Discharge Calendar, but it doesn’t automatically move to an immediate vote. The timing of the vote is subject to House rules, which generally require the bill to be on the Discharge Calendar for 7 legislative days, and then typically allow the bill to be called up on the second and fourth Mondays of each month, provided that the House is in session. This means there can still be some delays before the bill is brought to the floor for consideration.
As we continue to build momentum for the discharge petition, NARFE members and supporters nationwide must remain engaged. Every signature counts and your advocacy has been central to urging representatives to sign the petition, and will be critical to securing support on a floor vote. This collective effort is essential to overcoming the procedural hurdles that have delayed movement in the fight to repeal WEP and GPO.
In response to overwhelming grassroots action, 218 members of the House signed the discharge petition prior to Congress returning to their districts to campaign. While there is a short, 7 legislative-day waiting period prior to floor consideration, we expect the House to vote on the
bill when it returns after the election. Now is a critical time to reinforce support by thanking legislators who have signed on, and urging all members of the House to vote “Yes” on H.R. 82. This collective effort is essential to making progress in the fight to repeal WEP and GPO.
As we work toward a House vote, and then urging Senate action, we must remember that this process is not just about numbers—it’s about ensuring fairness and justice for those who have dedicated their careers to public service. By continuing to advocate for H.R. 82, we are taking a stand for the financial security and dignity of federal retirees and public servants nationwide.
—BY IVANA SARA, MANAGER, GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
NARFE Disappointed by Biden’s Below-Market Pay Raise Plan
On August 30, President Biden officially released his alternative pay plan for 2025, which includes an average 2% federal pay increase. This proposed pay raise consists of a 1.7% across-the-board increase with an additional 0.3% increase in locality pay rates. While any pay raise is welcomed, NARFE expresses disappointment with the proposed increase, especially in light of other sectors.
This average 2% pay raise pales compared to the expected 4.5% increase for military personnel, raising concerns about the inequitable treatment of federal employees.
“This inequity raises concerns about the fair treatment of federal employees and their contributions to our nation,” said William Shackelford, NARFE national president.
Furthermore, the pay plan fails to keep pace with inflation
and private sector wage growth, where pay has risen significantly in recent years.
“It’s one thing when federal workers are the first to see pay freezes and reduced pay raises when the economy is weak, but it’s particularly disappointing to see the level of this pay raise when stock markets have experienced record highs, and labor markets remain strong,” he added.
NARFE GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY
LEARN MORE about how you can take action to protect your earned pay and benefits by reviewing NARFE Grassroots materials at www.narfe.org/advocacy
The Importance of Sustained Grassroots Action: Advocacy Beyond the Legislative Calendar
As the current legislative session winds down and we approach the final days, it’s natural to wonder if our advocacy efforts still hold weight. With limited legislative days left, some might question the impact of continued grassroots action. However, our collective voice becomes even more vital during these critical times.
WHY GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY STILL MATTERS
Even in the final stretch of a legislative session, grassroots advocacy remains essential. Lawmakers are keenly aware of the issues that matter most to their constituents, and persistent advocacy helps keep those issues at the forefront of their minds. When we continue to push for legislative priorities—such as repealing the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) through H.R. 82—it signals to our representatives that these issues are essential and urgent.
Furthermore, grassroots action serves as a powerful reminder that the concerns of federal employees and retirees won’t fade with the close of a session. Maintaining momentum ensures that our priorities are carried into the next legislative session, setting the stage for
renewed efforts and continued advocacy.
MOMENTUM INTO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Building momentum for future legislative action is one of the most significant aspects of sustained advocacy. As the session ends, lawmakers focus on the upcoming year’s agenda. We can influence their priorities for the next session by staying active and vocal. Our efforts now lay the groundwork for introducing and advancing key legislation when Congress reconvenes.
Additionally, advocacy is not just about immediate wins; it’s about creating a long-term impact. The relationships we build with lawmakers, the public awareness we raise, and the support we garner from fellow advocates all contribute to the strength of our movement. As we prepare for the next legislative session, these efforts become the foundation for building future successes.
THE ONGOING NATURE OF ADVOCACY
Advocacy is not a one-time effort; it’s an ongoing process that requires perseverance and dedication. The issues we fight for, such as protecting the merit-based civil service system or ensuring equitable
cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), are complex and often require sustained pressure over multiple sessions to achieve meaningful change. Our success as an organization is rooted in our ability to consistently advocate for the interests of federal employees and retirees, regardless of the legislative calendar.
NARFE’s reputation as a powerful advocate for the federal community has been earned through decades of relentless effort. Our advocacy work is recognized on Capitol Hill precisely because we don’t back down when the going gets tough. Instead, we double down, knowing that our voices— amplified by the strength of our grassroots network—can and do make a difference.
CONTINUING THE FIGHT
As we close out this legislative session, let’s not lose sight of the importance of our work. Every letter sent, phone call made, and meeting held contributes to the larger picture of securing the benefits and protections that federal employees and retirees deserve. Our grassroots advocacy is not just about influencing legislation in the here and now; it’s about shaping the future of federal service.
—BY IVANA SARA, MANAGER, GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
NARFE has consistently advocated for at least a 4.5% pay increase for federal employees, reflecting the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Employment Cost Index, which measures private-sector wage growth. Unless Congress changes it, the president’s plan will go into effect via executive order in December. NARFE urges lawmakers to support legislation, such as the FAIR Act, which would provide a more equitable pay raise for federal workers in recognition of their dedication and service.
The Federal Salary Council analyzes federal pay in comparison to wages in the private sector
and recommends changes to federal pay rates. In the most recent report on the issue, it found a substantial disparity between federal and privatesector pay rates, estimating that private-sector rates outpace federal rates for similar jobs by 27.54%.
Conversely, Biden approved a 5.2% average pay increase for the alternative pay plan for 2024. When enacted earlier this year, it was the largest pay raise since 1980, building on the progress toward parity with the private sector.
—BY IVANA SARA, MANAGER, GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
CORRECTION Several corrections were made to the October 2024 NARFE Magazine article
“Where they Stand & How They Voted: 118th Congress.” The correction identifies and addresses errors with the 2023 votes. These include Senate vote #210 on pages 60-61 and House vote #636 on pages 62-69, where votes in favor of the bill/amendment were mislabeled as votes in favor of NARFE’s position and vice versa. This compounded error produced incorrect final percentages in the “118th” column and the “Career” column on the same pages. A corrected scorecard is available on www.narfe.org/scorecard. NARFE apologizes for this error.
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LEGISLATIVE RESOURCES
NARFE NewsLine – A weekly newsletter that goes out to NARFE members on Tuesdays and includes weekly recaps of legislative news, compiled by NARFE’s advocacy and communications teams.
LEGISLATIVE ACTION CENTER – A one-stop site to send a letter to Congress, and more, at www.narfe.org
Democracy Depends on Your Vote
With the upcoming general election on November 5, we at NARFE want to highlight the importance of checking your voter registration and outlining how to cast your vote, regardless of where you are.
First, I want to stress the importance of checking your voter registration status. Just because you registered to vote a few years ago does not mean you have remained on the voter rolls. Many states, such as Ohio, have made significant efforts to purge inactive voters from the registrar, and some active voters are inadvertently kicked off the rolls in the process. You can check your registration by visiting your local board of elections, your secretary of state’s website, or at www.vote.org
Should you find yourself unregistered, you may still be able to register to cast your vote on November 5. That will depend on your state’s deadlines regarding how quickly you can register to vote before voting in an election, so it’s important to check.
Depending on what state you live in, voting can look a lot different. In Washington, for example, every voter gets a ballot mailed directly to them without having to request one, meaning all Washingtonians have to do is fill it out, and place
it in a ballot drop-box or mail it to their board of elections. Other states like Texas require
SOME
STATES HAVE STRICT VOTER ID REQUIREMENTS, MEANING THAT YOU MUST CARRY A DRIVER’S LICENSE OR LIBRARY CARD TO THE POLLING PLACE, WHILE OTHERS USE A DIFFERENT FORM OF IDENTIFYING REGISTERED VOTERS.
an excuse, and you must fill out a vote-by-mail application to request your ballot.
Some states have strict voter ID requirements, meaning that you must carry a driver’s license or library card to the polling place, while others use a different form of identifying registered voters. If you’re still looking for information, the best place to look for specific local election laws is your local board of elections. Calling them is the optimal method to get any specific answers. However, online resources can also answer most of your questions, such as vote.org
Vote.org allows you to fill out your information online easily and to a trusted source so that you can do everything you need to do related to voting. Using vote.org allows you to check your registration to be sure you won’t be turned away at the door. It also helps you register to vote if you’re not already registered, request an absentee ballot if you qualify in your area, and tell you if you do not qualify. Additionally, it’s an easy place to see exactly what will be on your ballot and to request a reminder to vote. You can fill out your information, and vote.org will contact you closer to election day to ensure you don’t let it slip your mind. Lastly, off-site links on vote.org will answer many questions about your state’s election laws.
Finally, and most importantly, make a plan to vote. No matter how you plan to vote, be it absentee, early, or in person, make a plan. How will you cast your vote? How will you get to the ballot drop-off? When will you vote? That way, when it comes time, you won’t flounder because something fell through. Remember, democracy depends on citizens like you to vote. So please do.
—BY RJ THACKER, PROGRAM MANAGER, POLITICAL AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
years.
• We serve 2 million federal employees, retirees and their families
• We believe health care should be affordable
• We believe you can achieve better health
• We make it easy for you to work with us
• We care for the communities where our members live and work
For more than 87 years, GEHA (Government Employees Health Association) has provided medical plans designed exclusively for federal employees. Founded by Railway Postal employees in 1937, we have a legacy of service to federal workers. We seek to be the first choice for federal workers and retirees of both.
• View the full plan brochure for specific plan details at geha.com/PlanBrochure
• Visit geha.com to walk through our plans online
• Make the switch to GEHA by visiting with your employer or see opm.gov for info on enrollment
NARFE BILL TRACKER
THE NARFE BILL TRACKER IS YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO LEGISLATION NARFE IS FOLLOWING. CHECK BACK EACH ISSUE FOR UPDATES.
SPONSOR
H.R. 536/ S. 124: The Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act / Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA / Sen. Brian Schatz, D-HI
Cosponsors:
H.R. 536: 77 (D) 1 (R) S. 124: 19 (D) 0 (R) 1 (I)
H.R. 856/ S. 274:
Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act / Rep. Don Beyer, D-VA / Sen Brian Schatz, D-HI
Cosponsors:
H.R. 856: 50 (D) 3 (R) S.274: 10 (D) 0 (R) 1 (I)
H.R. 1301/ S. 640: Federal Employees Civil Relief Act / Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-WA / Sen. Brian Schatz, D-HI
Cosponsors:
H.R. 1301: 4 (D) 0 (R)
S. 640 15 (D) 0 (R) 1 (I)
FEDERAL
COMPENSATION
H.R. 5883 / S. 3029: Honoring Civil Servants Killed in the Line of Duty Act of 2023 / Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-VA / Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-AZ
Cosponsors:
H.R. 5883: 1 (D) 3 (R) S. 3029: 1 (D) 2 (R) 0 (I)
H.R. 5995: The Federal Retirement Fairness Act / Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA)
Cosponsors: H.R. 5995: 95 (D) 25 (R)
Provides federal employees with an 8.7% average pay raise in 2024.
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability 1/26/2023
Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 1/26/2023
H.R. 7127/S.3618: Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act / Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) / Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Cosponsors: H.R. 7127: 87 (D) 1 (R)
Extends paid leave to federal and postal employees for all conditions covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, Veteran’s Affairs and House Administration 2/7/2023
Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 2/7/2023
Protects federal workers and contractors from a variety of civil financial penalties during a lapse in appropriations or a breach of the debt ceiling.
Aims to significantly increase death gratuities and funeral allowances for federal employees who tragically lose their lives while serving the nation. This bill would ensure that the families of dedicated civil servants receive greater financial support during their time of loss.
Allow federal employees who started their careers as temporary workers, but transitioned to permanent work, to buy credit towards retirement for their temporary work. The FRFA enables these workers to make catch-up contributions, ensuring they receive full retirement credit for their service.
Provides federal employees with a 7.4% average pay raise in 2025
Referred to the House Committees on Oversight and Accountability, Financial Services, Ways and Means, Judiciary, Education and Workforce, and House Administration 3/1/2023
Referred to the Senate Committee on Finance 3/2/2023
Referred to the House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs, and the Subcommittee on Health 11/9/23
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 385 05/09/2024
Referred to House Committee on Oversight and Accountability 10/25/23
Referred to Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 1/30/2024
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Enroll today in the APWU Health Plan’s UnitedHealthcare Group MEDICARE ADVANTAGE (PPO) PLAN! If you are already a High Option member, you can enroll at any time. So don’t wait for Open Season, enroll today to take advantage of Medicare Advantage’s enhanced benefits! If you are not enrolled in the High Option Plan, you can enroll during Open Season. Visit retiree.uhc.com/apwuhp to learn more about Medicare Advantage and to see if you’re eligible to enroll.
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NARFE BILL TRACKER
THE NARFE BILL TRACKER IS YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO LEGISLATION NARFE IS FOLLOWING. CHECK BACK EACH ISSUE FOR UPDATES.
H.R. 82/S. 597: The Social Security Fairness Act / Rep. Garret Graves, R-LA / Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH
S. 3974: Boosting Benefits and COLAs for Seniors Act / Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)
Cosponsors: S. 3974: 5 (D) 0 (R)
Repeals both the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).
Reforms the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) by providing a monthly rebate of $150 to current beneficiaries (age 62 or older before 2025) and creating a new formula to calculate benefits for future WEP-affected individuals (turning 62 in or after 2025).
Expands and strengthens Social Security benefits, improves solvency of the Social Security trust funds, repeals the Windfall Elimination Provisions and Government Pension Offset, and provides numerous other Social Security related improvements.
Reforms the WEP by providing a monthly payment of $100 to current WEP-affected beneficiaries and $50 for an affected spouse or child. Creates a new formula to calculate benefits for future WEP-affected individuals (turning 62 in or after 2025).
Requires Social Security and federal retirement programs to use the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) to calculate cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to retirement benefits.
Provides Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirees with the same annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) as Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) retirees.
H.Res.1410, a rule providing for consideration of H.R. 82, was assigned to the Discharge Calendar, Calendar No. 2. 9/19/24
Referred to the Senate Committee on Finance 3/1/2023
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means 6/21/2023
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Subcommittee on Health 7/14/23
Referred to the Senate Committee on Finance 7/12/2023
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means 9/5/2023
Significantly adjust the calculation of COLA by basing it off of the Consumer Price Index for Americans aged 62 or older (CPI-E) instead of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPIW) to better reflect rising living expenses faced by the aging community
Referred to the Committee on Veteran’s Affairs, and the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs 2/28/23
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.
Action By: House of Representatives 02/08/2023
Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 11/1/23
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance 03/19/2024
NARFE BILL TRACKER
THE NARFE BILL TRACKER IS YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO LEGISLATION NARFE IS FOLLOWING. CHECK BACK EACH ISSUE FOR UPDATES.
BILL NUMBER / NAME / SPONSOR
H.R.159/S.59: Chance to Compete Act of 2023 / Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-NC / Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-AZ
Cosponsors:
H.R. 159: 3 (D) 2 (R) S. 59: 1 (D) 2 (R) 0 (I)
H.R. 1002/S. 399: Saving the Civil Service Act / Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA / Sen. Tim Kaine, D-VA
Implements merit-based reforms to the civil service hiring system that replace degreebased hiring with skills- and competencybased hiring.
Prevents any position in the federal competitive service, created after September 30, 2020, from being reclassified into the excepted service, outside the protection of merit system rules without the express consent of Congress. The bill also requires the consent of an employee to be reclassified, mandates reporting of conversions to the Office of Personnel Management, and places caps on the number of employees converted to the excepted service via Schedule C.
Passed the House under suspension of the rules 1/24/2023
Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 1/24/2023
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability 2/15/2023
Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 2/14/2023
FEDERAL PERSONNEL POLICY
H.R. 1487: The Strengthening the Office of Personnel Management Reform Act / Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA
Cosponsors: H.R. 1487: 2 (D) 0 (R)
H.R. 3115/S. 1496: Public Service Reform Act / Rep. Chip Roy, R-TX / Sen. Rick Scott, R-FL
H.R. 7236: Reducing the Effects of the Cyberattack on OPM Victims Emergency Response Act, or the RECOVER Act / Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-DC-at Large and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-MD
Cosponsors:
H.R. 7236: 1 (D) 0 (R)
Codifies several recommendations for OPM by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), such as clarifying that OPM stands at the center of federal civilian human resource management and ensuring the director of OPM possesses human capital and leadership expertise.
Would make all federal employees at-will and enable workers to be removed for good cause, bad cause or no cause at all. The legislation would also abolish the Merit System Protections Board and limit removal appeals to claims of whistleblower retaliation and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints before the US Court of Appeals.
Provides free lifetime identity protection coverage to current, former and prospective federal employees and contractors whose personal information was compromised by Office of Personnel Management (OPM) data breaches in 2015.
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability 3/9/2023
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability 5/5/2023
Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 5/9/2023
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability 2/5/24
NARFE BILL TRACKER
THE NARFE BILL TRACKER IS YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO LEGISLATION NARFE IS FOLLOWING. CHECK BACK EACH ISSUE FOR UPDATES.
FEDERAL PERSONNEL POLICY
H.R. 5779: Fiscal Commission Act of 2023 / Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-MI
S. 3262: The Fiscal Stability Act / Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WV
To establish a commission on fiscal stability and reform.
Ordered to be reported in the nature of a substitute by the yeas and nays 22-12 1/18/24
Referred to Senate Committee on Rules and Administration 1/8/24
Referred to Senate Committee on Rules and Administration 11/08/2023
Become a Silver Circle Contributor Today
NARFE offers members a way to give to the association’s General Fund through its donor recognition program, the Silver Circle.
Your contribution to the Silver Circle supports the direct work of NARFE as we continue to provide you resources and advocacy that you rely on and that member dues alone cannot support. When you donate to the Silver Circle, you are ensuring that NARFE has the resources to continue to fight for the financial security and earned benefits for you and the federal community.
NARFE appreciates all financial support you provide to us and would like to recognize you for your generous contributions to our cause. Donate now to the Silver Circle at narfe.org/silvercircle.
With NARFE’s thanks, you will receive:
• A Silver Circle pin and recognition on NARFE.ORG with a donation of $100 or more.
• A Silver Circle pin, your name plate placed on the Silver Circle plaque at NARFE Headquarters, recognition on NARFE.ORG and recognition at the NARFE yearly conference with a donation of $1,000 or more.
To learn more about the Silver Circle donor recognition program or how to recommend an outstanding NARFE member to the Silver Circle, please visit www.narfe.org/silvercircle or email us at donatenow@narfe.org
Enclosed is my NARFE donation: $ q Mr. q Mrs. q Miss q Ms.
(yy) 3-Digit Security Code: Date: Signature:
Name: (please print)
Member Number:
PLEASE MAIL COUPON AND CHECK TO: NARFE, Attn: Silver Circle, 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314 Donations to NARFE are not tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes.
Questions & Answers
Q&A
THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS & ANSWERS were compiled by NARFE’s Federal Benefits Institute experts. NARFE does not provide legal, financial planning or tax advice or assistance.
LIMITED EXPENSE HEALTH CARE FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT (LEXHCFSA)?
QI noticed that there are three types of Flexible Spending Accounts. I understand the one for healthcare and the one for dependent care, but what is a Limited Expense Health Care Flexible Spending Account (LEX HCFSA)?
AA s you noticed, the third option under the Flexible Spending Account program is the Limited Expense Health Care Flexible Spending Account or LEX HCFSA. According to the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS) website https://www.fsafeds.gov/, this pre-tax benefit account helps you save on eligible out-ofpocket dental and vision care expenses while taking advantage of the long-term savings power of a taxfree Health Savings Account (HSA).
To be eligible for an HSA, you must be enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP). Under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules, employees enrolled in an HDHP with an HSA are not permitted to have a Health Care FSA (HCFSA). You can carry over up to $640.00 remaining in your LEX HCFSA account from one plan year to the next, so there’s no “use or lose” risk. However, you must re-enroll in a LEX HCFSA for the new plan year.
Participating in both an HSA and LEX HCFSA allows you to maximize your tax savings on your out-of-pocket healthcare expenses while setting aside tax-free funds in your HSA for the future.
FEHB AND BREAK IN FEDERAL SERVICE
QI am a federal government employee with over 32 years of creditable government service, and I currently meet the minimum retirement age (MRA) requirement at 57 years old. During my federal
career, I have continuously enrolled under the Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) program. However, I had a break in my federal career to work in the private sector. I returned to federal service a few months ago and immediately re-enrolled in FEHB. Do I need to work another five years to continue FEHB in my retirement or does my previous coverage count towards this requirement?
AGood news for you! Your break in service does not count as an interruption when the five-year service requirement is determined, as long as you re-enroll in an FEHB health care plan within 60 days after your return to federal service. Therefore, because you re-enrolled within 60 days of returning to the federal government, your previous coverage before your resignation will count towards the fiveyear test.
This information can be found in the FEHB handbook. You can find many healthcare resources at https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/ healthcare/reference-materials/.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM (FERS) RETIREMENT
QI plan to retire under the MRA+10 type of Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirement. I will have 14 years of service and be 59 years old when I resign. How can I ensure I will be
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entitled to re-enroll in the FEHB program when I apply for my retirement benefit when I am 62?
AUnder the MRA+10 retirement option, employees may resign from federal service between their MRA (age 57 for those born in 1960 or later) and 62 and postpone applying for retirement to avoid the substantial age penalty for retiring before meeting the requirements for an immediate, unreduced retirement (MRA and 30 years or 60 and 20 years).
In your situation, you could retire with an immediate benefit of 14% of your high-three average salary; however, if you are three full years under age 62, this benefit will be reduced by 15% (5% for every year you are under age 62, prorated by the number of months).
You have postponed applying for your benefit until age 62 to avoid this reduction. If you have completed 20 years of service (or up to 30), you can apply for the unreduced benefit at age 60. However, since you have fewer than 20 years of service, you must postpone to age 62 to avoid the entire age penalty.
You will not receive any retirement or insurance benefits when you initially separate from federal employment; however, you may
COUNTDOWN TO COLA
The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.04% in August 2024. To calculate the 2025 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), the 2024 third-quarter indices will be averaged and compared with the 2023 third-quarter average of 301.236. The percentage increase determines the COLA. August’s index, 308.640, is up 2.45% from the base.
The CPI represents purchases of food and beverages, housing, apparel, transportation, medical care, recreation, education and communication, and other goods and services.
continue coverage under the Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) provisions of FEHB, which allows your coverage to continue for up to 18 months. TCC premiums include the employee and the government share of the cost plus a 2% admin fee.
You can re-enroll in FEHB and the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) programs. It is vital that you were covered for the five years immediately preceding your separation. You will also be eligible to re-enroll in the Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) if you were enrolled when you separated from service.
If you are covered under the Federal LongTerm Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP), your coverage status will not change if you continue to pay premiums. The commencement date for a postponed MRA+10 retirement must be a date that is within 90 days after the application is filed but not later than the second day before your 62nd birthday.
An informative webinar titled “Understanding Deferred/Postponed Retirement Options” can be found archived on the NARFE Federal Benefits Institute at https://www.narfe.org/federalbenefits-institute/narfe-webinars/webinararchive/. Alternatively, if you are considering or preparing to apply for a deferred or postponed retirement, you may visit www.opm.gov and search for form RI-92-19 and Publication RI 92-19a.
FERS SURVIVOR ANNUITY
QMy spouse and I are both federal government employees, and we will be retiring about two years apart with entitlement to our own FERS immediate annuity. I was told we did not have to elect a FERS survivor annuity for the surviving spouse to continue FEHB coverage. Is this true?
AWith no survivor benefit elected, if you predecease your spouse, your spouse can continue coverage through their own FERS retirement benefit. If you die in a self and family plan or self + 1, your spouse may continue self-only coverage through their federal salary or retirement benefit. They must enroll within 31 days of the date of your death. If you wish to maintain your right to continue FEHB coverage in retirement, you must:
• Be covered under FEHB for five years before retirement; and
For FECA COLA updates, visit narfe.org and search for FECA.
• Retire with entitlement to an immediate annuity (meaning a retirement that can begin within 30 days of your separation from employment). If
MHBP Standard Option o ers an Aetna MedicareSM Advantage Plan (PPO) for members who have Medicare Parts A and B as their primary coverage.
• Prescription coverage as low as $0
• $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 o ered by First Health Life & Health Insurance Company.
This is a brief description of the features of this MHBP plan. Before making a final decision, please read the O cial Plan Brochure (RI-71-007). All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations and exclusions set forth in the Federal brochure. A single annual $52 associate membership fee makes all MHBP plans available to you. For more information about MHBP plans, refer to MHBP.com
the surviving spouse retired under a deferred annuity, they could not continue FEHB coverage. If your annuity benefit begins immediately after your separation, your health and life insurance benefits will continue upon retirement if you meet the eligibility requirements. However, if you are postponing the start date of your retirement, your coverage will be suspended until you begin receiving your retirement benefit. Federal couples (also known as “tandem couple” or “dual-fed couple”) can elect to carry two self-only plans, or one spouse can cover both under a self-plus one or self and family enrollment.
You might consider having the spouse who will retire later carry the FEHB coverage for both of you. Employees pay for FEHB coverage with pre-tax dollars, while retirees are not given this tax break. Retirees continue to pay the “employee share” of the premium.
RETIREMENT
SWITCHING FEHB COVERAGE
Q My spouse and I receive our federal annuities. Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) for me while my spouse retired under FERS. We want to know how to change our FEHB coverage from “self plus family” to having two separate “self plus one” enrollments. Is this possible?
AChanging enrollment to two self-only health benefit plans in this situation can be done anytime during the year by calling the Retirement Information Office (RIO) at 1-888-767-6738. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) calls this action a “husband-wife split.” Both spouses must meet the requirements to carry FEHB in retirement (see previous answer).
Employees who have resigned and are not eligible for immediate retirement may not carry FEHB through a deferred retirement. You would not be permitted to enroll in FEHB through your deferred benefit and must remain covered as a family member. You must also receive a survivor annuity if your spouse predeceases you so that you may continue FEHB coverage through your survivor annuity benefit.
Q
As an annuitant on an FEHB plan, can I switch back and forth between “self,” “self plus one,” or “self and family” plans during open enrollment?
AYes! You can add your spouse as an annuitant during open seasons. You can also remove your spouse from your FEHB plan during the OPM Open Season or a qualifying life event.
“Enrolled annuitants may change plans, options, or type of enrollment during open season,” according to the FEHB Handbook. Suppose you cancel your FEHB coverage in retirement. In that case, you will not be permitted to re-enroll unless you have been continuously covered as a family member under another person’s FEHB enrollment. In this situation, you can reenroll from 31 days before through 60 days after you lose coverage under your family member’s enrollment.
An annuitant may suspend, rather than cancel, enrollment in FEHB coverage to enroll in a Medicare Advantage health plan. Of note, do not suspend your FEHB coverage if you enroll in one of the Medicare Advantage options available through most FEHB or Postal Service Health Benefit (PSHB) plans. Suspension is also permitted for people in need to enroll in the Medicaid program or a similar state-sponsored medical assistance program. The most common reason to suspend FEHB coverage as an annuitant is because you are enrolled in TRICARE, TRICARE for Life, Peace Corps, or the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).
To suspend FEHB coverage, documentation of eligibility for coverage under the non-FEHB program must be submitted to the retirement system. The documentation must be received during the period beginning 31 days before and ending 31 days after the effective date of the enrollment in the Medicare Advantage plan, Medicaid or similar program, or similar state-sponsored program of medical assistance or within 31 days before or after the day designated by the annuitant to suspend coverage to use Peace Corps, CHAMPVA, TRICARE (including the Uniformed Services Family Health Plan) or TRICARE-for-Life. The suspension will be effective at the end of the day before the enrollment’s effective date or the day before the designated day.
Annuitants who have suspended their enrollment may be able to re-enroll in an FEHB plan during a future Open Season. If an annuitant is involuntarily disenrolled from the other coverage, they can immediately reenroll in the FEHB program.
Open season changes take effect on January 1 for annuitants, postal employees, and retirees (beginning in 2025). For more information, visit https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/ healthcare/reference-materials/reference/ annuitants-and-compensationers/
SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS
QCan my ex-husband get part of my Social Security benefit if they remarried and divorced again?
AYour former spouse may be entitled to receive all or part of their Social Security retirement or disability benefits from your earnings record. The number of benefits he may receive on your record does not affect the benefits you may receive.
Your marriage had to last for at least 10 years to be eligible for this benefit. If your former spouse remarried, he can’t collect benefits on your record unless his later marriage ended by annulment, divorce or death. Also, if he’s entitled to benefits on his record, his benefit amount must be less than he would receive based on your work.
In other words, Social Security will pay the higher of the two benefits that he may be eligible for, but not both. He can apply for benefits on your record even if you have not retired and if you have been divorced at least two years before applying.
PAYING FEHB PREMIUMS
QI am worried that my new FEHB plan premium will be larger than my monthly survivor annuity payment from OPM. What happens in this situation? What can I do?
AYou can continue your coverage in the FEHB program in one of two ways. If your annuity is not enough to deduct your monthly health insurance premium, you may change to a lower-cost plan or option, one in which the share of the premium is low enough to be withheld from your annuity.
The other choice is to pay the premiums directly to OPM. A payment schedule will be established if you pay your share of premiums directly to OPM. You must continue to make premium payments directly for the length of the enrollment, even if your annuity increases enough to cover premium costs.
To obtain an answer to a federal benefits question, NARFE members should call 800-456-8410 and select option 2 for the Federal Benefits Institute; send the question by postal mail to NARFE Headquarters, ATTN: Federal Benefits; or submit it by email to fedbenefits@narfe.org
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HTwo Great Tax Savings Opportunities for Federal Employees: FSA and HSA
ave you ever wondered if you should participate in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or a Health Savings Account (HSA)? If so, how do these plans work, and what are the advantages? Which program should you participate in? These programs are designed to pay for qualified out-ofpocket medical or dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars. Let’s look deeper at these two programs that can help you save money if you know how they work!
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT (FSA)
The dollars that employees contribute to an FSA are not subject to federal, state, Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), or Medicare tax, this means that you can save an average of 30% of eligible expenses for you, your spouse, and qualifying children or relatives. Employees, not retirees, can enroll in the program during the annual Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Open Season by setting up an online account at www. fsafeds.com.
You will select a specific dollar amount between $100 up to $3,200 (2024 contribution limit) to contribute for a healthcare FSA or limited expense FSA and $5,000 per family ($2,500 if married filing a separate tax return) for a dependent care FSA. You must reenroll each year that you wish to participate. Your payroll provider will be notified of your election and deduct a biweekly allotment. Once the withholding is effective, you will see a reduction in your tax withholdings. At the end of the
year, when your agency provides you with your W-2 wage and tax statement, you will find that box #1, “Wages, Tips, and Other Compensation,” will reflect your salary paid to you from the agency minus your elected FSA contribution, reducing the amount of taxable income you will need to report.
The FSA funds can be used throughout the plan year to pay for eligible out-of-pocket expenses. There are three FSA options to enroll in:
1. Health Care FSA (HCFSA): Contributions pay for many qualified out-ofpocket medical, dental, and vision care expenses.
2. Limited Expense Health Care FSA (LEX HCFSA): This type of FSA is available for those enrolled in a qualified high-deductible health plan and contributing to a Health Savings Account (HSA). This pre-tax benefit account is limited to dental and vision expenses only, and contributions can be made while you make tax-free contributions to your HSA.
3. Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA): This type of FSA
can be used to pay for eligible dependent care services, such as preschool, summer day camp, before—or after-school programs, and child or adult daycare. It’s an innovative, simple way to save money while caring for your loved ones so you can continue working.
“Every federal employee could benefit from an FSA as everyone will have some eligible health care expenses,” writes Kevin Moss, director of marketing and fundraising at Consumers’ Checkbook, in its “Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees.”
“Yet only about 20% of federal employees participate in the FSA program,” he continues. “With health insurance premiums rising, the FSA is an important way to save money on health care expenses.” Here’s a reminder that NARFE members receive a 20% discount when they purchase the guide using code NARFE20
One word of caution. The funds contributed must be used within certain time limits, or you risk forfeiting these funds. To be eligible for carryover for the HCFSA or LEXFSA, participants must have enrolled during Open Season or as a new hire during the year and must meet the following requirements:
• Be actively employed by an FSAFEDS-participating agency and contributing to a Health Care FSA or Limited Expense Health Care FSA account through December 31; and
BENEFITS RESOURCES
NARFE OFFERS MEMBERS a wide range of information on federal benefits. Visit www.narfe.org/federal-benefits-institute.
• Reenroll for the following benefit period. You forfeit your right to a carryover account if you do not re-enroll.
The “use or lose” rule for FSAs states that any money remaining in an HCFSA or LEXFSA account at the end of the benefit period must be forfeited. You can carry over a balance of up to $640 if you re-enroll each year.
The DCFSA has a grace period after the plan year ends on December 31. You will have an additional 2.5 months to incur eligible expenses and use the DCFSA funds remaining in your account.
All healthcare service dates for your HCFSA/ LEXFSA and dependent care expenses incurred during the DCFSA grace period must be submitted no later than April 30 of the following year.
HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT (HSA)
To be eligible to open an HSA, you must be:
• Covered by a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).
• Not be covered by other health insurance, including Medicare (see IRS Publication 969 for exceptions such as dental or vision plans).
• Not claimed as a dependent on someone else’s Federal tax return.
According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), married individuals must open separate HSAs for each eligible spouse. Married couples may not have a joint HSA even if covered by the same HDHP. However, distributions can be used to cover the qualified expenses of the other spouse.
Under the HDHP plans offered through FEHB/PSHB, the plan provides a “premium pass-through” that allows a portion of the health plan premium to be deposited to your HSA each month. These plans are among the lowest-priced health plans. There is a minimum deductible of $1,650 for self-only enrollments and $3,300 for +1 or family (2025) to be considered an HDHP under IRS law; by making additional tax–free contributions to your account, up to the annual limit ($4,300 for self only HDHP and $8,500 for +1 and family enrollments for 2025) you can meet your deductible using tax-free dollars that you and the plan contribute.
Eligible individuals aged 55 and over at the end of your tax year have an additional $1,000 limit that can be added. Deductions can be made through payroll deductions for employees by debiting your bank account or a one-time withdrawal from an IRA. You will pay no tax on the contributions, and you can choose to invest the funds that grow tax-free, and you will never pay tax on the withdrawals when used for qualified medical expenses. If you don’t use the money in the account, you can let it grow over time in an interest-bearing savings account or invest in a selection of stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. There is never a penalty for withdrawing funds for qualified expenses; however, if you use these funds for other purposes, you will pay tax on the distribution, and you may be subject to a 20% tax penalty for early withdrawals before age 65.
As is true of all health plans, preventive care is covered at 100% when you stay in-network. Once the plan deductible is met, you may want to consider fully funding your HSA early in the year so that your account can start earning interest and is available to meet your annual deductible. If you can afford to fully fund your HSA and want another way to lower your taxable income next year, this type of health coverage may be for you.
To learn more about FSAs, visit https://www. fsafeds.gov
To learn more about HDHPs and the HSA benefits available through FEHB, visit www.opm. gov and click on “Insurance,” then “Healthcare,” then “Plan Information,” to locate the HDHPs, along with links to the plan brochures and websites. There, you will find options that are available nationwide as well as plans available in your area.
As of this writing, PSHB information is somewhat limited. For up-to-date information, check out NARFE’s Federal Benefits Institute’s Open Season page and a list of webinars available this Open Season at www.narfe.org/federal-benefitsinstitute/narfe-webinars/.
—MERCEDES JOHNSON IS A RETIREMENT AND BENEFITS SPECIALIST WITH RETIRE FEDERAL.
NEW BEST FRIEND FINDING YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND
Studies have shown pet ownership is good for your health. Here’s a look at how pet adoption is beneficial for seniors.
Resources for pet adoption
• Visit your local city/county pet shelter
• Petfinder at Petfinder.com
• Adopt-a-Pet at adoptapet.com
• Rescue Me at rescueme.org
• Petco Love at petcolove.org
• The American Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) at aspca.org/adopt.pet
• You can also search for local, privately-run rescue services, such as GRREAT and Puppy Paws Rescue (puppypawsrescue.org) which service the Maryland, Virginia and the D.C. region
In January 2023, three months before my 70th birthday, our beloved golden retriever Henry passed away. My wife and I had rescued Henry 10 years before. We still miss him every single day.
Henry survived two cancer surgeries, a copperhead bite, and several encounters with skunks. But the cancer in his heart was more than he could recover from, and we reluctantly said farewell to him.
Losing Henry presented us with a difficult decision: Should we get another dog at our age? I reminded my wife that we were not getting any younger, and dogs require a lot of energy to exercise properly. A new pet would make it harder to take the long vacations and extended visits I fantasized about to see our grandchildren. Finally, Henry’s health issues resulted in high veterinarian bills, and we were now living pretty much on a fixed income.
“We’re getting another dog, and that’s that!” she responded.
And so, six months after Henry’s passing, a 4-year-old golden rescue named Haley entered our lives. Haley hasn’t replaced our memories of Henry or our two previous goldens, but she has found her
own place in our hearts. As soon as we met her, we knew we’d made the right decision to adopt again.
Reasa D. Currier, director of the Fairfax County, Virginia, Department of Animal Sheltering, explains why my initial objections missed the point.
“Coming out of COVID, there’s been a lot of research on the benefits of pet ownership for older people,” said Currier, who formerly worked for the U.S. Department of Transportation. “There are the obvious benefits of physical activity and also cardiovascular benefits. Particularly with dogs, you’re getting outside and getting exercise.”
“But there are also mental and emotional benefits from sharing your life with a companion animal,” she added.
Research during COVID showed that people who share their lives with pets tend to fare better emotionally and mentally than those who don’t. In addition, pet ownership provides a great deal of structure to lives because “you have to get up every day and care for that pet and feed them. It gives you a sense of purpose.”
Pets also combat feelings of loneliness. They offer companionship and facilitate social interaction.
“They’re perfect social lubricants,” Currier said. “They get people to talk to you who normally wouldn’t when you go to dog parks or just sit outside of coffee shops. They break down barriers, especially in today’s society, interacting with other people in remarkable ways.”
“It’s just so easy to be isolated,” she noted. “Pets bring us together in so many beneficial ways.”
What older pet
owners should know
Every older pet owner should keep in mind the possibility that they may become incapacitated due to an injury or illness.
“People should have a backup plan, and caregivers ready to step in,” says Currier. “We often hear from people who are temporarily hospitalized, going to a rehabilitation center or dealing with an injury, and they cannot care for their pet. That’s always a sad situation.”
Fairfax County advises prospective pet adoptees to have an infrastructure in place: a pet sitter who can be called, a boarding facility you trust, or a family member who will take responsibility in an emergency. When we travel, we leave Haley in the care of a wonderful group of pet sitters, one of whom stays in our home while we are away. They are available to help if something unforeseen occurs.
Should we both predecease our pet, we’ve made provisions in our will for Haley’s care and support and have chosen trusted friends who have agreed to take her in if our son and his family cannot.
Besides creating a support system, Currier suggests closely examining your home.
“Look at your environment to make sure you’re minimizing any hazards for your pet and for yourself,” she said. “There can be tripping hazards for pet owners when they suddenly have a little fur body running around their house. Make sure you’ve looked at your mats and rugs. You may want to add a gripping non-slip mat, especially in an area where you and your pet will be spending a lot of time.”
“Coming out of COVID, there’s been a lot of research on the benefits of pet adoption for older people. There are the obvious benefits of physical activity and also cardiovascular benefits. Particularly with dogs, you’re getting outside and getting exercise.”
— Reasa D. Currier, director of the Fairfax County Department of Animal Sheltering.
Currier also advises removing as much clutter as possible.
“Because there’s an additional being now occupying space in your house, and that pet may not always be as mindful as you are when sitting and walking,” she said. “So, removing tripping hazards is not only important for you, but for your pet as well.”
If you’re getting a cat, she suggests making sure plants in your home don’t pose a risk to their health or can be poisonous to them. Many cats think houseplants are a great snack food.
“And dogs get into plants as well,” she noted.
Aloe, azaleas, lilies, poinsettias, rhododendrons, and tulips are among the plants that can harm cats.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) offers a comprehensive list of plants that can be toxic to dogs and cats, as well as those that have been shown to be non-toxic. You can find that list at https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/ animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants
Learning how to lift and carry pets, especially in an emergency safely, is an important skill. YouTube videos can help, and Fairfax County shows new adopters how to accomplish this task. Currier
“It’s just so easy to be isolated. Pets bring us together in so many beneficial ways.”
— Reasa D. Currier
recommends dog owners check out Martingale dog harnesses, which the county’s shelters use with pets in their care.
“They can really be game changers for walking dogs,” she said. “They’re considered safe and humane, unlike choke collars, and they help alleviate pulling. That can make it easier for older people, because you don’t want to be playing tug-of-war when you’re out walking.”
Finally, find a good veterinarian.
“It’s always helpful to find a vet that works well with you, because it’s not just about treating your pet,” Currier said. “You need a veterinarian who can communicate with you and meet your needs and is available when you need him or her, and whose clinic is convenient to your home. And if you’re a new pet owner, he or she can provide you with advice you’ll need.”
The American Veterinary Medical Association (avma.org) lists eight things to consider when choosing a veterinarian:
• Are the clinic’s office hours compatible with your schedule?
• How do the veterinarians and their staff treat you and your pet?
• Are the clinic’s payment options and plans acceptable to you?
• If your pet is insured, does the clinic accept your insurance plan?
• How are after-hours emergencies handled?
• How are referrals to specialists handled if that’s necessary?
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• If you have a non-traditional pet, does the veterinarian have experience with that pet species?
• A referral from a trusted friend or family member is helpful.
Haley inherited her veterinarian from Henry, whose illnesses and injuries made him one of the practice’s best customers. We were fortunate Haley’s previous owners provided a full health history, which our vet could use in her initial evaluation of the dog’s health. Our vet’s demonstrated diagnostic skill, proximity to our home, ability to explain procedures and options, and compassion when Henry passed away made our choice an easy one.
What kind of pet should you get?
My wife and I are dog people, partly by nature and necessity. We love the affection and companionship dogs, especially goldens, provide. We like that all our dogs have been loving and protective of us. We also think larger dogs are more interesting than smaller ones, which is a point of personal preference.
The necessity part comes from pet allergies I have had since childhood. I learned as a child that I had slight allergies to dogs and severe problems with cats, so the only pets in my house were goldfish and a parakeet my mother absolutely could not stand, which we had purchased at Woolworth’s. As an adult, a pregnant cat “adopted” my wife and me by regularly hanging out outside our garden door.
We built an outdoor shelter to keep her warm, and she gave birth to two kittens and then disappeared. Soon after that, one of the kittens also left us, and we brought the other indoors so we wouldn’t lose her,
too. Unfortunately, I developed breathing problems, so we regretfully had to rehome her. We’ve only had dogs since then.
If you don’t have allergy issues, cats make excellent companions, especially for seniors who don’t have the strength or energy to walk a dog regularly. Cats are independent, clean and much quieter than most dogs. Their personalities are unique, and they don’t need to go outside to use the bathroom.
Dogs and cats are not your only options, of course. Guinea pigs are very easy to care for, and only need a small part of a home to live in. Feed and groom them occasionally, play with them, and clean out their hutch. They’re perfect for people with mobility issues.
Fish, too, are easy to care for, and fun and calming to watch. It’s easy to set up an aquarium. All you need is a good filter, some fish food to sprinkle in daily, and the ability to create the right water chemistry balance, and you’re in business! Finally, birds can also be great pets for older people (although my mother would disagree). Canaries and finches add sound and movement to a home, and parrots and lovebirds can be great fun, although they can get pretty loud.
To the rescue
Whatever type of pet you choose, however, Currier hopes you’ll consider adopting a rescue animal.
“At our county animal shelters, we take a lot of pride in matching people and families with a pet that suits their lifestyle and their needs,” she says. “We look at their daily routine and try to find them that special pet that’s going to work for them.”
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Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and a Medicare approved Part D sponsor. Enrollment in these plans depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. Benefits, features and/ or devices may vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply.
Age is not a limitation in Fairfax County, Currier adds.
“I think older people shouldn’t limit themselves to certain kinds of pets, because we have quite a few senior pets in our shelters right now who would love to spend this wonderful season of their life with senior adults,” she said.
Senior dogs are completely housebroken.
“They don’t need to be exercised as much,” Currier said. “And they’re not chewing on or destroying things. They know all the basic commands, which takes a burden off potential pet owners.”
Other reasons to visit a shelter instead of a breeder or pet store include supporting animal welfare and alleviating overcrowding.
“There’s a national crisis we are experiencing right now in our animal shelters,” she said. “Many are either at capacity or above capacity with animals. We’ve evaluated their behavior. We know our animals really well, and we are deeply invested in connecting pet adopters with a pet that’s going to work best for them. Our staff members are sophisticated at making matches. We really are creating families through the intake process.”
In addition, rescue pets are up-to-date on their vaccinations and are either spayed or neutered. Currier recalls a conversation with someone who purchased a kitten from a breeder. The woman was shocked to learn that getting the cat’s vaccinations and having the animal sterilized cost about $1,500— on top of $1,000 they spent to buy the pet.
“Once you leave one of our shelters with your pet, we continue to work with you,” she points out. “We
have a customer care team that walks people through the process of integrating your pet into your home. We’re always here to support our adoptive families through that process.”
Fairfax County, like many other county shelters, has an “open adoption” process. “People come in and we work with them to find the pet that’s going to work best with them.
“We don’t put up a lot of barriers to adoption,” she said. “We’re not going to inspect your house. Come in. We’ll meet with you. You meet the pet, and you can be home with your new family member in about an hour!”
The county charges a small adoption fee to help defray expenses—but holds several fee-waived adoption events over the year to aid county residents on fixed incomes. You can learn about their currently available pets at fairfaxcounty.gov/ animalshelter.
Both Henry and Haley came from privately-run rescue services. Henry was rescued by an organization called Golden Retriever Rescue, Education, and Training (GRREAT) that specializes in finding new homes for goldens in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. They list available adoptees on their website at grreat.org. Haley came from Puppy Paws Rescue in Huntingtown, MD. This organization finds loving homes for abandoned puppies and dogs, and urges visitors to their puppypawsrescue.org website to “Don’t shop—rescue instead!”
We first learned about Haley from a website called Petfinder, found at petfinder.com, which allows visitors to browse pets from their nationwide network of more than 14,500 shelters and rescues. Enter the species you are interested in; any breeds you are particularly interested in, and the distance from your home you can travel to meet the animal. The website instantly provides photos and descriptions of potential adoptees that meet your criteria.
Other sites that allow you to browse adoptable pets include Adopt-a-Pet (adoptapet.com); Rescue Me (rescueme.org); Petco Love (petcolove.org); and the ASPCA (aspca.org/ adopt-pet).
There’s a pet for everyone, so please consider choosing a rescue. You may find the pet you’ve rescued will end up rescuing you in return!
—EVERETT A. CHASEN IS A WRITER AND COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT IN THE WASHINGTON, D.C., AREA. HE RETIRED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AFTER 35 YEARS OF SERVICE.
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MANAGING YOUR TSP PORTFOLIO
We explore some common shortcomings in the federal employee Thrift Savings Plan strategies and how to remedy them with advice from financial advisors with federal employee and retirees as clients.
BY DAVID TOBENKIN
For many federal employees and retiree participants in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) looms large as a retirement savings investment vehicle. With smaller retirement annuities than their Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) employees, much depends on how well FERS employees invest in the TSP over the decades. However, federal employee financial advisors say there are some common flaws with feds’ TSP approaches they encounter when they begin counseling them.
This article discusses some of the most common shortcomings in federal employee TSP strategies and how they can be remedied, based upon the advice provided by three financial advisors with many federal employee and retiree clients: NARFE columnist Mark Keen (https://www.keenpocock.com/), CFP; frequent NARFE workshop presenter Micah Shilanski, CFP, (http://www.plan-your-federal-retirement.com); and financial advisor Shawn Steel, CFP, JD, of the Reston, VA office of Apella Wealth (https://apellawealth.com/ locations/reston), as well as advice provided by the TSP itself: https://www.tsp.gov/investing-strategies/.
The TSP Funds
A quick review of the TSP and its investment options is useful to understand those TSP investing flaws. The TSP, administered by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, offers five basic funds:
• The C Fund is based upon investments in large and medium companies and is designed to emulate a common index of these funds, the S&P 500 index.
• The S Fund invests in small and medium companies and tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Completion Total Stock Market Index.
• The I Fund invests in international companies and tracks the MSCI ACWI IMI ex USA ex China ex Hong Kong Index.
• The F Fund invests in bonds and tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
• The G Fund invests in U.S. Treasury government securities, short-term investments similar to bank money market funds.
The TSP also offers additional lifecycle funds (such as L 2030, L 2050, etc.) that adjust money held in stocks, bonds and government securities to lower risk as a retirement date target is reached. At maturity, funds are deposited into the L Income Fund, which is composed of the G fund (68.4%), the three stock funds (26.05%), and the F Fund (5.55%).
In June 2022, the TSP began allowing qualifying federal TSP participants to invest a portion of their TSP portfolio in a mutual fund window that allows access to a greater range of mutual funds—nearly 4,500 funds, in fact.
With that foundation, let’s move on to common TSP investment mistakes and improvements.
SThe S Fund invests in small and medium companies and tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Completion Total Stock Market Index.
The TSP Offers 5 Basic Funds
CIFThe C Fund is based upon investments in large and medium company and is designed to emulate a common index of these funds, the S&P 500 index.
The I Fund invests in international companies and tracks the MSCI ACWI IMI ex USA ex China ex Hong Kong Index.
The F Fund invests in bonds and tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index.
GThe G Fund invests in U.S. Treasury government securities, short-term investments similar to bank money market funds.
Mistake One: Failing to Invest Early and Regularly
Starting early and contributing significantly to the TSP regularly through payroll deductions can pay rich dividends in retirement. It is challenging to recoup the incremental market earnings even with larger contributions later on. And feds under FERS who fail to contribute enough to receive the TSP match from their agency (5% of biweekly gross salary) are leaving free retirement money on the table.
“Like a diet plan and an exercise plan, the best investment plan is the plan you will do,” Shilanski says.
Since 2015, newly enrolled civilian feds who do not make TSP contribution allocations are automatically enrolled in an “age appropriate” L Fund. In 2020, these default allocations were increased from 3% to 5% of pay to ensure employees would receive the full agency match.
Mistake Two: Failing to Tie Portfolio Investments to Retirement Time Frame.
Young feds who are decades away from retirement and feds about to retire are usually in very different places, and their TSP portfolio allocations should show it. The former should likely be primarily invested in the C, S, and I stock TSP funds, says Shilanski. While there is no guarantee that the future return of any fund will mirror those of the past, these funds have generated far higher returns over their lifetime. Below are the returns for the five major funds over their lifetimes as of June 2024.
Employees planning to retire in five years or less are in a very different place. They must have a pool of stable financial holdings from which they can draw in retirement without forcing them to sell off the stocks in their portfolio at a low point in the market, and thus will want more in the F and G funds, Shilanski adds.
Source: Thrift Savings Plan (https://www.tsp.gov/fund-performance/)
Mistake Three: Not having a Plan and Not Tying the TSP Investment Strategy to the Plan
Every employee should have a retirement plan to determine when they can afford to retire, what type of retirement they can afford, how they will cover costs in retirement in an efficient manner, and pass along wealth to heirs if that is a priority. That accounts for investor preferences and characteristics, Keen notes. Important considerations in these plans are major life expenses generally and in retirement in particular, drawdown strategies, assets of spouses, taxation considerations, survivor benefits, and investor ability to withstand market downturns psychologically, he adds.
Mistake Four: Thinking the TSP is Inadequate Because of Its Few Funds.
All three advisors said the TSP is a good, lowcost investment vehicle whose funds offer sufficient diversity and growth potential to accumulate wealth well for retirement. While, unlike in the past, the TSP’s low-cost funds can now be replicated outside of the plan, perhaps the TSP’s largest decisive edge remains that it keeps investing simple, is run by people charged with protecting feds, and helps feds avoid markedly inferior investment choices that are too expensive, insufficiently diverse, excessively risky and/or excessively volatile.
“There are studies out there that show the more investment choices that participants are given, the worse they often do,” Keen says.
Mistake Five: Not Assuring Sufficient Portfolio Growth in Retirement
Federal retirees may live decades in retirement on a fixed income and will require adequate portfolio growth to do so, which in the TSP generally requires a substantial holding in stock mutual funds. Keen notes that the average fed can tolerate more risk by owning a higher percentage of stock funds than the average retiree, given that he or she also receives a FERS annuity and Social Security benefits.
There are related risks involved in the L Funds in that they are designed around a ‘set-it-and-forget it’ model. However, the L Income Fund, in which funds are placed after L Funds mature and feds presumably retire, is too conservative to generate sufficient growth to keep up with inflation, Keen says, noting the retired feds he advises tend to have double the L Income Funds’ allocation in stock funds (more than 50%). Generally, the L Funds are a more robust option for younger feds with decades of future growth ahead, particularly for investors who become squeamish when the market downturns, as the funds can prevent selling stock funds during those periods.
Steel recommends periodically rebalancing for holdings not in L Funds to keep a portfolio at the desired composition.
“When your stock allocation is 5% over or under its target, it is time to rebalance,” he says. “Rebalancing ensures your portfolio stays within your risk tolerance and it can be good for long term performance.”
Mistake Six: Not Using All the TSP Funds
“When new clients come to us, their TSP allocations tend to be under-diversified and their TSP allocation may not match their risk tolerance or capacity,” Steel says. “Having too much in the G or C funds is a common issue we see,” Steel says. “It is important to diversify appropriately across all of the funds and your allocation should match your time horizon and risk tolerance.”
For TSP participants’ stock portfolio, Steel suggests an allocation of about 70% U.S. stocks and 30% international stocks and, within U.S. stocks, 65% to 85% to the C Fund and 15% to 35% to the S Fund. The reason to consider the heavier weighting to small companies is that they do not necessarily go up and down at the same time as the C Fund. For the bond and treasury securities portfolio, their job is preservation and liquidity, so one may wish to allocate 50% to 60% of bonds to the G fund and 40% to 50% to the F Fund, Steel says.
Over the past decade, the I Fund has been derided as a low-performing fund and excluded from many portfolios. That was a mistake, say all three advisors, who note the fund has had very strong periods in the more distant past and is doing better more recently. Keen notes some model portfolios, such as the L2070 Fund,
“There are studies out there that show the more investment choices that participants are given, the worse they often do.”
— Mark Keen, CFP, financial advisor of Keen & Pocock Financial Partners, as well as NARFE Federal Benefits Institute expert.
allocate 20 to 40 of stock holdings in international mutual funds; Shilanski says his clients have 5 to 10% invested in international funds.
Mistake Seven: Not Having a Brokerage Account Outside of the TSP
Every fed should have a brokerage account outside of the TSP at one of the large investment houses, such as Schwab, Fidelity, and Vanguard, that is well-funded upon approaching or when in retirement, according to the three advisors. These plans are low cost and a necessity to address what the three advisors say is a flaw in the TSP: That it proportionately forces TSP fund withdrawals from all funds and does not allow for withdrawals from a particular fund, which could force retired feds to sell stock funds at a loss.
The custodial funds offer advising services and can steer federal employees to low-cost, diversified mutual funds that closely approximate each of the TSP funds, Shilanski notes. Ideally, feds should maintain enough money in brokerage funds in cash/money market and bonds and low-risk securities to survive any extended market downturns, generally viewed as a period of three to five years.
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While the TSP retains many of its benefits in retirement, it has some other drawbacks, notes Steel, including complicating tax withholdings in retirement, as they vary depending on the type of distribution; the inconvenience that the TSP does not withhold state income tax; and, sometimes, not working well with an estate plan, as the TSP will not pass part of a Fed’s TSP to a contingent beneficiary until all of his or her primary beneficiaries are deceased.
Mistake Eight: Using the Mutual Fund Window
None of the three advisors said the TSP’s mutual fund window was a strong option, as it involves significant costs and limited investing options. Investing through an outside custodial fund mentioned above offers more options with fewer restrictions. The one exception may be for those looking for an environmental, social and governance (ESG) fund, as the mutual fund window offers some of those, Steel says.
Mistake Nine: Buying a TSP Annuity
The TSP offers an annuity option through Metropolitan Life under which the employee’s TSP
holdings are converted to an annuity that provides payments for the holder’s lifetime. All three advisors disfavored this because the conversion is irreversible and will prevent future adjustments based upon market conditions and investor preferences, and because FERS feds already enjoy a substantial FERS annuity and Social Security benefits.
Mistake Ten: Failing to Use Roth Funds
All TSP funds may be taken as Roth Fund investments, allowing TSP participants to pay taxes upfront and withdraw them at a later date taxfree (if the funds have been in Roth for five years), rather than having to pay tax upon withdrawal. The desirability of such funds depends on taxation. Lower current revenue (and resulting taxation), such as is often the case for younger feds, favors use of a Roth, given taxation will likely increase in the future as income increases, Shilanski notes. However, even for high-income individuals, holdings in a Roth account can be useful to hedge against the possibility that the federal government will increase the tax rate on investments down the road to pay for the federal deficit.
—DAVID TOBENKIN IS A FREELANCE WRITER BASED IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA.
PEN SEASON REPORT
OPEN SEASON: NOVEMBER 11 - DECEMBER 9
On September 25, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced the 2025 premium rates for the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program and the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program.
The enrollee share of FEHB premiums for employees and annuitants will increase by an average of 13.5% in 2025. The average increase in the government share of premiums will be 10.1%.
The overall average total FEHB premium increase will be 11.2% in 2025, which is similar to premium increases projected for or reported by other large private- and publicsector employers.
Annual average FEHB premium increases for previous years were 7.7% in 2024, 7.2% in 2023, 2.4% in 2022, 3.6% in 2021 and 4% in 2020.
ENROLLEE PREMIUMS
Employees pay premiums on a biweekly basis; retirees pay premiums on a monthly basis.
The tables on pages 49, 50 and 52 list the six open-to-all
fee-for-service (FFS) FEHB plans, the three restricted FFS FEHB plans and the seven FFS PSHB plans. For a listing of all premiums, including for health maintenance organization
EVEN MORE RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT NARFE.ORG/ OPEN-SEASON .
Pages 54, 56 ans 57 show plans offering a lower cost for Self & Family when compared with Self Plus One.
PSHB OVERVIEW
Like FEHB, the PSHB is administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Postal employees and annuitants, and their family members will convert from the FEHB Program to the PSHB
Program starting January 1, 2025. They will no longer be eligible to enroll or continue enrollment in an FEHB plan (as the primary enrollee) of January 1, 2025, and must enroll in a PSHB plan to maintain health coverage through the Postal Service.
If a Postal Service employee or Postal Service annuitant is covered under a family member’s FEHB plan (based on the family member’s eligibility through federal service), they can continue that coverage after January 1, 2025.
PSHB plans will mirror their FEHB plan counterparts and are required to offer “equivalent … benefits and cost sharing requirements.”
The PSHB plan year will run from January 1 through December 31 each year, the same for annuitants covered by FEHB, but different from the FEHB plan year for employees, which begins on the first day of the first full pay period in January each year.
Medicare Part B and PSHB: Individuals who are
2025 FEHB PREMIUMS — FEE FOR SERVICE
For restricted fee-for-service plans, see page 52.
OPEN SEASON CHANGES for employees are effective at the beginning of the first pay period after January 1, 2025. Changes for retirees and survivor annuitants are effective January 1, 2025, and premium changes will
be reflected in February 1, 2025, 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.
OPEN SEASON REPORT
2025 PSHB PREMIUMS — FEE FOR SERVICE
Active and Retired Federal Employees–Join NARFE (or Renew) Today!
The only organization dedicated solely to protecting and preserving the benefits of all federal workers and retirees, NARFE informs you of any developments and proposals that affect your compensation, retirement and health benefits, AND provides clear answers to your questions.
Who Should Join NARFE?
If your future security is tied to federal retirement benefits—federal retirees, current employees, spouses and individual survivors—you should join NARFE. Membership expiring? Renew now!
NARFE MEMBER BENEFITS
• Understand benefit changes and key aspects to stay on top of with NARFE’s monthly webinars, held on a variety of topics such as TSP’s, health insurance options and long term care insurance updates
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• Topical and robust articles on new legislation, and topics like car buying tips and finding your path in retirement, and the ever popular Q&A section addressing your most burning benefit questions in NARFE Magazine
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OPEN SEASON REPORT
postal employees aged 64 and older, or postal annuitants, as of January 1, 2025, who are not enrolled in Medicare Part B will not be required to enroll to maintain coverage under FEHB/PSHB. But future retirees (employees younger than age 64 as of January 1, 2025) will be required to enroll in Part B when eligible, and those already enrolled in Medicare Part B will be required to maintain coverage, unless an additional exception applies.
Enrollment: Postal Service employees, Postal Service annuitants, and eligible family members will remain enrolled in their 2024 FEHB plans through December 31, 2024.
PSHB participants will be automatically enrolled in a PSHB plan based on their current (2024) FEHB plan enrollment. If their current FEHB plan does not have an PSHB counterpart in 2025, the participant will be automatically enrolled in the PSHB nationwide plan option with the lowest self-only premium that is not a high deductible health plan and does not charge a membership fee.
Enrollees will get a letter prior to Open Season that provides information on the PSHB plan they’ll automatically be enrolled in. Enrollees can make changes to that plan enrollment during the Transitional PSHB Open Season, which runs the same time as the 2024 Federal Benefits Open Season: November 11 through December 9, 2024. Enrollees are encouraged to review all available plans to choose a plan that best fits their needs.
Postal Service employees and annuitants will remain eligible for other federal insurance and benefits programs, including:
• Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
• Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
• Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP)
UNDERSTANDING OPTIONS
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 130 health plan choices through 42 participating providers in 2025, including nine fee-for-service carriers. In 2024, there were 158 plan choices. PSHB will offer 69
2025 FEHB PREMIUMS — RESTRICTED FEE FOR SERVICE
IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR ALL ENROLLEES
• Research Preferred Providers. Fee-forservice (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 an 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
plan options through 30 health insurance carriers, representing a mix of seven fee-for-service carriers and 23 health maintenance organizations. The actual number of choices available to any given enrollee will be lower and will vary by geographic location.
Changes in coverage may be made during Federal Benefits Open Season, November 11 to December 9. Also included in Open Season are the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) and the Federal Flexible 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.
CHANGES FOR 2025
Obesity Drug Coverage: According to OPM, FEHB carriers must cover at least one FDA-approved anti-obesity drug from the GLP-1 class for weight loss and cover at least two additional oral anti-obesity
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.
drug options. OPM requires carriers to cover comprehensive behavioral therapy, including appropriate diet and exercise regimens, for those prescribed anti-obesity medications.
Plan Terminations: Enrollees in terminating plans must make an election into another FEHB plan choice during Open Season or be automatically enrolled in the lowest-cost nationwide plan option with no membership fees as determined by OPM.
The following HMOs will not offer plans in 2025:
• Blue Shield of California
• CDPHP
• Dean Health Plan, Inc.
• HIP of Greater NY
• Humana CoverageFirst and Humana Value Plan
• Humana HDHP
• Humana Health Plan of Texas
• Humana Health Plan, Inc.
• Indiana University Health Plans Select
• Optima Health
Two HMOs have new plans available for 2025 in California: Sharp Health Plan’s standard option and Western Health Advantage’s high option.
FIND OUT MORE
Employees will receive Open Season information from their agencies, and most eligible annuitants will receive information from OPM. Visit NARFE’s Open Season page at www.narfe.org/open-season for useful links and webinars.
—FEDERAL BENEFITS INSTITUTE
OPEN SEASON REPORT
SELF PLUS ONE VS. SELF & FAMILY COSTS
The Office of Personnel Management provided a table highlighting plans offering a lower cost for Self & Family when compared with Self Plus One selections for 2025.
FEHB PLANS
of Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina and Washington, DC. Most of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, Virgina, West Virginia.
of Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina and Washington, DC. Most of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Tennessee, Virgina, West Virginia.
Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont. Most of Massachusetts and New
of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont. Most of Massachusetts and New York.
of Iowa, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Wyoming. South/Southeast/Western Montana Areas. Most of Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota and Oregon.
of Iowa, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Wyoming. South/Southeast/Western Montana Areas. Most of Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota and Oregon.
Las Vegas Area, and Rapid City/Sioux Falls Area. Most of Kansas, Missouri, Utah, and Washington.
to NARFE programs Donate
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NARFE safeguards the earned pay and benefits of America’s five million federal workers, retirees, their spouses, and survivors. NARFE is YOUR legislative voice and tireless advocate.
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Enclosed is my NARFE Contribution: $ __________________ All donations go to the NARFE General Fund to support NARFE Programs and operations.
NARFE members contributed for Alzheimer’s research: $17 Million Fund $16,308,607.89*
*Total as of August 31, 2024 All contributions go directly to Alzheimer’s research, with the exception of funds given to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s or The Longest Day.
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MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO:
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PLEASE MAIL COUPON AND CHECK TO:
Alzheimer’s A ssociation 225 N. Michigan Ave., 17th Floor Chicago, I L 60 601-7633
Your charitable contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.
Enclosed is my NARFE-Alzheimer’s contribution: $ Every cent that is contributed is used for research.
The NARFE-FEEA Fund supports NARFE members during disasters; provides scholarships to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and funds other programs to support NARFE members at the direction of NARFE and FEEA.
MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: NARFE-FEEA Fund
PLEASE MAIL COUPON AND CHECK TO: FEEA
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OPEN SEASON REPORT
SELF PLUS ONE VS. SELF & FAMILY COSTS
The Office of Personnel Management provided a table highlighting plans offering a lower cost for Self & Family when compared with Self Plus One selections for 2025.
FEHB PLANS
FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS (FSAFEDS)
Eligible federal employees can enroll in FSAFEDS, the federal government’s flexible spending program, each year during the Federal Benefits Open Season. Under the program, employees contribute money from their salary into a FSAFEDS account before taxes are withheld and use it to get reimbursed for out-of-pocket health care and dependent care expenses.
The federal government offers three types of FSAFEDS accounts:
• Health care flexible spending account (HCFSA), used to pay for qualified medical costs and health care expenses that are not paid by an employee’s Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program plan or any other insurance.
• Limited expense health care flexible spending account (LEX HCFSA), only available to employees who enroll in an FEHB high deductible health plan (HDHP) with a health savings account (HSA), and limited to dental and vision care services/products.
• Dependent care (day care) flexible spending account (DCFSA), used to pay for eligible dependent care expenses such as child care. Open Season FSAFEDS enrollments are effective January 1, 2024. Current enrollees must enroll each year to continue participating in FSAFEDS. Federal retirees are not eligible for FSAFEDS. To learn more, visit www.FSAFEDS.com
SELF PLUS ONE VS. SELF & FAMILY COSTS
The Office of Personnel Management provided a table highlighting plans offering a lower cost for Self & Family when compared with Self Plus One selections for
Arizona, Colorado, and Michigan. Albuquerque/Dona Ana/Hobbs Area, Las Vegas Area, and Rapid City/Sioux Falls Area. Most of Kansas, Missouri, Utah, and Washington.
Colorado, and Michigan. Albuquerque/Dona Ana/Hobbs Area, Las Vegas Area, and Rapid City/Sioux Falls Area. Most of Kansas, Missouri, Utah, and Washington.
Iowa, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Wyoming. South/Southeast/Western Montana Areas. Most of Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota and Oregon.
Nebraska,
and Wyoming. South/Southeast/Western Montana Areas. Most of Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota and Oregon.
OPEN SEASON REPORT
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 11, and ends Monday, December 9.
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.
Will my current health plan continue to participate in the FEHB program?
The FEHB program adds new plans and drops others each year, and plans can change from year to year. In 2025, postal employees and retirees will receive coverage via the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program. Many–and the largest—FEHB plans will have PSHB counterparts, so it will be a similar (or the same) plan under a different umbrella and with a different set of premiums. But some may not offer PSHB coverage. Be sure to utilize resources provided via NARFE’s
website this Open Season to learn the latest. The best way to stay on top of upcoming changes is to read the information available from your health plan and from OPM. To ensure you do not miss any critical communication, make sure your current address is on file with both OPM and your FEHB plan.
How do I get a plan brochure for Open Season? I didn’t get one in the mail. Health insurance carriers are no longer required to send plan brochures through the mail. You can view the brochures online at OPM’s website (www.opm.gov/ healthcare-insurance/healthcare/ plan-information/plans/) or call your carrier using the contact information on your health plan ID card.
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
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. Also, postal employees and retirees will enroll for the first time in plans that are part of the Postal Service Health Benefits program.
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 out-of-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.
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1 $25 Visa statement credit applies to new applicants only. The credit expires after six months if it is not used. All loans are subject to credit approval.
2 There is a 60-point monthly cap on streaming services.
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OPEN SEASON REPORT
“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% 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.”
See Pages 54, 56 and 57 for a list of the plans this year with lower Self & Family costs.
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 Consumers’ Checkbook Guide to Federal Health Plans to carefully compare your options, including physician networks and prescription drug coverage (NARFE members receive a 20% discount).
Is it possible to make a serious mistake in choosing a plan during Open Season?
There really aren’t any bad plans in the FEHB or PSHB. 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 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-for-service (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.
How else can NARFE help me research my options for Open Season?
NARFE will offer several live webinars before and during Open Season to help members understand their options and provide tools to analyze which plans will best fit their situations. (The next page includes November’s schedule.)
Learn more and register at www.narfe.org/webinars — NARFE FEDERAL BENEFITS INSTITUTE
New Wave of Federal Employees, Topics Ignite FEDcon24
Enthusiasm to learn, advocate, and lead dominated FEDcon24, held August 18-20 in St. Louis, MO. The nearly 500 attendees included a new wave of active and federal employees, as well as many longtime loyal NARFE members. During networking breaks and meals, members made new connections and rekindled relationships with their fellow feds. .
The spacious Hyatt Regency at the Arch in downtown St. Louis provided a tourist- and mobility-friendly setting for the conference, steps away from iconic landmarks such as Gateway Arch National Park and Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.
“I am enjoying my time here at FEDcon24 and hope you are, too,” said Cindy Reneé Blythe, regional vie president for Region V, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. “Meet friends, make new friends, and learn some good stuff.”
Jerry Townsend of Chapter 348, Illini Champaign in Illinois, has been a NARFE member since 2007. The legislative officer and newsletter editor for the Illinois Federation said FEDcon24 was great so far when he was interviewed on the first day. He highlighted the information available from the breakout sessions and the array of speakers.
“I look forward to learning more about recruiting and advocacy, primarily,” he added. “The staff has done a great job organizing the conference, and I’m really pleased with everything.”
FEDcon24 pre-conference activities on Sunday, August 18, included a presentation by Dr. Joanne Pike, president and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. She spoke to members about the latest research on Alzheimer’s and updates on dementia care.
Also, before the official conference kick-off, the NARFE Annual Meeting was held.
National President William Shackelford gave an update on all aspects of the organization, and National Secretary/Treasurer Kathryn Hensley gave a financial update. Regional vice presidents joined in a memorial service for all members who had passed away since FEDcon22.
During the opening reception, Shackelford welcomed everyone to St. Louis. Attendees enjoyed food and drinks while visiting
the exhibitor booths and listening to live music. Aetna and the NARFE Missouri Federation sponsored the reception.
Engaging and Informative From Start to Finish
Attendees who were awake at 6 a.m. on Monday, August 19, had a chance to participate in a new, informal early morning workout at The Gateway Arch, organized by Nicole Blackstone, NARFE federal benefits manager. The workout session was made possible thanks to NARFE affinity partner Active&Fit Direct; instructor Nicole Coglianese from Citra Fitness and Movement taught stretching techniques and offered wellness tips.
Alex Sheen, founder of the global nonprofit because I said I would, gives the opening keynote at FEDcon24.
A few hours later, attendees packed into the grand foyer and banquet hall to formally kick off FEDcon24.
“We are poised to meet the challenges we are facing today and the ones that lie ahead,” said Shackelford during the welcome speech. Shackelford, who provides ongoing updates in NARFE’s weekly Newsline email and every NARFE Magazine, highlighted the critical measures NARFE is taking to stave off declining membership, including a refreshed national recruiting and marketing plan. FEDcon24 served as a successful effort to attract current federal employees while offering NARFE’s evolving programming and services.
FEDcon24’s opening keynote speaker, Alex Sheen, founder of the global nonprofit because I said I would, captivated the audience with the raw and emotional story of the loss of his father, following a diagnosis of stage IV small cell lung cancer. Sparked by this loss, the TEDxTalk speaker, author and podcast host began sending Promise Cards to anyone who requested them at no cost. These cards hold you accountable to your commitments, no matter how large or small, whether it is to quit smoking, spend less time on social media, or help a family member get into college. The stories behind the cards are humorous, heartwarming, inspirational and tragic, and teach practical life lessons.
Sheen, wearing his straightforward attire of jeans, sneakers and his black and white T-shirt bearing his organization’s name, which was the title of his father’s eulogy, reiterated he chose to focus on how his dad lived, not how he died, and that his dad kept his promises. Since his father’s passing in 2012, because I said I would has distributed more than 15.1 million Promise Cards in 178 countries. Sheen also highlighted his 10-day, 245-mile walk across Ohio to support the Cleveland kidnapping survivors, as well as volunteering at 52 nonprofit organizations a year and donating $7.1 million in speaker fees to charity.
“You know the importance of a promise?” Sheen asked the audience. “You see, too often in this life, people say things like ‘I’ll get to it,’ or ‘tomorrow.’ Well, the last thing my father ever taught me is that one day, for our promises, there might not be a tomorrow, and the commitments that we make and
keep, and those we choose to dishonor, define us and our character. It always has.”
Following Sheen’s moving speech, 12 breakout sessions were held throughout the day. These sessions covered traditional conference topics such as federal benefits, advocacy, lifestyle, leadership, and, new in 2024, active federal employee benefits and career management.
John Hatton, NARFE staff vice president of policy and programs, reviewed policy developments from the 118th Congress and legislative and administrative actions affecting federal employees and retirees and their benefits. One legislative priority, which reached new territory in 2024 with lawmaker support, was repealing or reforming the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset. Ivana Sara, grassroots advocacy and legislative affairs manager, led a packed afternoon session highlighting the tools and tactics needed today and tomorrow to ensure members are at the forefront of legislative progress.
NARFE’s flagship federal benefits experts and webinar presenters, Mark Keen, CFP, and Tammy Flanagan, led some of the most well-attended sessions of the conference. Keen spoke about maximizing the after-tax value of retirement savings and retirement savings for pre-retirees. Flanagan provided details on Medicare and Federal Employee Health Benefits and the new Postal Service
NARFE members Deborah Rodgers, Donna Jennings, Carolyn Williams and Judith Cuthbertson connect during a networking break between sessions at FEDcon24. It’s always great to see our members catching up and having a great time.
1: Early morning fitness to start the conference off right
2. Mark Keen, CFP® and Tammy Flanagan, Federal Benefits Expert
3. NARFE members from Missouri attend FEDcon24 Welcome Reception
4. William Shackelford, NARFE national president, and David Wasserman, senior editor and elections analyst for The Cook Political Report With Amy Walter, led the exclusive NARFE-PAC Breakfast.
5. Dr. Ronald Smiley of NARFE Chapter 0190 Ventura County, Nora MacDonald, director of member engagement, Nicole Blackstone, federal benefits manager and Vic Peterson, NARFE Arizona Federation state legislative chairman
6. Alex Sheen, founder of because I said I would, addressing members during his opening keynote session
Health Benefits plans. The two also led the sessions “Don’t Fall for These Common Retirement Myths” and “Getting Your Affairs in Order: Estate Planning for Feds.”
Mika Cross, federal workplace expert, led a nearly-filled session titled “The Confidence Catalyst: Unleashing Your Full Potential At Any Age and Stage,” with plenty of positive feedback. She joined NARFE while she was an active federal employee because she believed in advocacy for their benefits and good government practice.
“It was an honor to join as a presenter for my new workshop, which was very wellreceived,” she said. “The options for tracks in active federal government employees were filled with dedicated public servants from across government, representing agencies like USDA, DoD, SBA and more. Plenty of veterans were in the house, too.”
Cross noted that another benefit of FEDcon24 is meeting, networking, and learning from dedicated retired federal workers who make up the larger NARFE community and who “continue to work tirelessly to advocate for the federal workforce.”
SCENES FROM FEDCON24
Visit NARFE’s Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube pages for more exclusive conference coverage. Find photos and video in the FEDcon24 media gallery at https://fedcon.narfe.org/ program-description/gallery/.
Gregg Pericich has been a NARFE member since 2010, when he retired from his federal career. He’s the District II vice president in the Los Angeles area and oversees nine NARFE chapters.
“I enjoy NARFE for what it does for the retired and active federal employees, and I enjoy coming to the FEDcons because you get to meet and greet other people,” he said. “The keynote speaker today was just outstanding.”
David Wasserman, senior editor and elections analyst for The Cook Political Report With Amy Walter, led the exclusive NARFEPAC Breakfast at FEDcon24. Wasserman provided an objective and refreshing datapacked discussion on his predictions for the 2024 presidential election, sprinkled with light humor that kept a sold-out NARFE crowd on their toes.
Tom Temin, host of The Federal Drive on Federal News Network, delivered the closing keynote speech at his first NARFE conference. In his remarks, he reflected on the evolving civil service, based on his 47 years of journalism, including 32 covering the federal government. He highlighted the changes he has observed between the federal government, its employees, and the public they serve. Temin also highlighted stories of exemplary public servants and their motivations to succeed. He talked about his walk down Chestnut Street in St. Louis, observing rows of stunning architecture on buildings that formerly housed federal or state employees in a “proud city,” However, some may appear a bit worn and run down today.
“It is in every generation that the federal workforce is an element in our crucible of the debates that define our times,” he said.
After the closing reception, hundreds of FEDcon24 attendees were treated to a baseball game at Busch Stadium between the Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers. NARFE and its members received recognition during an inning on the scoreboard. Staff and NARFE members sat together in the same section, continuing to bask in the success of FEDcon24 and to keep in touch.
—BY MATT SANDERSON, CONTENT MANAGER
Tom Temin, host of The Federal Drive on the Federal News Network, gives the closing keynote.
IThe Flexibility and Accessibility of the Roth IRA
t’s no secret that the main benefit of a Roth account— including both the Roth Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and a Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA)—is the potential to receive tax-free earnings. But did you know there’s a difference in the distribution rules that allow a Roth IRA owner to access funds tax-free when it’s not possible to do so from the Roth TSP?
To understand why a Roth IRA provides more distribution flexibility, it’s essential to understand the three potential sources of funds that may be held in a Roth account, when those sources come out, and when taxes apply.
Contributions to Roth accounts are made on an aftertax basis and may be distributed tax and penalty-free at any time; however, a qualified distribution is required to receive the earnings in a Roth account tax-free.
Qualified distributions occur when two conditions have been satisfied. First, five years have passed since the Roth account was first funded, and second, the Roth account owner has reached age 59 ½ (or in the event of death or disability. Additionally, for Roth IRAs, if the owner meets the definition of a first-time homebuyer).
A Roth IRA may hold conversions from traditional tax-deferred retirement plans in addition to contributions and earnings. The Roth TSP doesn’t allow in-plan conversions (a conversion from the Traditional TSP to the Roth TSP), which means the Roth TSP may hold two sources of funds: contributions and earnings.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has specific rules for
CONTRIBUTIONS TO ROTH ACCOUNTS ARE MADE ON AN AFTERTAX BASIS AND MAY BE DISTRIBUTED TAX AND PENALTYFREE AT ANY TIME; HOWEVER, A QUALIFIED DISTRIBUTION IS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE THE EARNINGS IN A ROTH ACCOUNT TAX-FREE.
identifying the source of money included in a Roth account distribution, which is the key to the Roth IRA’s flexibility. For the Roth TSP, distributions come proportionately from contributions and earnings. Considering every distribution from the Roth TSP includes earnings (assuming there are earnings), TSP participants must meet the requirements for a qualified distribution, or the earnings portion of a Roth TSP distribution will be taxable.
However, distributions from a Roth IRA come first from contributions, then conversions (on a first-in-first-out basis
when multiple conversions are present), and finally, earnings.
Unlike the Roth TSP, the Roth IRA distribution rules allow a Roth IRA owner to take a tax-free distribution at any point as long as no earnings are distributed.
For example, let’s assume Janice has a Roth IRA valued at $25,000, which consists of $19,000 in contributions and $6,000 in earnings. Regardless of her age or how long she’s had the Roth IRA open, Janice may distribute up to $19,000 (her total contributions) tax and penaltyfree at any time.
Like contributions, conversion dollars held in a Roth IRA may be distributed tax-free at any point in time but will be subject to an early distribution penalty unless five years have passed since the conversion or the Roth IRA owner is older than 59 ½.
Please note that a separate five-year rule applies to each conversion a Roth IRA owner may perform. This rule also differs from the five-year rule required for a qualified distribution.
Many Roth IRA owners don’t realize that the five-year rule applying to conversions only matters when a distribution of conversion dollars occurs before the Roth IRA owner reaches age 59 ½. In other words, once a Roth IRA owner reaches age 59 ½, the five-year rule pertaining to conversions no longer applies.
For example, let’s assume Janice’s $25,000 Roth IRA consists of $10,000 in contributions, $10,000 from a conversion she performed one year
BENEFITS RESOURCES
NARFE OFFERS MEMBERS a wide range of information on federal benefits. Visit www.narfe.org/federal-benefits-institute.
ago, and $5,000 in earnings. We’ll further assume Janice is 58 years old and distributes $20,000.
In this case, the first $10,000 consists of Janice’s contributions and comes out tax and penalty-free. The remaining $10,000 comes from the conversion she made the year before. While the $10,000 in conversion dollars also comes out taxfree, a 10% penalty will apply to them because she’s younger than 59 ½, and five years have not passed since the conversion.
What happens if Janice takes the $20,000 distribution when she’s 60? Even though she’s only three years from the Roth conversion, the entire distribution will be tax and penalty-free because Janice is older than 59 ½.
The rules governing Roth IRAs provide greater accessibility and flexibility than those of other retirement plans. Stay tuned next month to learn about some of the quirks related to the five-year rule for qualified distributions.
MARK A. KEEN, CFP®, PARTNER, KEEN & POCOCK. SECURITIES OFFERED THROUGH THE STRATEGIC FINANCIAL ALLIANCE, INC. (SFA), MEMBER FINRA/SIPC. ADVISORY SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT LLC AND SFA. MARK KEEN IS A REGISTERED PRINCIPAL OF SFA AND AN INVESTMENT ADVISER REPRESENTATIVE OF SFA AND STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT, LLC. SFA AND STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT ARE AFFILIATED THROUGH COMMON OWNERSHIP BUT OTHERWISE UNAFFILIATED WITH KEEN & POCOCK. NEITHER STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT NOR SFA PROVIDE TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE.
On December 3, people all around the world are coming together to tap into the power of human connection and strengthen communities and change our world. Will you be one of them?
By joining the GivingTuesday movement, you’re proving that in times of uncertainty, generosity can bring the whole world together. It’s a great opportunity to support NARFE and a chance to share NARFE’s mission of advocacy and federal benefits education with others.
Here is how you can get ready to give:
1. MARK YOUR CALENDAR.
2. GIVE. On December 3, go to NARFE.org/GivingTuesday and donate.
3. SPREAD THE WORD. Encourage your friends and family to join you in creating real impact on December 3 by sharing what our mission means to you and why you support our organization. Let’s rally together to build stronger communities.
Learn more at NARFE.org/GivingTuesday
Help NARFE Grow and Win Cool Prizes
During NARFE’s Fall Membership Drive!
Did you know that NARFE rewards its members for recruiting new members? Think of it as a special “thank you” from our staff for building our membership and voices.
NARFE kicked off our annual Fall Membership Drive on September 1, and the program runs through December 31, 2024. Current members can earn $10 for each new member they recruit, as well as other prizes.
This is a critical time of year when we truly need all NARFE members to step up and help us grow by reaching out to potential new members. Please use email, your websites, and social media to encourage your fellow members to participate, and to promote the benefits of NARFE membership. And be sure to provide prospects with your NARFE member ID number so you get credit when the new members join.
To assist you in your recruiting efforts, we have a wide range of resources you can use to introduce active and retired federal employees to NARFE. To access them,
log in at www.narfe.org and click on “For Members” on the menu bar and select “Officer Resources” on the dropdown menu. On the Officer Resources page, scroll down and click on “Membership Officer Resources” then scroll down to “NARFE Membership Recruitment Resources” to access a page with many helpful tools, including:
• An “elevator speech” to help you quickly and effectively explain the benefits of NARFE membership
• A membership presentation script that covers NARFE’s advocacy efforts and all our key member benefits
• PowerPoint slides provide visuals that sync up with the script and show all the ways NARFE helps members get more out of their federal benefits
• A recruitment email template that incorporates a testimonial
• The NARFE membership brochure, with powerful talking points
• A full-color ad you can download featuring a member testimonial
• The “About NARFE” video if you have an opportunity to make a short introduction to NARFE and want the impact of professional, polished media
If you need printed supplies to support your efforts (membership flyers, applications, copies of NARFE Magazine, etc.), you’ll find a link to the F-18 Requisition for Printed Supplies interactive online order form on the “Officer Resources” page which you can use to place your order. If you have questions, please email our membership development team at membership@narfe. org or call us at 800-4568410. Thank you for your commitment and support. Together, we can help NARFE grow!
—BY NORA MACDONALD, DIRECTOR, MEMBER ENGAGEMENT
FEDERAL RETIR EME NT BOOTCAM P
Learn about the intricacies of your federal benefits and how to maximize th em for YOUR retirement. Don’t rely on your co-workers for the details. Learn from experienced professionals!
KEY TOPICS COVERED:
• Proper asset allocation based on personal goals & objectives
• Tax-efficient investing & withdrawal strategies
• Social Security claiming strategies
• Roth conversion strategies
• Stealth taxes such as increased Medicare premiums, net investment income tax, and add'l Medicare tax
• Beneficiary designations and how they may not be what you expect
• FEHB and FEGLI in retirement
• Retirement Income Projections
Policy and Programs Associate
Joins NARFE
Missy Love has joined NARFE as the policy and programs associate. In this role, she will collaborate with her policy and programs department coworkers to advocate for retired and active federal employees, advance NARFE’s mission, and assist in accomplishing its key legislative concerns.
She received a Bachelor of Science in Agribusiness Economics and Management from the University of Arizona and a Master of Public Administration. From this diverse academic background, she gained crucial knowledge that is both multifaceted and substantive. During her studies at The University of Arizona, she was fortunate enough to intern at The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) in the Office of the Secretary in Washington, D.C. She joined the DOT at a pivotal time and was entrusted with playing a key role in facilitating internal communication and engagement within the DOT, as well as in
promoting external outreach initiatives to support recruitment and collaboration efforts with external stakeholders, particularly with HBCUs.
Missy’s passion for her work is evident in her past experiences. Before joining the DOT, she established a successful record of advancement with the Office of Congressman Raul M. Grijalva. As an adept community outreach intern, she fostered connections between the congressman’s office and the community, advocated for constituents’ interests, and promoted civic engagement and political awareness. This internship grew her love for Arizona residents and inspired her to work for an organization such as NARFE, which is ignited by the key mission of defending the general welfare of federal civilian employees, annuitants, and potential annuitants. In her role, she is committed to using her experience to support the association’s efforts to protect and enhance the earned pay,
FIND YOUR LOCAL NARFE CHAPTER!
NARFE chapters unite federal employees, retirees, their spouses, and surviving spouses and provide an opportunity to connect with fellow Feds, get involved in leadership and governance, and develop close and lasting friendships.
Find your local NARFE chapter by visiting www.narfe.org/chapters. Then call 1-800-456-8419 ext. 1 to join today!
retirement and health care benefits of federal employees, retirees and their survivors.
Being raised in a small coastal town on the Central Coast of California fostered her love of hiking, beaches, and the outdoors. During her free time, Missy loves taking spin classes, exploring the incredible museums and sights of the D.C. area, and taking on new crafts projects.
“I’m thrilled to be given the opportunity to serve NARFE’s members and to work to advance NARFE’s critical legislative priorities to ensure our members’ well-being is cared for. Public servants are a key pillar of our country and deserve advocates who will work tirelessly on their behalf.”
—BY MATT SANDERSON, CONTENT MANAGER
JOIN THE CONVERSATION TODAY ON FEDHUB!
Connect with hundreds of NARFE members nationwide using FEDHub. It is NARFE’s online community for active and retired federal employees. Members can connect so share advice, ask a question, solve challenges and develop new approaches.
You can even find your state-by-state communities based on NARFE chapter and federation. Get started at https://fedhub.narfe. org/quick-start-guide!
you love being a
Dues Withholding is for retired members and is only $42 annually ($3.50/monthly annuity withholding). See page 73 to complete the form to get this process started right away. It takes about 4-5 months to get members onto dues withholding.
Sign up for AutoPay for a 1-year, 2-year or 3-year membership rate and save.
Login to our website at https://members.narfe.org/ and click on My Account and then My Settings and click on My AutoPay Account to preauthorize your card today! Call 800-456-8410 and dial 1 for membership assistance to update your rate. Or anyone can sign up for AutoPay!
Stay in your chapter and don’t worry about forgetting to renew!
What is dues withholding?
NARFE’s Dues Withholding Program
It is a dues-payment method available to retired NARFE members, their spouses and annuitant survivors giving them the option to have their annual NARFE membership dues deducted from their annuities each month.
Advantages
• Save more than 10% off your annual NARFE dues
• Sign up your spouse and double your savings
• You’ll never get another dues reminder from us
• Your monthly payment is affordable and convenient
• You may cancel your dues withholding at any time
How does it work?
One-twelfth of your total dues is automatically deducted from your monthly annuity. Your monthly deduction is determined by the following formula: ($42 NARFE dues ÷ 12) + (Chapter dues - if applicable ÷ 12) = total monthly deduction
How do I sign up?
Complete the Dues Withholding Application below. Send no payment. It may take 60 to 90 days before auto-deduction starts. Your membership starts as soon as your application is received. To learn more about dues withholding, call 800-456-8410
NARFE Dues Withholding Application for NARFE Members who are Retirees, Spouses of Retirees or Annuitant Survivors
STOP! Complete this section ONLY if you are signing up for Dues Withholding. If so, DO NOT send payment
o YES. I want to enroll in NARFE’s Dues Withholding Program. NARFE dues of $42* and chapter dues, if applicable, to be withheld annually. (*Dues-withholding members save more than 10% off the regular NARFE dues rate.)
Social Security Number (9-digit number)
o Mr. o Mrs. o Miss o Ms.
Full Name
Street Address
Apt./Unit
City
State ___________ ZIP
Phone (__________)
Email
Date of Birth _________ /_________ /
Civil Service Annuity Number
(Include prefix, CSA or CSF) (Include any applicable suffix)
NARFE MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
NARFE Membership ID
NARFE Chapter Number
o YES. I also authorize my (NARFE member) spouse’s dues to be withheld from my annuity. (Additional annual dues of $42 and chapter dues, if applicable, to be withheld annually. If YES, enter spouse’s information below.)
Spouse’s Name
Spouse’s Membership ID
Spouse’s Email
AUTHORIZATION (Withholding will begin in 60-90 days). Send NO PAYMENT with Dues Withholding Application!
I authorize the United States Office of Personnel Management to make appropriate deductions from my annuity payments, not to exceed the amount certified by the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association as the amount of dues for which I am annually obligated, in accordance with elections I made above, and to pay the deducted sum to the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE). This authorization shall also apply to any and all dues changes certified by NARFE membership in accordance with elections I made. Please allow 60-90 days for processing.
I understand that this authorization shall be valid until NARFE receives and processes my written notice of cancellation in accordance with its agreement with the Office of Personnel Management and that any disputes regarding this authorization shall be a matter between NARFE and myself. I hold the Office of Personnel Management harmless for any erroneous allotment deduction made pursuant to this authorization.
Signature of Annuitant
or Survivor-Annuitant
Date
Dues payments and gifts or contributions to NARFE are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.
MAIL
this form
(Previously Office Depot/Office Max)
Use your NARFE Perks and your membership will more than pay for itself!
See how much you can save at www.NARFE.org/memberperks
Exclusive Offer for NARFE Members: NARFE members can enjoy discounted monthly monitoring rates, $0 installation fees, reduced activation fees, and a $500 equipment voucher for customizing their security and smart home systems with ADT monitoring. Enhance your home security with these exclusive benefits tailored just for you. Select the link for more details and fill out the contact page to speak to a security expert and place your order.
BMG Money is the better loan solution for federal government employees and retirees who are working on improving their credit scores. Apply in minutes regardless of credit score with instant funding available. All credit scores are encouraged to apply with higher acceptance rates.
GE Appliances Store | Use the link below to start shopping!
Save with NARFE members-only access to the GE Appliances Store! You will enjoy up to 25% off MSRP every day on the latest in high-quality appliances. *Orders can not be shipped to P.O. boxes, APOS, Canada, Puerto Rico, HI, AK or U.S. Territories. https://www.myapstore.com/GEStore/Appliances/Registration?AuthCode=MONARFE21
HP – The Association Member Store | 1-888-678-9620 | www.narfe.org/hp-perk-2024E
NARFE members enjoy exclusive discounts via a private store environment. Save up to an additional 10% on Desktops, Laptops, Printers, and Accessories; and save an additional 5% on Care Packs and Services. Access to exclusive member-only promotions. Simply log on and purchase your options with a dedicated US Sales Support team to assist you. HP has Business Account Managers based in Boise, ID, and Rio Rancho, New Mexico. Call 1-888-678-9620, Monday - Friday 7:00am -7:30pm CST.
Whether it’s big, small or somewhere in between, you have affordable legal help when you need it. Members receive the discounted rate of $18.95 for families of 10 (two adults and up to 8 children) when you sign up through the website above.
ODP Business Solutions | 1-800-650-1222 | www.officediscounts.org/narfe
Because you’re a member of NARFE, you now have access to exclusive members only discounts at ODP Business Solutions (previously Office Depot/Office Max). Members save up to 75% off on ODP Business Solutions Best Value list of preferred products and can take advantage of products discounted off the officedepot.com regular prices. Restrictions may apply so visit officediscounts.org/narfe for details. Product and service discounts may no longer be available for in-store purchases.
Purchasing Power | https://www.purchasingpower.com/?domain=narfe
While not a discount program, Purchasing Power is an exclusive purchase program helps members buy brand-name computers, electronics, appliances and furniture via annuity allotment when cash is not an option. No credit check or down payments.
Signature FCU Visa Platinum Card | www.SignatureFCU.org/NARFE
Signature FCU is a full-service, nationwide federal credit union operating since 1970. Membership starts with just a $5 deposit into a standard savings account—no membership fees and no minimum balance requirements to enjoy all the products and services we have to offer, including the NARFE Visa® Platinum Credit Card. This special card gives back to your organization and gives you one point for every $1 you spend to redeem for cash, travel, and merchandise.
WELLNESS
Active&Fit Direct | https://www.narfe.org/narfe-perks-for-members/activefit-direct/ Stay active from anywhere for $28/mo. Active&Fit Direct includes 12,200+ Gyms, 9,300+ On-Demand Videos and 1:1 Well-Being Coaching. A fitness program with no annual fees and no long-term contracts. Switch gyms anytime. Membership options for your spouse. No Enrollment Fee With Promo Code: STAYSTRONG
Brookdale Senior Living Communities | 877-713-2762 | www.brookdale.com/narfe
As the largest operator of senior living communities in the US, Brookdale has over 1,000 locations all across the country. Members are eligible for 7.5% discount at Brookdale Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care communities and 10% discounts on Brookdale Private Duty Home Care. Discounts are for new move-ins/customers only.
Life Line Screening | 800-324-9906 | www.lifelinescreening.com/NARFE
Life Line Screening, America’s leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will conduct health screenings using state-of-the-art ultrasound technology in your neighborhood. Operator code BKHN075.
NARFE Members Save 10% with 1-800-GOT-JUNK? Do you have old furniture, appliances, electronics, construction debris, yard waste or other junk you need to make disappear? 1-800-GOT-JUNK? can take away almost any material we can fit in our trucks, without you ever lifting a finger—all you have to do is point! Use code NARFE10 when you book. To get started, give us a call or book online.
With over 300 agency partners and an entire team dedicated to a quality move experience, Coleman Allied provides customized discount levels for all NARFE members for Interstate moves. *The NARFE pricing only applies to moves that leave the state you currently reside in.
Wheaton World Wide Moving | 800-248-7960 | narfe@wvlcorp.com
At Wheaton, we know interstate relocation is much more than trucks and boxes. With a network of top-quality agents throughout the United States, Wheaton provides peace of mind with every relocation.
TRAVEL, TRANSPORT & ENTERTAINMENT
Choice Hotels International | 800-258-2847 | www.choicehotels.com
With 6,400 hotels throughout the world, Choice Hotels offers something for everyone. As a member, receive 20% off your next stay at participating hotels when you use Special Rate ID 00801967
With over 160 tours to all 7 continents and travel styles varying from small group to river cruising, Collette offers something for everyone. As a NARFE member, you receive an additional $50-$100 off all tours including sales and offers! Just use your member benefit code NARFESAVE or let our reservation agent know you are a NARFE Member when booking.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car® | Book Now! | https://partners.rentalcar.com/narfe
When you’re ready to go, Enterprise Rent-A-Car makes it easy. We offer everyday low rates on a great selection of cars, trucks and vans and customers are picked up at no extra cost*. See website for exclusions.
Hotel Engine | www.hotelengine.com/join/24530f9
Hotel Engine, a private booking platform, connects organizations and their members to deeply discounted hotel rates.
Member Deals | https://memberdeals.com/narfe/?login=1
MemberDeals is your one stop for great discounts on nationwide travel and entertainment! Find exclusive discounts, special offers, preferred seating, and tickets to top attractions, theme parks, shows, sporting events, hotels, and much more. Visit MemberDeals and find savings such as up to 40% on top theme parks nationwide and preferred access tickets to your favorite concerts, sports & more!
National Car Rental® | 800-CAR-RENT | https://partners.rentalcar.com/narfe/
NARFE members receive great rates with National Car Rental! At National, we pride ourselves on always providing you with unsurpassed convenience and choices. To make a reservation, call National Car Rental and reference Contract 5282909
Designed exclusively for NARFE members, (plans administered by AMBA Administrators, Inc.) Senior Age Whole Life Insurance, Senior Term Life Insurance, Hospital Indemnity and Short Term Recovery Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, AssistPlus, Discount Prescription Plan and Pet Insurance.
Member Options | 833-378-8224 | https://www.member-options.com/narfe
Member Options Auto and Home Insurance Program - Save Money with Multiple Quotes! Get quotes from top-rated insurance carriers on Auto, Home, Renters, Pet insurance and more in a matter of minutes. Answer a few simple questions online or over the phone with our licensed insurance experts to compare multiple options that meet your specific needs. To review and choose what’s best for you, go to the link above or call 833-378-8224.
ADDITIONAL PERKS
Improving Farm Management
In the early 20th Century, the U.S. Department of Agriculture began an extension service in partnership with land grant universities to provide outreach on agricultural developments, home economics, and other subjects. This 1936 photo shows USDA agents in Texas performing a sawmill demonstration to teach farmers and ranchers how to use their land’s timber better. In addition to these demonstrations, USDA produced publications to advise on other ways to improve farm management. Today, all of USDA’s extension activities are run through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Photo Credit: Records of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Archives
PHOTO from the Records of the National Archives, courtesy of the National Archives History Office, in collaboration with the Society for History in the Federal Government (SHFG), bringing together government professionals, academics, consultants, students and citizens interested in understanding federal history work and the historical development of the federal government. To join, visit www.shfg.org.
DID YOU KNOW?
Agroforestry is not a new idea to improve the resiliency of farmlands; it has played a prominent role in largescale U.S. agricultural landscape management history. In the 1930s, the Prairie States Forestry Program planted over 18,600 miles of windbreaks in the Great Plains to minimize soil erosion during the Dust Bowl period. Field windbreak systems help control and manage snow to increase soil moisture..
1 The Service Benefit Plan may pay a hearing aid benefit for Basic and Standard Option of up to $2,500 total, with prior approval, every 5 calendar years for adults age 22 and up to $2,500 total per calendar year for members up to age 22.
2 Price shown does not include cost of comprehensive hearing exam. Examination and testing for prescribing of hearing aids is covered under the Service Benefit Plan. The member should confirm that the provider rendering the hearing exam is a Preferred provider. If the provider is Non-preferred, the member may be charged a maximum fee of $75 for the exam, and the member may need to submit a claim for reimbursement.
3 Smartphone-compatible hearing aids connect directly to iPhone®, iPad®, and iPod® Touch devices. Some TruHearing models connect to Android® phones directly. Connectivity also available to many Android phones with use of an accessory.
Do not rely on this communication piece alone for complete benefit information. All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations, and exclusions in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan brochure. Blue365 offers access to savings on health and wellness products and services that members may purchase from independent vendors, which are not covered benefits under the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program, Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Dental® and/or Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Vision®. These products and services will be offered to you through the entire benefit year.
During the year, the independent vendors may offer additional discounts on these products and services. To find out what is covered under your policy, contact the customer service number on your member ID card. Any disputes regarding your health insurance products and services may be subject to your plan’s grievance process. BCBSA may receive payments from vendors
through the
Neither BCBSA nor any Blue Company recommends, endorses, warrants, or guarantees any specific vendor,
2
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