The U.S. Office of Personnel Management today announced new initiatives to hold the line on premium increases in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, which covers approximately nine million employees, retirees and their families. We must consider new and bold approaches so we can continue providing affordable, high-quality health care to our employees, retirees and their families. The increases of the last several years are unacceptable, said Lachance. This year s rate increase follows a 9.5 percent increase in 1999 and a 7.2 percent increase in 1998. OPM will consult with stakeholders this fall and expects to submit legislative proposals early in the new year.
Healthcare costs continue to increase, especially for prescription drugs.
Absent aggressive steps by OPM, the overall increases would have been even higher. To counteract the high cost of prescription drugs, members will find that many plans have changed their prescription benefit to encourage the use of mail-order drug purchases and the purchase of generic drugs. Members should review a plan s benefits, paying particular attention to prescription drugs, copayments and coinsurance. OPM makes information about health plans available in both print and electronic formats. This year, members can compare health plans by zip code using an interactive web tool.