Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-04

pendents would get protection
ical benefit payments for him.
self or his dependents.
@. What is the difference be-
tween basic" health insurance
and major medical expense in
surance?
A. Basic health insurance
most employees have, fur
nishes protection against the
costs of normal disqualification
and surgical operations. Major
medical insurance provides sup
Elementary protection against
the costs of unusually severe or
prolonged illnesses or injuries.
Q. Would employees who dc
not have basic health insurance
get major medical expense in
Surance?
Would Be in Addition
A. Yes. But the employee
should have basic health in
surance also. If he did not, he
would have to bear a substantial
out-of-pocket expense before
realizing benefits from the major
medical insurance.
@. Then I shouldn't drop my
present basic health insurance
If the major medical insurance
program becomes law?
A. Decidedly not. Major med
ical insurance is designed to
Supplement-not replace - basic
health insurance.
@. What employees would be
eligible to get major medical eX-
pense insurance?
A. All employees who are eli
gible for group life insurance.
Abtu 2 million employees would
be eligible.
@. How would an employe OBJ
tain major medical expense in
surance?
A. All employees now insured
for group life insurance would
be automatically covered with
no action on their part. All new
employees would be automatically
for both life and major
expense insurance unless
they filed waiver. For present
employees who have previously
waived life insurance coverage.
the Civil Service Commission
would arrange a brief open
period" so that these employees
could sign up for the expanded
program tboth life insurance
ana major medical insurance.
without medical examination.
@. If an employee waived life
and major medical expenses in
coverage. could he get
t later when he felt he needed it?
A. Yes. But he would have to
wait at least a year after waiv-
ing the insurance, be under age
so. and submit evidence of in
suitability satisfactory to the in
surance company, which may
include a physical examination.
NOn-Pay Status
@. Suppose an employe should
go on leave without pay or
otherwise enter non-pay status;
would his insurance stop?
A. Not until he had been in
a non-pay status for IL months.
What are the Benefits Provided
Under this Proposal?
(The benefits for Federal
employees who are under 65
and in active status differ
somewhat from those for en-
ployes who are in active status
but are 65 or older and for
those who retire on an i'm
mediate annuity after the pro-
gram becomes effective. For
this reason. this section is pre-
sented in two parts-benefits
for employees in active status
under 65 years of age, and
benefits for employees in &C
tive status but IS or over or
who retire.)
@. Generally. what are the
benefits?
A. The plan would provide for
of rs per cent of medi-
cal. hospital or surgical expenses
which are in excess of certain
basic amounts to be paid by the
These basic amounts.
or deductibles, for active Federal
employees under IS years of age
are: 500 Cup to 5000 for higher
salaried employees for covered
medical costs, $3.50 for surgical
and $500 for hospital
costs. The $500 and $3.50
deductibles can be offset by the
amounts paid under the en-
ploye's own health insurance
plan.
@. Would these deductibles