On June 15, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-UT; Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings, D-MD; and Reps. Mark Meadows, R-NC; Gerry Connolly, D-VA; and Stephen F. Lynch, D-MA, unveiled a bipartisan discussion draft of postal reform legislation.
Although it is a notable improvement over previous postal reform efforts, NARFE opposes the draft bill because it would force eligible postal retirees, their spouses and survivors to enroll in Medicare – or forfeit the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) coverage that they earned as a benefit of years of employment. For those not already enrolled, this would require an additional $121.80 per month (or more) in Medicare premiums.
NARFE strongly objects to the removal of choice in the decision to enroll in Medicare and believes it changes the bargain for postal retirees during retirement. NARFE has proposed, as a compromise, allowing for postal retirees automatically enrolled in Medicare coverage to opt out during a special opt-out period.
A summary and the full text of the draft bill are posted on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee website.
The Committee accepted public comments on the draft legislation through June 29th. Please click here to read NARFE’s submission.
Anything Cummings supports—I know is WRONG!!!
The majority party controlling Congress is the wrong one here!
This may be a ruse. The PO may counter with Donahoecare instead, taking the load off of taxpayers. Don’t know which would be worse.
Both House and Senate bill still require the Postal Service to prefund the health care costs! Never any answer as to why the Postal Service, and only the Postal Service , must pre pay for the costs of health care. Why not require every other organization in America to be stuck with the same requirement? The answer is many want the Postal Service to be give away so some one can make lots and lots of money! While the employees make as little as possible.
What would happen to retirees,too young to be eligible for Medicare? The minimum age for enrollment in Medicare is currently 65. And a Republican D.C. administration,possibly even eventually a Democratic one,will eventually raise the minimum age;as we live longer?
The draft says “eligible” retirees, that means already 65.
It’s not the postal service that needs fixing, but the p.o. is a cash cow for the government. We all know that what “our government ” touches it breaks.
Great Job Management.