From Federal News Radio:
Issa bill would open FEHBP to all Americans, but at what cost?
Ed Zurndorfer, a registered employee benefit consultant and a licensed insurance agent, said federal employees would be the big losers in this legislation.
“When you add more people to the potential pool of enrollees in the plan, the greater the chance that the insurance company is going to have to raise their rates, especially if there’s no underwriting requirement,” Zurndorfer said. “Under current law, federal employees can enroll in any plan they want, any preexisting conditions are not going to result in a higher premium if they’re enrolled.”
If FEHBP is opened up nationwide, Zurndorfer said chances are good that the prices would go up for all enrollees — both current and retired feds.
Under current law, federal employees and retirees pay an average of between 25 percent and 28 percent of the total premiums, with the government picking up the rest.
“Is that going to be the case if this plan goes nationwide?” Zurndorfer asked. “Is the government going to be paying the same percentage of the premiums for somebody who’s not a federal employee or retireeal Employees Health Benefit Program (FEHBP). Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-SC, and Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, D-Mo., are original cosponsors.
Here is Congressman Issa’s press release
WASHINGTON- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., today announced legislation, H.R. 3319, the Equal Healthcare Access Act, that would allow all Americans to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program (FEHBP). Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-SC, and Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, D-Mo., are original cosponsors.
“The Equal Healthcare Access Act offers Americans access to the same health insurance plans long enjoyed by Members of Congress and their families,” said Chairman Issa. “This is a free market approach to healthcare with government playing the very limited role of helping small businesses and individuals come together to get a better price for healthcare – much like larger businesses can already negotiate on their own.”
Information about what plans are available under FEHBP can be found at the Office of Personnel Management’s website: http://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/compare-plans/
“The American people should have as easy a consumer experience as federal employees do,” Issa continued. “People can visit the OPM’s website to see how easy it would be for Americans to compare health insurance prices under this system.”
This practical plan addresses key healthcare challenges by:
- Nationwide Coverage. Americans would have the ability to purchase coverage as a member of this group plan. Individuals could choose from among the more than 230 plan choices participating in the FEHBP.
- Improving Access & Choice. Nearly 99 percent of physicians already accept FEHBP plans, allowing all Americans to find a doctor that is convenient for them and almost all Americans to keep seeing the doctors they see now.
- Providing Affordable Options. The FEHBP uses market competition and consumer choice to provide $45 billion annually in health care benefits at an affordable cost. Individuals pay the same rate, regardless of pre-existing conditions, age or health status. Expanding access to the benefit will foster greater competition among insurance providers for price and quality.
- Expanding Consumer Choice. In 2014, federal workers will have access to 256 plans through FEHBP nationwide, up 10 percent in 2013. The plans include HMOs, PPOs, consumer driven healthcare plans and more. They range in cost and coverage, allowing consumers to select a plan which is right for them. Most major insurance providers currently participate in FEHBP.
- Enhancing Quality-of-Care. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) would continue to ensure the solvency of the plans, enforce reasonable standards for care, and protect enrollees.
- Making Prices Easier to Compare. Participants will have a clear picture of their out of pocket costs, and their exposure will be capped at reasonable rates.
- Helping Job Creators. Private sector employers could subsidize premium costs for their employees allowing them to buy plans, unlike the state-based exchanges established under the Patient Protection and Affordable C
- are Act.
- Keeping Administrative Costs Low. To fund the administration of FEHBP, OPM adds a charge to each premium not to exceed 1 percent to cover administrative costs. The system currently uses 200 employees to facilitate a private market that today serves 8 million civil servants, retired employees and family members.
You can view a copy of the H.R. 3319 here. Chairman Issa has also posted an editable version of the legislation here to solicit public input.
I think the PSE are catching on? They don’t smile anymore.
Our insurance is already going up… I am retired with FEHB and my is going up $85 a month next year…
Interesting, Issa better watch out. This is the first step towards single payer which is what we really need. Dont know why it would lead to higher premiums, the more enrolles speead out the overhead.
Remember, “IT’S EDIBLE !”
READ THIS:
ISSA sees America as a club for the rich. Kick everyone else down. Like a dog. Which is what he and that fricking CUNT Pelosi is doing. Tax and Spend. It doesn’t cost them anything, but chump change. But it kills most other peoples bottom line, which is causing most middle class folks to drop down to the “lower middle class”. Just like Britian has done to it citizens. Not many “middle-class to upper-middle class” people left, in that over taxed and socialistic country? The Dems think taxing us to death is the answer, and we will be all happy in life. I know you fuckheads here, mostly voted democratic, but the Dem’s think they know how to watch out for us non-thinkers. That we need more and more regulation, more govt. Anyone that is educated knows this is one of their philosophies in life. Govern the middle class, because they have not the brains to make any decisions one has to make in life. Which is why one of the reasons obamcare is costing many folks not to enroll. It is to expensive. It is stifling job growth. All of these job gains this year, are part time, and $11 or under per hour. But you fricking idiots had to vote this guy in. And he is Muslim, a socialist, and a COMMIE at that. He is so full of shit, and a LIAR. Remember Benghazi folks, and remember this when your next Dem cunt (hilary) starts running. Remember Whitewater, and all of the Clintons lies, that they knew nothing of the pay-outs, and that they never saw or read the documents (their fingerprints were all over the pages.
I have a rat filled sandwsich for HILARY…And bill too…
You cant get any more un -American Then Mr .Issa.
I just shart-ed!!
get real says: Sounds like a fair plan to me……Why shouldn’t the general public have access to the same insurance all Federal Employees have……Better that than Taxpayers subsidizing insurance for everyone.
Get Real is UNREAL… US Government will STILL have to subsidize Americans who still can’t afford this insurance. You think FEHBP is cheap? I’m paying over $200 a month now.
CRACK ALERT…Issa bill would open FEHBP to all Americans, but at what cost?
Everytime I hear that guy’s name, I gotta shit.
seems to me that if everyone in the country–oh why not add mexico and canada–had insurance that equalled that of old eye so…and the cost was zero to us , OBAMMY care would be done and out the window. How’s that feeing in the pit of ur tummy now when ya remember y’all vote for the Master mind that was going to cure the country and play doctor with all of us{BEND OVER} Hey ‘GET REAL’ WE don’t work at a place where they give us 2 weeks vacation ‘ WE EARN IT’; so don’t be dissin’ us since a good percentage are military veterans who protected your butt while you were doing drugs and protesting something else that you got shorted by; get some education if ya don’t have enough or a tech school that can give you a skill that can earn you money
Captn jack, quit calling my healthcare plan “Obamacare”! It’s MY plan that I stole from the Heritage Foundation, and don’t you forget it!!!!
This will save us a ton. Obie-Care will run our costs up a lot more! No subsidy,,, just group rates. Y’all voted for that boy and he does you every day~~ just too stupid to see it.
Get real, sucks to be you.
We don’t have to much vacation, etc.
You just don’t get enough.
Those Federal employees better wake up and smell the roses…Over paid bunch of spoiled kids…I work at a place that only gives 2 weeks a year vacation and only 5 personal days.
I hope you all get burnt paying higher rates…
Why is anybody even listening to Darrell Issa? This
guy REALLY needs to be voted out. When a millionaire
runs for office, that should tell you something. Like
whatever he promotes is for himself and not for the
good of the working class, period!
Premiums for existing federal employees would skyrocket. It’s just a another shot in the ass for federal employees by Issa who would like to see all federal jobs go to the private sector. So he can capitalize on his investments.
This is a red herring. Issa KNOWS Congress would never pass this bill. When that happens the GOP can point to the Democrats and paint them as elitist for “forcing” health exchanges on the public while keeping FEHB for themselves
Sounds like a fair plan to me……Why shouldn’t the general public have access to the same insurance all Federal Employees have……Better that than Taxpayers subsidizing insurance for everyone…..
he wants to paint the illusion of a political hero. He is set financially and don’t need any insurance. How about this, yeah, let all Americans get a few of his perks: Free mailings,
free hair cuts, under the table stuff, VOTE THAT MAN OUT ASAP. What a country, what a kunt
Mr. K, go to H
Yeah ! Everybody but ISSA. He already has passed bills that makes him able to get another plan. Vote this guy out of office.
Now where are there these SANDWSICHES.