Insurance premiums will rise

THIS PAST WEEK, the Office of Personnel Management unveiled the 2009 premiums for health-care plans offered by the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

Next year, more than 269 regional health plan options are being made available to approximately 8 million federal workers, retirees and their dependents. In addition, there are 10 nationwide fee-for-service options and 27 High Deductible Health Plans available during the upcoming annual open season.

The open season is an annual event that lets participants choose their health care coverage for the coming year. This year's open season begins Nov. 10 and runs through Dec. 8.

OPM said that the average increase next year will be 7 percent. About 20 percent of enrollees will see their premium share rise by less than 5 percent.

But enrollees in the Blue Cross Standard Option, the most popular choice, will see increases of more than 12 percent.

OPM indicates that the plan increases are due to an older population, the rise of prescription drug prices and patient demand for services.

Here are the 2009 biweekly/monthly premiums for the most popular plans in the Fredericksburg area:

Blue Cross/Blue Shield Standard Self: biweekly, $70.18 (+$8.03); monthly, $152.06 (+$17.40)
Blue Cross/Blue Shield Standard Family: biweekly, $164.58 (+$19.44); monthly, $356.59 (+$42.12)
Blue Cross/Blue Shield Basic Self: biweekly, $42.66 (+$3.53); monthly, $92.44 (+$7.65)
Blue Cross/Blue Shield Basic Family: biweekly, $99.91 (+$8.25); monthly, $216.48 (+$17.87)
GEHA High Self: biweekly, $91.49 (+$0.02); monthly, $198.23 (+$0.04)
GEHA High Family: biweekly, $185.34 (-$0.10); monthly, $401.57 (-$0.022)
GEHA Standard Self: biweekly, $34.27 (-$0.099); monthly, $74.26 (+$2.16)
GEHA Standard Family: biweekly, $77.89 (+$2.27); monthly, $168.77 (+$4.92)
SAMBA High Self: Biweekly, $97.89 (-$10.62); monthly, $212.10 (-$23.01)
SAMBA High Family: biweekly, $244.56 (-$23.26); monthly, $529.88 (-$50.40). SAMBA insurance, previously restricted to FBI employees, is now open to all federal workers and retirees.
AETNA (HMO) High Self: biweekly, $106.18 (+$17.79); monthly, $230.06 (+$38.54)
AETNA (HMO) High Family: biweekly $233.93 (+$40.38); monthly, $506.85 (+$87.49)
AETNA (HMO) Basic Self: biweekly, $42.96 (+$3.78); monthly, $93.09 (+$8.20)
AETNA (HMO) Basic Family: biweekly, $100.54 (+$8.86); monthly, $217.85 (+$19.20)
VA Care First Blue Choice High Self: biweekly, $52.07 (-$9.56); monthly, $112.82 (-$20.72)
VA Care First Blue Choice High Family: biweekly, $116.83 (-$18.81); monthly, $253.13 (-$40.76).

I know that in times of rising fuel and other consumer costs any increase in your health insurance premium is not welcome.

Hopefully, the expected record cost-of-living increase for federal retirees will help offset the 2009 health care or Medicare premium boost.

Likewise, federal workers in our area should see a 2009 pay boost of more than 4 percent to help ease the pinch.