October 2021 NARFE Magazine by NARFE

A NARFE PUBLICATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES

October 2021 VOLUME 97 ★ NUMBER 8

P. 24

Navigate Your Life With Smart Tech P. 36

Boost Your Financial Literacy

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Contents OCTOBER 2021 COVER STORY PAGE 24

CRUISE CONTROL: SMART TECHNOLOGY MAKES NAVIGATING LIFE EASIER Learn about the new trends and products that are innovating daily living.

FEATURE PAGE 36

GET SMART: BOOST YOUR FINANCIAL LITERACY Make sure you get the training you need to make informed decisions about your finances.

Special Feature

Columns

44 Open Season Preview

4 From the President

A NARFE PUBLICATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES

October 2021 VOLUME 97 ★ NUMBER 8

P. 24

Washington Watch

22 Benefits Brief

6 Budget Reconciliation

50 Managing Money

7 Treasury Implements

Departments

Explained

Extraordinary Measures as Debt Ceiling Nears

8 NARFE Seeks Volunteers to Help Protect Your Earned Federal Benefits

9 House Committee Advances Bill to Expand Federal Employee Paid Leave

Navigate Your Life With Smart Tech P. 36

Boost Your Financial Literacy

16 Questions & Answers 52 For the Record

ON THE COVER Illustration by TGD

54 NARFE News 58 Member Perks 60 The Way We Worked

Connect with us! Visit us online at www.narfe.org Like us on Facebook NARFE National Headquarters Follow us on Twitter @narfehq Follow us on LinkedIn NARFE

NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

OCTOBER 2021 VOLUME 97 ★ NUMBER 8

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jenn Rafael

REGION I James C. Risner

SENIOR EDITOR Mabel Yu CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Jessica Klement CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER Beth Bedard ADDITIONAL GRAPHIC DESIGN TGD EXECUTIVE EDITOR Helen Mosher EDITORIAL BOARD Kenneth J. Thomas, Kathryn E. Hensley, Barbara Sido CONTACT US NARFE Magazine 606 North Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 Phone: 703-838-7760 Fax: 703-838-7781 Editorial: communications@narfe.org Advertising Sales: Anita Nelson advertising@narfe.org NARFE FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED ON THE TELEPHONE: This publication can be heard on the telephone by persons who have trouble seeing or reading the print edition. For more information, contact the National Federation of the Blind NFBNEWSLINE® service at 866-504-7300 or go to www.nfbnewsline.org. ON DIGITAL AUDIO: Issues of NARFE Magazine are also available in audio format through the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). For availability, call 202-727-2142 or your local NLS service provider. The Association, since July 1970, has been classified by the IRS as a tax-exempt labor organization [not a union]; however, dues and gifts or contributions to the Association are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

NATIONAL OFFICERS

KENNETH J. THOMAS President; natpres@narfe.org KATHRYN E. HENSLEY Secretary/Treasurer natsectreas@narfe.org

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BARBARA SIDO execdir@narfe.org

(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont) Tel: 207-540-6233 Email: rvp1@narfe.org

REGION II Gary Roundtree Sr.

(Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) Tel: 443-929-7045 Email: groundtreesr@comcast.net

REGION III Clarence Robinson

(Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands) CELL: 404-312-8028 Email: crobin8145@att.net

REGION IV Robert L. Helfrich

(Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin) Tel: 317-501-1700 Email: rlhelfrich@yahoo.com

REGION V Cindy Reneé Blythe

TO JOIN NARFE, RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP OR FIND A LOCAL CHAPTER: CALL (TOLL-FREE) 800-456-8410 OR GO TO www.narfe.org TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL LISTING:

CALL (TOLL-FREE) 800-456-8410 EMAIL memberrecords@narfe.org OR GO TO www.narfe.org, log in and click on “My Account”

TO REACH A FEDERAL BENEFITS SPECIALIST:

EMAIL fedbenefits@narfe.org

NARFE HEADQUARTERS

606 N. Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314 703-838-7760 Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET

(Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota) Tel: 785-256-1450 Email: mrsdocbusyb@yahoo.com

REGION VI Marshall L. Richards (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Republic of Panama and Texas) Tel: 903-660-2784 Email: pappysdad@cobridge.tv

REGION VII Rodney L. Adelman

(Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) Tel: 623-505-4719 Email: narfe7vp@cox.net

REGION VIII Robert H. Ruskamp (California, Hawaii, Nevada and Republic of Philippines) Tel: 703-628-3234 Email: rvp8@narfe.org

REGION IX Linda L. Silverio

(Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington) Tel: 503-391-2963 Email: l.l.silverio.narfe@gmail.com

REGION X William Shackelford

(Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia) Tel: 703-830-6590, CELL: 703-201-6304 Email: rvp10@narfe.org

NARFE Magazine (ISSN 1948-4453) is published monthly except in February and July by the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, VA, and additional mailing offices. Members: Annual dues includes subscription. Nonmember subscription rate $48. Postmaster: Send address change to: NARFE Attn: Member Records, 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314. To ensure prompt delivery, members should also forward changes of address without delay. Because of the volume involved, NARFE cannot acknowledge nor be responsible for unsolicited pictures and manuscripts, although every reasonable precaution is taken. All submissions become the property of NARFE. Copyright © 2021, NARFE. Advertisements in the magazine are not endorsements of products and/or services by NARFE, unless officially stated in the ad. We shall accept advertising on the same basis as other reputable publications: that is, we shall not knowingly permit a dishonest advertisement to appear in NARFE Magazine, but at the same time we will not undertake to guarantee the reliability of our advertisers.

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From the President NARFE’S MISSION STATEMENT To support legislation and regulations beneficial to federal civilian employees and annuitants and potential annuitants under any federal civilian retirement system and to oppose those detrimental to their interests. To promote the general welfare of federal civilian employees and annuitants and potential annuitants, to advise and assist them with respect to their rights under retirement, health and other employee and retiree benefits laws and regulations, and to represent their interests before appropriate authorities. To cooperate with other organizations and associations in furtherance of these general objectives.

America—A Quick Glimpse

lot is happening around the country. As I write this, the spike of the COVID19 delta variant draws our focus back

to prevention measures and the debate about vaccinations and masks. Many health care providers are requiring vaccinations for their employees, some corporations are offering incentives for vaccinations, and many schools are following the CDC guidance to protect children, including controversial mask mandates (or not). Our nation’s federal workers are being asked to disclose their vaccination status or face weekly (or more) testing. FDA approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is increasing the debate around vaccine mandates. It's difficult to get our voices heard on Capitol Hill as Congress debates infrastructure, budget reconciliation and involvement in Afghanistan. But not a group to be deterred, NARFE members heeded our calls and made the most of the long August recess, engaging their lawmakers on NARFE’s top legislative priorities. As a result,

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

we’ve seen an increase in cosponsors on legislation NARFE supports. I extend a heartfelt thank you to every member who took action in support of the federal community. Federal employees received good news in the form of President Biden’s pay adjustment announcement in late August, following unfortunate congressional silence. Feds are on track to receive an across-the-board raise of 2.2 percent and an average locality pay adjustment of an additional 0.5 percent. The proposed raise tracks with the increase in private-sector wages over the past 12 months, and the proposed military pay raise making its way through Congress. Let’s not forget that a new fiscal year starts October 1, and Congress is no closer to approving annual funding bills than they were before the August recess began. We’re in for a long fall of continuing resolutions and budget debates. Stay informed by reading NARFE’s publications and checking the website often. And stay safe.

KENNETH J. THOMAS NARFE NATIONAL PRESIDENT natpres@narfe.org

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Washington Watch

Budget Reconciliation Explained

ongressional Democrats and the Biden administration will likely use a powerful procedural tool called budget reconciliation to pass some of their top priorities. But

what is budget reconciliation?

Reconciliation allows bills in the Senate to pass with just a simple majority, bypassing the usual 60-vote threshold and the filibuster. In the current session of Congress, Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate, 50-50, with Vice President Kamala Harris serving as the tie-breaking vote between the evenly divided parties. With 51 votes in the Senate, Democrats can use budget reconciliation to pass legislation without Republican support. Congress sets total spending, the surplus or deficit, revenues and the public debt in its annual budget resolution, which can include reconciliation instructions. These instructions direct congressional committees to recommend changes to the law to achieve the revisions set out by the budget resolution. Congress then incorporates the committees’ policies into a reconciliation bill. 6

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

While undoubtedly a useful tool to pass spending and revenue bills without full cooperation between parties, budget reconciliation cannot be used to pass every type of policy. The Byrd rule, proposed by former Senator Robert Byrd, D-WV, and adopted by Congress in 1985, codifies the constraints and restrictions of the budget reconciliation process. The Senate parliamentarian enforces

these constraints and usually makes the final decision on which provisions can be included in a reconciliation bill. The Byrd rule requires that legislation passed through reconciliation must have a budgetary impact and change federal spending or revenue. For example, reconciliation could be used to raise or lower taxes but not to pass voting rights legislation. Congress most recently used reconciliation to enact the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that included an expansion of the child tax credit, direct economic impact payments

OCTOBER ACTION ALERT: URGE LAWMAKERS TO COSPONSOR THE FAIR COLA FOR SENIORS ACT Is your Representative a cosponsor of the Fair COLA for Seniors Act, H.R. 4315? This bill would provide more accurate cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for federal retirees by changing how COLAs are calculated. The proposed formula would better account for the inflation of goods and services like medicine, health care, housing and other essential living expenses seniors most often purchase. Urge your Representative to cosponsor this bill by visiting NARFE’s Legislative Action Center at www.narfe.org.

MYTH VS. REALITY MYTH: Failing to increase the debt limit automatically causes a government shutdown. REALITY: Failing to raise the debt limit does not shut down the federal government, unlike failure to pass appropriations legislation, which does. Federal employees are still able to work, and checks, such as Social Security and federal annuity payments, are still issued.

to many Americans, financial assistance for small businesses and more. Congress will likely again use reconciliation to pass the Biden administration’s America’s Families Plan; it is expected to include expanded paid family and medical leave, which would likely extend to federal employees. Furthermore, legislation passed through reconciliation cannot be projected to increase the federal deficit beyond

10 years, only within a decade. Notably, reconciliation bills cannot change or impact Social Security in any way, meaning some of NARFE’s legislative priorities—such as repeal or reform of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), or changing how cost-of-living adjustments are calculated—could not be included in a reconciliation package.

Until recently, Congress has used budget reconciliation relatively sparingly. According to the House Committee on the Budget, Congress has only sent 26 reconciliation measures to the president, of which 22 were enacted and four were vetoed. To put this number in perspective, Congress has enacted nearly 10,000 bills into law through traditional methods since 1980. —BY SETH ICKES, GRASSROOTS ASSISTANT

Treasury Implements Extraordinary Measures as Debt Ceiling Nears

n early August, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen sent a letter to Congress notifying lawmakers that the debt limit suspension in place through July 31 had come to an end. With the debt limit reinstated, the outstanding debt of the United States was at the statutory limit. As a result, the Treasury informed Congress that it would begin using extraordinary measures to delay an eventual breach of what is commonly referred to as the debt ceiling. The debt ceiling is a limit that Congress sets on the amount of debt the federal government can carry at any given time. When that limit is nearly reached,

Congress must increase it to allow the federal government to borrow additional money to pay for its already incurred costs—or face default. The implementation of extraordinary measures in this instance comes as no surprise, as past treasury secretaries have taken the same action in recent years when the country was approaching the debt ceiling. As in the past, the extraordinary measures include suspending investments in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF), the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund (PSRHBF) and

the Thrift Savings Plan’s (TSP) Government Securities Fund. Use of these measures should enable the Treasury to continue funding government operations through September 30, giving Congress additional time to raise the debt ceiling. Nevertheless, questions routinely arise from the federal community about the suspension of these investments, especially about the TSP’s G Fund. The G Fund is made up of special-issue Treasury securities that count against the debt limit and mature daily. The balance of the fund is ordinarily reinvested but can be suspended in the event that the treasury secretary determines that the fund SEE TREASURY ON P. 10 NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

Washington Watch

NARFE GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY LEARN MORE about how you can take action to protect your earned pay and benefits by reviewing NARFE grassroots materials at www.narfe.org/advocacy.

NARFE Seeks Volunteers to Help Protect Your Earned Federal Benefits

ARFE’s grassroots advocacy activities are a fundamental part of its day-to-day strategy to influence lawmakers and policymaking decisions. Therefore, NARFE turns to members to advance our legislative priorities with their lawmakers through meetings, emails, phone calls, community events and other activities. But to perform these tasks, members must volunteer their time, learn how the issue affects them or their loved ones, and be willing to commit to the cause. Why is member advocacy important? Whether you’re an active federal employee or retiree, as a stakeholder with a vested interest in NARFE, you hold an invaluable position as a constituent and voter in your lawmakers’ district and state. You hold the power to influence action on policies and legislation that affect federal employees and retirees. Whether you’re concerned about increases to Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) premiums or seeing your Social Security benefits cut by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO), your experience with the issue(s) is what your members of Congress are most receptive to. Sharing that, along with data on the size of the federal employee and retiree community in your district and

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

state, can help your lawmakers make the right decisions. Without question, 2021 is shaping up to be a successful grassroots advocacy year for NARFE, due in large part to NARFE’s volunteer advocacy leaders, including legislative chairs, congressional district leaders (CDLs), senatorial leaders (SLs), and those

NARFE TURNS TO MEMBERS TO ADVANCE OUR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES WITH THEIR LAWMAKERS THROUGH MEETINGS, EMAILS, PHONE CALLS, COMMUNITY EVENTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

who regularly participate in grassroots campaigns. NARFE member advocates helped the 117th Congress get started by providing newly elected lawmakers with welcome packets introducing them to NARFE, offering resources to bring them up to speed on our legislative priorities and initiating the relationshipbuilding process. Members further mobilized to urge lawmakers to support the Social Security Fairness Act, a

bill to repeal the WEP and GPO, as well as the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act, legislation to reform the WEP. They also encouraged support of the Fair COLA for Seniors Act, which would replace the CPI-W with the CPI-E, resulting in more accurate COLAs. They sent thousands of letters through NARFE’s Legislative Action Center, made thousands of phone calls and met with lawmakers through video conferencing. Additionally, members helped make NARFE’s virtual legislative training conference, LEGcon21, and Grassroots Advocacy Month huge successes. These are just a few examples of how NARFE members actively help advance NARFE legislative priorities. Be a voice for NARFE and your hard-earned benefits by joining our network of volunteer advocates. If you have advocacy experience, consider serving as an advocacy leader like a CDL or SL, or engaging in grassroots advocacy activities. Interested? Send us an email at advocacy@narfe.org and tell us what appeals to you most. Visit NARFE’s website at www.narfe.org to access issue briefs and other resources to educate yourself about NARFE’s legislative priorities and how you can make a difference. —BY MARSHA PADILLA-GOAD, GRASSROOTS PROGRAM MANAGER

House Committee Advances Bill to Expand Federal Employee Paid Leave

n July, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform narrowly advanced a bill that would expand paid leave options for the federal workforce. The Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act, H.R. 564, introduced by Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney, D-NY, would broaden the list of conditions for which federal employees are eligible for paid leave, including paid family and medical leave. As with all Americans, under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) federal employees are entitled to 12 weeks of leave for the birth, adoption or foster care of a child; the

care of an immediate family member with a serious health condition; the inability to work because of a serious health issue; or conditions caused by an immediate family member’s active-duty service in the military. However, out of those situations listed, Feds are only eligible for paid leave in connection with the birth, adoption or foster care of a child, commonly referred to as paid parental leave. The other conditions only qualify for unpaid leave. H.R. 564 would expand eligibility for paid leave for all the conditions covered by the FMLA and extend parental

leave coverage to U.S. Postal Service employees, who were not included in previously passed paid parental leave legislation. During the committee debate, lawmakers had heated discussions about the necessity of a paid leave program. Maloney depicted the importance of paid leave in the wake of the COVID19 pandemic, arguing, “Federal employees should not have to deplete their sick or annual leave because of Congress’ unwillingness to provide paid leave to deal with longer-term hardships,” adding, “after more than a year of a global pandemic, why would we accept policies that actually create an incentive SEE LEAVE ON P. 12

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Questions? Members can call 800-456-8410 x2 or email NARFE’s federal benefits specialists for one-on-one help fedbenefits@narfe.org. Not a member? Join NARFE today at NARFE.org/Join.

NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

Washington Watch LEGISLATIVE RESOURCES NARFE NewsLine – A weekly newsletter that goes out to NARFE members on Tuesdays and includes weekly recaps of legislative news, compiled by NARFE’s advocacy and communications teams. LEGISLATIVE ACTION CENTER – A one-stop site to send a letter to Congress, and more, at www.narfe.org. TREASURY FROM P.7

cannot be completely invested without exceeding the debt limit. Suspending investment creates billions of dollars in headroom that the federal government can use to give Congress additional time to increase the debt limit. While suspension of the investments is less than ideal, the funds have always been made whole. In her letter to Congress, Yellen wrote, “By law, the G Fund, [the CSRDF and the PSRHBF] will be made whole once the debt limit is increased

or suspended. Federal retirees and employees will be unaffected by this action.” The TSP confirmed this in a recent statement, writing, “G Fund investors remain fully protected, and G Fund earnings are fully guaranteed by the federal government. This statutory guarantee has effectively protected G Fund investors many times over the past 30 years. G Fund account balances will continue to accrue earnings and will be

updated each business day, and loans and withdrawals will be unaffected.” From the federal worker and retiree perspective, nothing will look out of place in their G Fund investments because of the suspension, and federal annuities and health benefits will continue to be paid. NARFE will continue to monitor the use of the extraordinary measures and when the funds eventually are made whole. —BY ROSS APTER, POLITICAL ASSOCIATE

Order your copy of NARFE’s Congressional Directory for the 117th Congress (2021-2022) today! Clip and mail to: NARFE Congressional Directory 606 N. Washington Street /Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 Name___________________________________________________________________

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

NARFE 606 N. Washington Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 1-800-456-8410 Email: advocacy@narfe.org www.narfe.org

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CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTORY 117th Congress 2021-2022

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NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

NARFE BILL TRACKER

THE NARFE BILL TRACKER IS YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO LEGISLATION NARFE IS FOLLOWING. CHECK BACK EACH ISSUE FOR UPDATES. ISSUE

BILL NUMBER / NAME / SPONSOR H.R. 3076/S. 1720: The Postal Service Reform Act / Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-NY / Sen. Gary Peters, D-MI Cosponsors: H.R. 3076: 37 (D) 24 (R) S. 1720: 11 (D) 13 (R) 1(I)

POSTAL REFORM

WHAT BILL WOULD DO Creates a new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program starting in January 2023. All postal employees and retirees would be moved to the new PSHB program, except Medicareeligible postal retirees who do not enroll in Medicare. Because retirees without Medicare tend to cost more to insure, this bill risks increasing premiums for federal employees and retirees enrolled in Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program plans.

H.R. 695/S. 145: USPS Fairness Repeals the U.S. Postal Service’s Act / Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-OR / prefunding requirement. Sen. Steve Daines, R-MT Cosponsors: H.R. 695: 217 (D) 58 (R) S. 145: 5 (D) 5 (R) H.R. 82/S. 1302: The Social Security Fairness Act / Rep. Rodney Davis, R-IL / Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH

LATEST ACTION(S) Advanced from the House Committee on Oversight and Reform by voice vote (H.R. 3076) / Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (S. 1720)

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform (H.R. 695) / Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (S. 145)

Repeals both the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means (H.R. 82) / Referred to Senate Committee on Finance (S. 1302)

Reforms the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) by providing a monthly rebate of $150 to current beneficiaries (age 62 or older before 2023) and creating a new formula to calculate benefits for future WEP-affected individuals (turning 62 in or after 2023).

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means

Cosponsors: H.R. 82: 159 (D) 54 (R) S. 1302: 27 (D) 4 (R) 2 (I) GPO/WEP H.R. 2337: The Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act / Rep. Richard Neal, D-MA Cosponsors: H.R. 2337: 176 (D) H.R. 304: The Equal COLA Act / Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA Cosponsors: H.R. 304: 19 (D) 3 (R) H.R. 4315: The Fair COLA for Seniors Act / Rep. John Garamendi, D-CA FEDERAL ANNUITIES

Cosponsors: H.R. 4315: 35 (D) 1 (R) H.R. 4268: Federal Retirement Fairness Act / Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-WA Cosponsors: H.R. 4268: 4 (D) 4 (R)

Provides Federal Employees Retirement Referred to the House System (FERS) retirees with the same Committee on Oversight annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and Reform as Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) retirees. Requires Social Security and federal retirement programs to use the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) to calculate cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to retirement benefits.

Referred to the House Committees on Ways and Means, Veterans’ Affairs, Oversight and Reform, and Armed Services

Allows federal employees who started their careers in temporary positions before transitioning into permanent roles to retroactively contribute toward their retirement for the years they held a temporary position.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform

NARFE’s Position:

Support

Oppose

No position

NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

NARFE BILL TRACKER

THE NARFE BILL TRACKER IS YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO LEGISLATION NARFE IS FOLLOWING. CHECK BACK EACH ISSUE FOR UPDATES. ISSUE

BILL NUMBER / NAME / SPONSOR

NARFE CENTENNIAL

FEDERAL PERSONNEL POLICY

FEDERAL COMPENSATION

LATEST ACTION(S)

Provides for the admission of the State of Washington, DC, into the Union.

Passed the House on April 22, 2021 by a vote of 216-208 / Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (S. 51)

Congratulates NARFE on the celebration of its 100th anniversary on February 19, 2021 and recognizes the vital contributions its members have made to the United States during the past 100 years.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform (H.Res. 131) / Agreed to in the Senate by unanimous consent on February 25, 2021 (S.Res. 76)

H.R. 302: Preventing a Patronage Requires presidential administrations to obtain the agreement of Congress to System Act / Rep. Gerry reclassify competitive service positions Connolly, D-VA outside of merit system principles. Cosponsors: H.R. 302: 9 (D) 3 (R)

Advanced from the House Committee on Oversight and Reform in a 22–18 vote

Provides federal employees with a 3.2 percent average pay raise in 2022.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform (H.R. 392) / Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (S. 561)

H.R. 51/S. 51 Washington D.C. Admission Act / Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-DC / Sen. Thomas Carper, D-DE DC STATEHOOD

WHAT BILL WOULD DO

Cosponsors: H.R. 51: 216 (D) 0 (R) S. 51: 44 (D) 0 (R) 1 (I) H.Res. 131/S.Res. 76: Resolution Celebrating NARFE’s Centennial / Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA / Sen. Ben Cardin, D-MD Cosponsors: H.Res. 131: 13 (D) 4 (R) S.Res. 76: 3 (D) 2 (R)

H.R. 392/S. 561: The Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act / Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA / Sen. Brian Schatz, D-HI Cosponsors: H.R. 392: 51 (D) 1 (R) S. 561: 11 (D) 0 (R) 1 (I)

NARFE’s Position:

Support

Oppose

No position

LEAVE FROM P.9

for workers to come to work sick because they can’t take a sick day?” Committee Republicans took issue with the legislation, casting doubt on the Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) preliminary score of the bill, which estimates that the legislation would cost $53 million over a decade. They insisted the legislation would have a far greater cost and that federal employees already maintain “lavish” benefits. 12

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

Furthermore, Republicans noted that CBO’s report did not consider costs associated with the Postal Service. The report only noted that the bill would “increase off-budget direct spending for the Postal Service by a significant amount over the five-year period.” Committee Democrats countered the criticism, emphasizing the connection between competitive benefits and the ability to recruit and retain talented federal

employees; they argued that the expanded paid leave benefits would bolster the government’s efforts to attract the best and brightest candidates. Others spoke about the need for the federal government, as the country’s largest employer, to lead by example on paid leave, setting the stage for what a nationwide paid family and medical leave program should look like. —BY SETH ICKES, GRASSROOTS ASSISTANT

Your golden years are your best years — we’ll make sure of it Retirement should be filled with joy, not uncertainty. That’s why GEHA offers federal employees, like you, a variety of plans that work with Medicare Parts A and B to ensure maximized protection, from in- and out-of-network provider coverage to non-preferred prescription drug support. Your next chapter is an exciting one — and we’ll be with you every step of the way.

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The Service Benefit Plan will pay a hearing aid benefit for Standard and Basic Options up to $2,500 total every 5 calendar years for adults age 22 and over, and up to $2,500 total per calendar year for members up to age 22. FEP Blue Focus does not have a hearing aid benefit. Do not rely on this communication piece alone for complete benefit information. All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations, and exclusions in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan brochure. The Blue365® Discount Program offers access to savings on items that you may purchase directly from independent vendors, which may be different from items covered under the Service Benefit Plan or any other applicable federal healthcare program. For hearing aids, acupuncture, chiropractic and vision services, you must exhaust your Service Benefit Plan benefit first before accessing the savings of the Blue365®

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Price shown does not include cost of comprehensive hearing exam. Examination and testing for prescribing of hearing aids is covered under the Service Benefit Plan. The member should confirm that the provider rendering the hearing exam is a Preferred provider. If the provider is Non-preferred, the member may be charged a maximum fee of $45 for the exam, and the member may need to submit a claim for reimbursement. Must be a Service Benefit Plan member to access TruHearing discounted pricing. TruHearing is offered through Blue365, which provides exclusive health and wellness deals and is a program of Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. The Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® words and symbols, Federal Employee Program®, FEP® and Blue365® are all trademarks owned by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Smartphone compatible hearing aids connect directly to iPhone®, iPad®, and iPod® Touch devices. Connectivity also available to many Android® phones with use of an accessory. Rechargeable features may not be available in all models and styles. All content ©2021 TruHearing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. TruHearing® is a registered trademark of TruHearing, Inc. All other trademarks, product names, and company names are the property of their respective owners. Listed benefit amount may differ from customer's actual benefit. Actual customer payment will vary. Follow-up provider visits included for one year following hearing aid purchase. Hearing aid repairs, and replacements subject to provider and manufacturer fees. For questions regarding fees, contact TruHearing customer service. FEP_NARFE_AD_0221

Questions & Answers

Q&A

THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS & ANSWERS were compiled by NARFE’s Federal Benefits Institute experts. NARFE does not provide legal, financial planning or tax advice or assistance.

EMPLOYMENT FERS MRA+10 SEPARATION AND FEHB COVERAGE

I am a Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) employee with 12 years of creditable service toward retirement, and I plan to separate later this year when I reach my minimum retirement age (MRA). To avoid having a permanent reduction for age applied to my FERS annuity payment, I’ll likely postpone my application for retirement until I reach age 62. I’ve maintained coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program for the last 12 years, but will I be eligible to stay in FEHB after I separate?

If you have 10 or more years of service and are retiring at the MRA, your annuity will be reduced for each month that you are under age 62. The reduction is 5 percent per year (5/12 of a percent per month). You can reduce or eliminate this age reduction by postponing the beginning date of your annuity. By postponing your retirement, your agency will terminate your health insurance upon your separation from federal service, but you will be 16

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

given a notice from your agency that extends your coverage for 31 days at no cost to you. This notification will be reflected on a Standard Form 2810 – “Notice of Change in Health Benefits Enrollment,” which you should receive from your agency. This notice will include additional details and instructions regarding your options. Don’t ignore it, as there are strict time limits regarding your options. For example, you would be eligible for temporary

continuation of coverage (TCC), or you could choose to convert to an individual contract with your health insurance plan that could prove to be more cost-effective than maintaining your coverage under the TCC option. Of course, you could also compare these options to those in the open market or with an employer if you and/or a spouse is working elsewhere. You may choose to resume FEHB coverage on the date you select for your annuity to begin. When you apply for your postponed MRA+10 retirement, you will use the OPM RI 92-19 form – “Application for Deferred or Postponed Retirement, FERS”: www.opm.gov/forms/ pdf_fill/ri92-19.pdf. Schedule B of the form will notify the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) of your desire to be re-enrolled in FEHB. Here are two additional references that may be helpful. FERS Information: www. opm.gov/retirement-services/ fers-information/.

Pamphlet for Applying for Deferred or Postponed Retirement Under FERS: www. opm.gov/retirement-services/ publications-forms/pamphlets/ ri92-19a.pdf.

OPEN SEASON CONSIDERATIONS

What is your recommendation for taking advantage of the annual Open Season? I am generally satisfied with my current health plan, but I’m wondering if there are things I should be doing to be sure I don’t miss any opportunities or face any risks by ignoring Open Season.

That’s a great question. Open Season is not just for those who wish to make a change in their insurance coverage. It is important for both employees and retirees to use the annual opportunity to review their plan and options by doing the following: • During Open Season, the new plan brochures will be available electronically on OPM’s website. Alternatively, you may contact your current FEHB plan service provider to request a copy of the plan brochure for the upcoming year. Important changes to the plan will be highlighted on the front cover. Call your plan’s customer service number if you have any questions about these changes. • It is important to evaluate your coverage to ensure that you are in the plan that best meets your needs. Some plans have lower premiums but may have higher out-of-pocket expenses, which can be a good choice when you’re not experiencing chronic health problems and your family is

enjoying relatively good health. Other plans may have a lower deductible and lower out-ofpocket costs but have higher premiums, so someone in need of ongoing health care can manage the cost of multiple appointments and procedures. All plans offer better cost sharing when using preferred providers within the plan network. HMO plans generally require using providers in the plan network to receive care. High deductible health plans offer a health savings account (HSA), a tax-advantaged savings account to cover current and future health care costs for eligible enrollees. You can use the plan comparison tools on OPM’s website or on the Consumers’ Checkbook Guide to Federal Health Plans to compare your options. NARFE members receive a 20 percent discount on the guide (www.guidetohealthplans.org). • Once you’ve narrowed your choices, the next step is to do further research to be sure the plan will meet your needs. FEHB plan websites typically have search tools to determine whether specific doctors are in the plan’s network, formulary tools to determine how that plan covers your prescription drugs and other tools to help you determine which one of their plans might best suit you. You may call the plan’s customer service number to address specifics on coverage of your medical needs in the upcoming year. Be sure to check with your provider to see if he or she is in network for the plan you are selecting. • Consider a supplemental dental or vision plan to enhance coverage that may be provided by your FEHB plan.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, SEE THE NARFE OPEN SEASON REPORT ON PAGE 44.

Plan comparison tools on the BENEFEDS website (www. benefeds.com) will help you find coverage under the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). • Employees may enroll in a Health Care FSA (HCFSA) or a Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA). These are pretax benefit accounts used by employees to pay for eligible services and expenses. By enrolling in an FSA plan, you use pretax dollars to pay for qualified out-of-pocket expenses. The money you contribute is not subject to payroll taxes, so you end up paying less in taxes and taking home more of your paycheck. Learn more about these plans at https://fsafeds.com/. • Be sure to tune in to the NARFE webinar “Which FEHB Plan is Right for You?” being presented on November 4, 2021, at 2 p.m. ET. Visit www.narfe.org/institute for other webinar topics and registration information.

OPEN SEASON CHANGES AT RETIREMENT

I plan to retire from federal service on December 31, 2021. I want to change my FEHB coverage for 2022, but should I make that election with my agency during Open Season or with OPM after I’m retired?

Surprisingly, retirement is not considered a qualifying life event (QLE) that would allow for you to change your health plan, so you NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

Questions & Answers

will need to do so during Open Season. Retiring on December 31, 2021, means that your retirement will “commence” on January 1; Open Season changes for retirees also commence on January 1. Complete SF 2809 – “Health Benefits Election Form” during Open Season, and let your retirement specialist know that you are making an Open Season change. Your agency should not process the election—this change will be processed by OPM. The SF 2809 will be submitted to OPM with your retirement application package, and a cover sheet will be prepared by your agency to alert OPM of the health benefit change that needs to be processed immediately. Despite the delay in your retirement package arriving at OPM, your health benefits coverage will be retroactive to January 1, 2022. If you continue to use your 2021 health plan prior to OPM notifying the carrier of the change in health plan for 2022, these charges will need to be resubmitted to the new carrier once your enrollment is finalized. If the providers were paid for those services, they will have to reimburse the old plan upon request, and then submit new claims to the new plan for payment. If there are any copay differences, the enrollee will have to pay the provider. Since there can be a delay in the effective date of coverage and the date that the change is processed, this can be problematic but can still be accomplished.

RETIREMENT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE 18

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

If an individual is retired and decides to claim early Social Security retirement benefits at age 62, can the person sign up for Medicare Parts A and B at that time, or does he or she need to wait until age 65 for Medicare coverage?

Although you generally become eligible for reduced Social Security retirement benefits at age 62, you don’t become eligible for Medicare until reaching age 65, except for eligibility due to a disability and a few other illnessrelated exceptions. If you are receiving Social Security retirement benefits at age 65, you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B, effective the month of your birthday (unless you were born on the first day of the month, in which case your enrollment is effective the previous month). You should receive your Medicare card around three months before your birthday. If you are not receiving Social Security benefits, then you may enroll in Medicare online at Social Security’s website (www.ssa. gov/benefits/medicare/) during your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), which begins three months before your 65th birthday and lasts for seven months. If you are covered by current employment health coverage when you reach age 65 (through your or your spouse’s current employment), you may delay enrollment in Medicare Part B without incurring a late enrollment penalty by using the Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

FLTCIP UNDERWRITING

I know that I can apply for the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) at any time, but I’m concerned about having to answer some of the medical questions on the application. If I return to federal service as a reemployed annuitant, can I secure FLTCIP coverage through the federal program with fewer medical questions (abbreviated medical underwriting), or would I still be required to complete the full underwriting application?

Those with prior federal service must have had a break in service of at least 180 days in order to qualify for abbreviated underwriting. The following are several links that can help with your understanding of this topic. The FLTCIP abbreviated underwriting application: https:// cdn.ltcfeds.com/planningtools/downloads/3.0-AbbUnderwriting-Application.pdf. The FLTCIP full underwriting application: https://cdn. ltcfeds.com/planningtools/downloads/3.0-FullUnderwriting-Application.pdf. Details about the FLTCIP program: www.ltcfeds.com/ program-details.

FEDVIP QUALIFYING LIFE EVENT

I retired a few years ago under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), and I am not enrolled in FEDVIP. My nonfederal spouse has dental insurance through her employer that covers both of us. When she retires next summer, both of us will lose dental insurance coverage through her

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Vision insurance is provided by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, NY (MetLife). Certain claims and network administration services are provided through Vision Service Plan (VSP), Rancho Cordova, CA (VSP). VSP is not affiliated with MetLife or its affiliates. Like most group benefit programs, benefit programs offered by MetLife and its affiliates contain certain exclusions, exceptions, reductions, limitations, waiting periods, and terms for keeping them in force. For more information please view the Federal Vision Plan Brochure and the Federal Dental Plan Brochure, which will govern these plan options and can be viewed by visiting MetLife.com/FEDVIP-Vision and MetLife.com/FEDVIP-Dental. L0821015904[exp0822][All States] © 2021 MetLife Services and Solutions, LLC

Questions & Answers

employer. Will I be able to sign up for federal dental insurance coverage at that time (for both of us), or will I have to wait for the next Open Season to enroll?

The loss of dental insurance under your wife’s employer plan is considered a QLE that allows you to enroll (both you and your spouse) under a FEDVIP dental plan without having to wait for the next Open Season. You can submit the QLE anytime from 31 days before to 60 days after the date of the event (loss of coverage). When you experience a QLE like this, if you don’t already have an account with BENEFEDS, go to the website (www.benefeds. com/login) and follow the

instructions for creating a BENEFEDS account; then follow the instructions for enrolling in a dental plan with your QLE. BENEFEDS will ask for your QLE type and the date of the event as part of the enrollment process. When you submit the QLE, the effective date of FEDVIP coverage will be the first of the month after BENEFEDS receives your request. To obtain an answer to a federal benefits question, NARFE members should call 800-456-8410 and select option 2 for the Federal Benefits Institute; send the question by postal mail to NARFE Headquarters, ATTN: Federal Benefits, 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314, ; or submit it by email to fedbenefits@narfe.org.

NARFE AT YOUR SERVICE At NARFE Headquarters, experts are available to answer questions and assist in helping with a variety of benefit matters.

CALL NARFE AT

800-456-8410, OPTION 2

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NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

2/12/20 9:51 AM

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Benefits Brief

Social Security Survivor Benefits s a surviving spouse of a federal retiree, in addition to Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) survivor’s

benefits, you may also be entitled to widow(er)’s benefits based on the Social Security benefits of your late spouse. If you were already receiving Social Security benefits based on your spouse’s work record while he or she was living, this benefit should automatically change to the widow(er)’s benefit once the death is reported to the Social Security Administration (SSA). As a surviving spouse, you can collect up to 100 percent of your late spouse’s benefit if you have reached your full retirement age (FRA). If your late spouse started to receive retirement benefits before his or her FRA, Social Security cannot pay the FRA benefit amount. Generally, if the person who died was receiving reduced benefits, then the survivor’s benefit is based on that amount. The actual amount of your payment will differ according to your age and family circumstance. Examples of monthly benefit amounts are below. • Widow or widower, FRA or older: 100 percent. • Widow or widower, age 60 to FRA: 71½ to 99 percent. • Disabled widow or widower, age 50 through 59: 71½ percent. • Widow or widower, any age, caring for a child under age 16: 75 percent. There are other considerations that might affect your Social 22

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

Security benefits as well. If you are receiving a pension that you earned from work not covered by Social Security, such as a CSRS annuity, your widow(er)’s benefit may be reduced, and is often eliminated, by the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The GPO reduces a spouse or widow(er)’s benefit amount by two-thirds of the noncovered pension amount. For example, if the CSRS benefit is $3,000 per month, then the Social Security widow(er)’s benefit would be reduced by $2,000 per month (two-thirds of $3,000). If you are receiving CSRS survivor’s benefits, this will not cause the GPO to reduce your Social Security widow(er)’s benefit amount. If you retired under CSRS Offset and were covered by Social Security for the last 60 months of your federal career, you may be exempt from the GPO. Be sure to explain this when applying for Social Security widow(er)’s benefits. You will not receive a survivor benefit in addition to your own retirement benefit; Social

Security will generally pay the higher of the two amounts. If you are below your FRA and still working, your survivor benefit could be affected by Social Security’s earnings limit. It doesn’t matter whether you worked long enough to qualify for Social Security on your own; you can still collect benefits on your deceased spouse’s work record. If a widow(er) remarries after reaching age 60 (age 50 if disabled), the remarriage will not affect his or her eligibility for survivor’s benefits. To learn what is required to apply for widow(er)’s benefits, visit www.ssa.gov/forms/ssa-10. html. It’s best to notify Social Security immediately after a spouse dies. However, you cannot report a death or apply for survivor’s benefits online. In most cases, the funeral home will report the person’s death. You should give the staff at the funeral home the deceased person’s Social Security number if you want them to make the report. If you need to report a death or apply for benefits, call 1-800-7721213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). —TAMMY FLANAGAN IS THE PRINCIPAL OF TAMMY FLANAGAN LLC (RETIREFEDERAL.COM). SHE IS A FEATURED PRESENTER ON NARFE’S FEDERAL BENEFITS INSTITUTE WEBINARS.

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NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

Cruise Control Smart Technology Makes Navigating Life Easier BY EVERETT A. CHASEN

n March 2021, Honda Motor Co. began selling a car that can negotiate the road while the driver’s hands are off the steering wheel. The vehicle, currently only available in Japan, has an automated driving system that can take full control of the car under certain conditions, such as when it is in congested traffic on a major highway.

NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

In traffic, according to Honda, the car drives, stops and resumes driving within the same lane while maintaining a proper following distance in accordance with the speed of the vehicle in front of it. When traffic eases up, the car alerts the driver to resume control. Honda believes the car’s technology will help mitigate driver fatigue and stress while in traffic. It is just one of several vehicles built by manufacturers worldwide that use a variety of sensors to perceive their surroundings. In the nottoo-distant future, car manufacturers hope to sell cars that will fully drive themselves—for private use, as taxis, and for trucking, delivery services and other purposes. Fully automated cars are already being tested in several U.S. states on public roads. In 2020, a company called Waymo began offering taxi rides

Fully automated cars are already being tested in several U.S. states on public roads.

in driverless Chrysler Pacificas to passengers in Phoenix, AZ. In some of the cars, there is no company representative, and a remote monitor intervenes and takes control if a possible danger exists. “Driverless cars are here,” wrote Andrew J. Hawkins, who rode in one of the taxis for The Verge magazine. “There’s no going back now.” A driverless race car has reached a speed of 175 miles per hour on a test track. A few years ago, an Audi drove more than 3,400 miles across the United States, remaining in self-driving mode 99 percent of the time.

Smartphones and Tablets Keep Us Connected Driverless cars are one example of the userfriendly interface modern technology makes possible. The race to build them has captured the attention of many Americans, some of whom eagerly await the opportunity to buy one, while others, concerned about safety, would never consider it. Self-driving cars, however, are just one of many technological innovations that have revolutionized life in the 21st century. The popularity of smartphones and tablets is fueled by their ability to perform many of the functions of a computer while being easily transportable. Today, 85 percent of Americans own a smartphone of some kind. Of people age 65 and older, 61 percent have a smartphone. First offered for sale less than 30 years ago, these devices perform a bevy of functions besides just making calls. Through a variety of apps, they play music, deliver directions based on real-time traffic conditions, allow us to capture and share photos and videos, and give us access to news, email and entertainment. 26

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN. INSURE WHAT YOU CAN’T. You can control many things in your life — diet, exercise, even on-demand TV — but life has its own plans. A serious accident or illness can happen at anytime. The high cost of a hospital stay, and the expense of home recovery afterward can take a serious toll on your personal and retirement savings.

NARFE Hospital Indemnity and Short Term Recovery Insurance Plan This plan can help you manage how life’s surprises affect what you’ve worked so hard for. It pays cash benefits to you, or anyone you choose, to use the money as you see fit. Use the cash benefits to stay more in control of your health care choices, maintain your self reliance, and receive the level of care you’ve earned and deserve.

Benefits include: Guaranteed Acceptance to NARFE Members and Spouses Age 65–99.*

• In-Hospital cash benefits paid to you starting the first day you’re hospitalized for a covered injury or illness. • At-Home cash benefits paid to you after your physician prescribes home recovery treatments.

• Cash benefits paid in addition to any other coverage you may have. • Coverage cannot be canceled because of your health or your age. • Economical group rates specifically negotiated by NARFE for our members.

To learn more or enroll in the NARFE Hospital Indemnity and Short Term Recovery Insurance Plan, call 1-800-233-5764 or visit us at www.narfeinsurance.com *This policy is guaranteed acceptance, but it does contain a Pre-Existing Conditions Limitation. All benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the policy. Policies underwritten by Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company detail exclusions, limitations, reduction of benefits and terms under which the policies may be continued in full or discontinued. Plans may vary by state. The Hartford® is The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., and its subsidiaries, including issuing company Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company. Hartford, CT 06155 Hospital Indemnity Form Series includes GBD-2800, GBD-2900 or state equivalent.

Program Administered by Mercer Health & Benefits Administration LLC

Smartphones and even basic cell phones can also play an important role in health care. NARFE Magazine’s January/February 2021 feature story focused on the use of telehealth, which skyrocketed in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Telehealth allows for virtual visits with medical professionals, held via computer or phone. One federal health care organization that understands the importance of telehealth is the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In 2020, more than 1.6 million veterans used VA telehealth in more than 5.6 million encounters with clinicians. Dr. Neil C. Evans, the VA’s chief officer for connected care, believes that the department’s VA Blue Button program is particularly valuable. It allows veterans to access and download a copy of their VA electronic health records; the records can be shared with physicians, family members and caregivers, and are also available in case of emergency or when traveling, when seeking a second opinion, or when switching health insurance companies. The Blue Button is available through other sources to many Medicare beneficiaries and other Americans. VA’s app store includes 34 programs that help veterans manage

Digital assistants can set alarms and timers, turn lights and appliances on and off, set and adjust thermostats, play music, tell jokes, do math and accomplish hundreds of other tasks. 28

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

prescription refills, make and cancel appointments at VA facilities, support aspects of their mental health and achieve their health goals.

Innovating Our Homes, Monitoring Our Bodies Many people think of apps when they consider the changes modern computing has brought, but the Internet of Things (IoT) may be even more influential. IoT refers to the embedding of computing devices in everyday objects, enabling them to send and receive data. Items like kitchen appliances, thermostats and baby monitors now communicate seamlessly with people and the internet. Among the more ubiquitous uses of IoT are digital (or virtual) assistants. These assistants contain voice-activated software that understand and carry out electronic tasks on your behalf. The most popular assistants are Amazon Echo’s Alexa and Apple products’ Siri. To interact with a digital assistant, you use what’s called a wake word, like “Alexa” or “Hey, Siri,” that activates the device. Then you ask it a question, such as, “Alexa, what’s today’s weather?” Digital assistants can set alarms and timers, turn lights and appliances on and off, set and adjust thermostats, play music, tell jokes, do math and accomplish hundreds of other tasks. Many smartphones, tablets, desktop computers, smart speakers and smartwatches now include digital assistants like Alexa and Siri as well as Microsoft’s Cortana and Google Assistant. Growing in popularity, smartwatches are mobile devices with touchscreen displays designed to be worn on the wrist. They display alerts about

Meet Your New Best (Robotic) Friend

BY MABEL YU

he futuristic 1960s cartoon show The Jetsons gave us a glimpse of what life in the mid-21st century might be like, and some of its predictions—video calls, flat-screen TVs, smartwatches—have already come true. While helpers like the Jetsons’ robotic maid, Rosie, have yet to be commonplace, robot companions have grown in popularity over the last few years.

As emotional supports, friends or simulated pets, robot companions bring comfort and meaningful connections to their owners. Helpful to people of all ages, they may be especially useful for the elderly. A University of California, San Francisco, study found that more than 40 percent of seniors regularly suffer from loneliness. It can contribute to or exacerbate a number of health issues, including stress, depression, dementia and functional decline, and it can increase risk of death. Enter companion robots. They range from simple electronic animal friends that bark or meow to sophisticated helpers that mimic emotional responses or assist with caretaking responsibilities. Social robots offer more personal interactions than smart assistants like Alexa and Siri, and they allow owners to give and receive affection. Unlike people, robots won’t be too busy to engage or get frustrated about repeating phrases; and unlike real pets, they don’t need to be walked, bathed or fed. Several studies have shown that robot companions can reduce anxiety and social isolation as well as increase quality of life. Last year, the Association of Aging in New York delivered more than 1,100 robotic pets to seniors. The Florida Department of Elder Affairs originally purchased 375 robot dogs for isolated older adults with dementia, but it later ordered 1,800 after receiving highly positive feedback. Other states and nursing homes within them have begun robot programs for the elderly as well. Social robots cannot replace human connection and relationships, but they may be a worthwhile substitute when family and friends are distant or unavailable, as was especially the case during the lockdowns and quarantines of the coronavirus pandemic. Here are a few of the most popular ones on the market: • Paro (AIST). Introduced in Japan in 2003, this adorable therapeutic robot is likely

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

Photo Courtesy of PARO Robots U.S.

the most well-known and most studied robot companion. Paro takes the form of a fuzzy baby seal, and the cuddly creature has five sensors that help it recognize voices, remember behaviors, and respond appropriately with squeaks and wiggles. Classified as a medical device in the U.S., Paro is most often used in hospitals and nursing homes. $6,000. • Joy for All (Ageless Innovation). Available in several versions of furry dogs and cats, these robots respond to motion and touch and emit realistic sounds. The relatively lower price makes these electronic pets a more accessible choice for organizations and individuals, and they can be purchased at major retailers such as Amazon and CVS. $110-130. • ElliQ (Intuition Robotics). With a minimalist tabletop design, ElliQ doesn’t resemble or behave like a pet. But this social robot does aim to build relationships with and proactively engage its owner, learning and adjusting to his or her preferences. Among a variety of features, ElliQ can converse, take certain health measurements, suggest activities, message family and friends, and provide news, weather and cognitive games. $1,499, plus a monthly fee.

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important events and activities, give you access to apps, monitor your heart rate and the number of steps you walk, and track your location and send you alerts specific to where you are. These watches can support your health through apps like fall sensors, which sense your movements after you’ve fallen and alert authorities if you don’t get up. They can let you know if your heart rhythms are abnormal, detect high and low heart rates, calm you down, and measure the oxygen level of your blood directly from your wrist. (Note: Not all of these features are available on every smartwatch.) The Apple Watch, Tizen watches and watches using Google’s Wear operating system are the most popular brands. There are also specialty watches for hikers and divers, and fitness watches like the Fitbit that provide additional information to help you track your workouts. One of the most important aspects of IoT is its value in health care. “In our home telehealth program, we’re able to provide patients with devices in the home, such as pulse oximeters, blood pressure cuffs and scales—a whole host of

than they might otherwise have, allowing them to intervene sooner to get patients connected to the health care services they need. Evans cited a special kind of foot mat, now under development, that someone at risk of diabetic foot ulcers can step on each day. The mat detects whether the patient is at high risk for developing ulcers in the near future, so doctors can step in and prevent them from occurring. “We’re moving from an episodic health care model where patients visit doctors occasionally and then manage their own health care until their next visit, to a more continuous health care delivery model where clinicians are able to connect with patients where they are,” he says. Other IoT innovations for consumers include doorbell cameras, which can monitor your doorstep, allow you to answer the door from anywhere, and show you who is there even when you are not at home (some come paired with smart locks that let you open or lock your door remotely.) Smart light switches turn your lights on and off with your voice. Smoke alarms

VA uses advanced data techniques to identify trends in individual patients’ health care earlier than they might otherwise have done. connected devices,” explains Evans. “They’re able to connect with us on a daily basis and transmit data back to VA, where nurse care managers review that data.” VA uses advanced data techniques to identify trends in individual patients’ health care earlier 32

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

think, speak and alert your mobile phone about home emergencies as well as automatically test themselves. Thermostats adapt temperatures in your home according to your activities and manage those temperatures based on your daily routines.

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“VA is working to assure equity in people’s ability to access and connect through new technologies.” – Dr. Neil C. Evans

One note of caution: many smart devices report data on how you use them to their manufacturers, to help them learn what you watch, which apps you use and which ads influence your buying behavior—to sell you more items. Some people don’t mind; others find it a violation of their privacy. Decide whether the benefits outweigh the risks for you.

The Digital Divide Connected appliances let you set the temperature of your oven, check on your washer/ dryer’s progress, and microwave popcorn at your request. They’ll alert you when your dishes are clean or your laundry is ready for folding. You can control your garage door with your smartphone; keep your floors clean with robotic vacuums; track where you left your keys, glasses or wallet; schedule when your coffee gets brewed and order new supplies automatically; and set reminders for tasks or taking medications. Items like these are convenient for many; for some seniors, the technology can be vital to their continued independence. When health issues make formerly simple tasks more difficult, some of the devices previously mentioned can help elderly populations age in place. This may be especially true when combined with home assistive equipment (e.g., ramps, grab bars, toileting and bathing aids) and health tracking devices. In addition to health trackers that monitor your general physical well-being, there are also ones that target specific health issues (e.g., GPS trackers for those with dementia, monitoring devices for those with COPD, braille watches for the blind).

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

The sky, it seems, is the limit for innovative technology that links all aspects of our lives. But there is concern about the digital divide, the gulf between those who have ready access to computers, IoT items and the internet, and those who do not. “VA is working to assure equity in people’s ability to access and connect through new technologies,” Evans says. VA social workers help patients get connected through the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline program, which provides low-income Americans with discounts on monthly telephone service, broadband internet service, and bundled voice and broadband packages purchased from participating providers. VA has also loaned veterans more than 100,000 data-connected tablets and provided training so vets can understand how to use them. “New technologies will come,” Evans says. “What we want is to make sure that people can all participate.” —EVERETT A. (EV) CHASEN, IS A WRITER AND COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT IN THE WASHINGTON, DC, AREA. HE IS RETIRED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AFTER 35 YEARS OF SERVICE.

Thank you

to all of the members who have donated to the Centennial Fundraising Campaign. Visit www.NARFE.org/century-club to see who has joined the Century Club. Help NARFE celebrate 100 years of fighting for the earned pay and benefits of federal employees and retirees.

You can join NARFE’s CENTURY CLUB with your donation of $100 or more in 2021. Donate now at www.NARFE.org/donatenow. With NARFE’s thanks, you will receive: • A commemorative NARFE centennial key ring • Recognition in the December NARFE Magazine, on NARFE.org and at NARFE headquarters • Early distribution of the 2022 NARFE calendar Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and will be recognized on NARFE.org.

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GET SMART: Boost Your Financial Literacy BY DAVID TOBENKIN

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

ederal agencies do a great deal to ensure the financial wellness and literacy of their federal employees and the general public. But there is always more to know. Sometimes, the biggest challenge can be knowing where to look. This article examines opportunities for federal employees and retirees to improve their financial literacy.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) defines financial literacy as the skills, knowledge and tools that equip people to make individual financial decisions and actions to attain their goals. This may also be known as financial capability, especially when paired with access to financial products and services. Financial literacy includes things like: • Knowledge of the basic cost of things. For example, roughly how much will the typical married couple retiring at age 65 spend on out-ofpocket costs for health care throughout their retirement? Answer: $300,000. • K nowledge of how financial instruments work. For example, if you purchase a bond and interest rates rise, what will happen to the price of a bond? Answer: The bond price declines. • Knowledge of basic demographic facts, which are important inputs into financial decisions. For example, a typical 64-year-old man can expect to live, on average, for how many more years? Answer: 19.1 years. • Knowledge of basic financial concepts. For example, understanding the time value of money—owning a dollar now is worth more than owning a dollar in the future, and investments offer a return for use of that dollar in the interim. • Knowledge of federal retirement benefits. For example, knowing that federal employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) receive three-tiered retirement benefits made up of an annuity, the defined contribution Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account, and Social Security payments; the age at which each of these benefits are available to federal retirees; and how they are calculated.

Financial Education for Feds

Federal agencies must provide some financial wellness training for their employees. The focus of agencies’ financial wellness campaigns tends to be retirement planning because the Thrift Savings Plan Open Elections Act of 2004 required the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to develop and implement a retirement financial literacy and education strategy for federal employees as part of the retirement training offered by OPM. OPM monitors the financial education plans prepared by federal agencies for compliance with the statute and to track trends. The most recent review was in 2019. There is considerable variation in the breadth and rigor of federal agency plans. “The financial services agencies always have more offerings than the other agencies,” notes an OPM spokesperson, specifying that such agencies include the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the CFPB, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Many financial literacy resources from these agencies are available to the public; some are described later in this piece. Agencies’ financial training for employees ends when those employees retire. In addition, OPM does not have any financial wellness programs targeting federal annuitants, says the OPM spokesperson. Unfortunately, given the challenges of living on a fixed income, the need for financial education can grow after retirement. Key issues include drawdown strategies for prioritizing withdrawals from several different accounts, budgeting, and dealing with possible financial challenges, such as rising health care costs.

NARFE’s Role NARFE is one of the few organizations that provides financial literacy instruction tailored to the benefits and needs of federal retirees, as well as to federal employees. Key NARFE resources include webinars on major retirement subjects, through the NARFE Federal Benefits Institute (www.narfe.org/federal-benefits-institute/). For a brief summary of concepts that will improve your financial literacy, the Institute has 10 white NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

papers on topics like, “How Much Money Do you Need to Retire?” and the “10 Worst Mistakes Federal Retirees Can Make.” These can be found at www.narfe.org/resource-library/. Some NARFE Magazine feature stories, such as this one, can serve as good primers on various topics. An important aspect of financial literacy is staying up to date with developments that may affect your financial wellness. NARFE tracks relevant information for its members and makes details available on its website, through its NARFE Daily News Clips and weekly NARFE Newsline e-newsletters, on other email and social media channels, and through content in the magazine.

Financial Literacy Tools for All Some federal agencies offer invaluable financial tools to the general public. The great news is that there’s a website that harvests the best offerings, organizes them and makes them available. The congressionally chartered Federal Financial Literacy and Education Commission (FLEC), which is made up of more than 20 federal entities, provides online information and resources to strengthen Americans’ financial capability and increase access to financial services for all on its MyMoney website: www.mymoney.gov. The MyMoney site has a summary of five overarching financial wellness principles. The basics are listed below. More detailed descriptions are available online.

The Five Principles Earn. Make the most of what you earn by understanding your pay and benefits.

HOW ADVANCED IS YOUR FINANCIAL LITERACY? Take an eight-question test by the National Financial Educators Council (NFEC) (www.financialeducatorscouncil. org/advanced-financial-education-test/) to find out. Of 10,508 people participating in the NFEC’s advanced financial literacy test, participants, on average, were able to answer only slightly more than 57 percent of the questions correctly.

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

Save and Invest. It’s never too early to start saving for future goals, such as a house or retirement, even by putting away small amounts. Protect. Take precautions with your financial situation, accumulate emergency savings and have the right insurance. Spend. Be sure you are getting a good value, especially with big purchases, by shopping around and comparing prices and products. Borrow. Borrowing money can enable some essential purchases and builds credit, but understanding the cost of interest is key. And, if you borrow too much, you’ll have a large debt to repay.

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One drawback of the MyMoney website is that it offers so many resources, the amount of content can feel overwhelming. Users will have to identify the information and tools that are most applicable to their situations.

Focused Resource

Financial literacy often comes down to dollars and cents determinations. The MyMoney website offers an array of 22 calculators (www.mymoney. gov/mymoney-resources/tools?filter=43114) to help perform analyses for various financial topics. Among these calculators are the following: Debt Payoff Calculator Determine how long it will take to pay off your debt based on different monthly payment scenarios. Retirement Estimator Estimate your Social Security retirement benefits online. The Retirement Estimator is tied to the user’s actual Social Security earnings records and eliminates the need to manually key in years of earnings information. Life Expectancy Planner Want to know your life expectancy? This calculator provides a rough estimate of how long you (or your spouse) may live. Having a ballpark in mind can help you make a more informed financial choices, such as when to claim Social Security benefits. MyMoney addresses a critical weak point in the financial literacy of many employees and retirees: budgeting and accurately measuring how much money is being spent on different expenses. The website offers eight budgeting worksheets: www.mymoney.gov/mymoney-resources/ tools?filter=61258. MyMoney also looks at the financial challenges posed by a variety of life events. Its Life Events page (www.mymoney.gov/lifeevents) offers federal brochures, publications, websites and videos that can assist in planning for life events that include higher education and training, life partners (marriage, partnering and divorce), home ownership, owning a business, planning for retirement/retiring, and the death of a family member.

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

The SEC’s website, Investor.gov, is devoted to the needs of individual investors. It offers a wealth of information on how to become a smarter investor. Use retirement calculators, tools and games to increase your financial knowledge. Read articles on products such as mutual funds, variable annuities and 529 college savings plans.

Money Smart The FDIC’s Money Smart program (www.fdic. gov/resources/consumers/money-smart/index. html) provides a valuable start for general financial literacy. It offers financial education programs that can help people of all ages enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships. Money Smart has a range of programs targeting different audiences, including: • Money Smart for Adults. Completely updated in 2018, this 14-module curriculum provides training for adults in many different life stages and financial situations. That includes adults new to this country, adults with disabilities, adults starting or changing careers, and adults going through significant life events, such as expanding their families or purchasing their first homes: www.fdic.gov/ resources/consumers/money-smart/teachmoney-smart/money-smart-for-adults.html. • Money Smart for Older Adults. This curriculum focuses on preventing elder financial exploitation. The FDIC developed these materials in collaboration with the CFPB: www.fdic.gov/resources/ consumers/money-smart/teach-money-smart/ money-smart-for-older-adults.html. • A Computer-Based Instruction (CBI) features a game-based financial education learning design and separate learning tracks for adults and students age 13 to 21: https:// moneysmartcbi.fdic.gov/.

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NASA’S FINANCIAL WELLNESS EFFORTS NASA prides itself on exceeding federal minimums in its financial wellness offerings, says Jessica Nirschel, a NASA senior human resources specialist. “Most agencies focus on educating employees on the federal benefits program, but not much else,” Nirschel says. “However, there is a lot of information that we provide to employees that will help them in their personal lives as well.” An example, she says, is the NASA Shared Services Center (NSSC) Money Matters, an internal website for NASA employees that provides resources for employees on topics such as planning for the start of their careers, major life events and retirement. The content covers information not included in the federal benefits program and is focused on topics that help employees from day one of their job through their retirement. The site includes a variety of different virtual training courses that are hosted by NASA retirement counselors and external vendors who provide free trainings on financialwellness-related topics. Nirschel says NASA also tries to provide valuable resources from reputable external sources to assist its employees, such as the Retirewise training hosted by its partners at MetLife. A NASA Employee Benefits Association (NEBA) offers members access to the PlanSmart Financial Wellness Program through MetLife. — David Tobenkin

In addition, the CFPB offers a 10-question quiz that measures your current financial wellbeing and offers steps you can take to improve it: www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/ financial-well-being/. Participating in such programs can yield measurable improvements in financial literacy. A 2007 survey of the Money Smart program found that its financial education training covering the basics of checking, savings, budgeting and credit positively changed consumer behavior and improved financial confidence during a six- to 12-month period following the course. For example, the rate at which respondents regularly saved money increased after the course, and respondents were very likely to follow through on their goals of putting money away in a savings account. Respondents were also much more likely to use a budget and regularly keep to it. Financial literacy is a muscle that develops with use, and applying new techniques or drawing from different resources to learn more about the topic can help one’s financial literacy become more robust. Why not start today? —DAVID TOBENKIN IS A FREELANCE WRITER BASED IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON, DC, AREA.

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

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2021 OPEN SEASON: NOVEMBER 8 – DECEMBER 13 FEHB PLAN CHANGES

he 2021 Federal Benefits Open Season will run from Monday, November 8, through Monday, December 13. During Open Season, federal employees may enroll or change their current enrollments in several federal insurance benefit programs: the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) and the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS). Federal retirees and survivors may make changes to their current enrollment in FEHB and FEDVIP. Open Season is the only time of the year when enrollees in FEDVIP can cancel their enrollment. In early October, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will release information regarding the 2022 premiums and benefit changes for the numerous insurance plans

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

participating in these federal programs. This occurs well ahead of the start date of Open Season in order to give everyone enough time to study the options and decide whether to make a change. NARFE will publish selected premium rates and information in the November and December issues of NARFE Magazine. The information will also be posted on NARFE’s website at www.narfe.org.

THIS YEAR’S FOCUS

Generally, OPM encourages carriers to consider a broad range of value- and evidencebased plan designs. In its annual call for carriers earlier this year, OPM announced its focus on quality, affordability and equity, asking FEHB carriers to offer new approaches for ensuring that services equitably reach diverse populations. For the 2022 plan year, OPM requested

particular emphasis on certain areas of concern: • Responding to the Coronavirus Pandemic OPM and FEHB carriers have been working together to ensure FEHB enrollees’ equitable access to and coverage of care related to COVID-19, including diagnostic tests, treatments, telehealth and vaccines. While the path of the pandemic is hard to foresee, OPM will continue collaborating with carriers to provide necessary coverage related to the coronavirus and provide further guidance as methods of prevention and treatment evolve. • Improving Access to Mental Health Care OPM noted concerns about mental health conditions, particularly amid increased isolation and social distancing as a result of the pandemic. The CDC

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Health insurance plans are offered and/or underwritten by Aetna Life Insurance Company (Aetna). This is a brief description of the features of this Aetna health insurance plan. Before making a decision, please read the plan’s applicable federal brochure(s). All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations and exclusions set forth in the federal brochure. Plan features and availability may vary by location and are subject to change. Aetna does not provide care or guarantee access to health services. For more information about Aetna plans, refer to AetnaFeds.com/retireeplans. ©2021 Aetna Inc. 19.12.345.1 A (4/21)

OPEN SEASON REPORT

reported an increase in adverse mental health issues. To address this, OPM encouraged carriers to continuously monitor provider access and availability, ensure parity for members seeking services, address provider shortages with expanded telehealth options, and use providers who coordinate care during transitions. • Addressing Substance Use Disorders The country is seeing a rise in substance use disorders (SUDs), which result in increased disability and overall health care costs. Although SUDs are commonly concurrent with mental health disorders, the two are rarely treated in tandem. OPM asked FEHB carriers to offer stigma reduction strategies in addition to improving access and reimbursement for integrated mental health, substance abuse and primary care services. The agency also emphasized SUD programs for youth, pregnant women and those is rural areas, as there can be a lack of capable providers for these populations. • Reducing Opioid Misuse The opioid epidemic continues to be a nationwide health issue. OPM praised FEHB carriers for the work they’ve done so far to mitigate the problem but also urged continued action during the pandemic to prevent overdose deaths. FEHB carriers have been encouraged to take a varied approach to addressing this crisis, including ensuring safe opioid usage, providing nonopioid-based pain treatments as well as coordinated and comprehensive treatments for opioid use disorder. • Improving Processes for Prior Authorizations Some prescriptions require prior authorizations (PAs) to ensure that what is prescribed is appropriate and medically necessary. However, PAs can also add barriers to access, impinge on continuity of care and increase administrative hoops. In 2022, FEHB carriers are required have a process for reviewing all expiring PAs, and they must notify members about the expiration of a PA for a maintenance medication at least 45 days before the date of expiration. OPM urged carriers to use technologies that streamline the PA process. 46

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

In terms of affordability, OPM has issued guidance for carriers related to the availability of transparent price information for consumers for both prescription drugs and medical services. OPM has also requested that carriers have online tools available for plan year 2022 that better allow plan members to accurately gauge their medical costs. OPM thanked carriers for their efforts to curtail surprise billing.

COMMON FEHB OPEN SEASON QUESTIONS

Will my current health plan continue to participate in the FEHB program? Don’t assume that your current plan will remain in the program or have the same coverage this year. The FEHB program adds new plans and drops others each year, and plans can change from year to year. For instance, you may find that your premium stays the same, but certain medical procedures are not covered the way they have been in the past. The best way to stay on top of upcoming changes is to read the information available from your health plan and from OPM. To ensure you do not miss any critical communication, make sure your current address is on file with both OPM and your FEHB plan. My health plan will continue to participate in the FEHB program next year. What should I do if I want to stay with my present enrollment? If you are satisfied with your present health insurance coverage, don’t do anything—your plan will automatically continue unless you make a change or your plan option is terminated. But do confirm that all aspects of your plan are remaining the same before making this commitment. My health plan will not be participating next year. What happens if I do not change to another plan before Open Season ends? If your current plan will not be participating in the FEHB program in the upcoming year, you may elect a new plan during Open Season. In the event of a plan termination, if you don’t proactively make an election during Open Season, by regulation, the employing agency

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TAKING CARE OF YOUR EYES IS ESSENTIAL TO GOOD HEALTH

Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Vision gives you the coverage you need to keep your eyes healthy for years to come. Regular eye exams can serve as a preventive health measure for people of all ages. Your eye exam can detect eye diseases as well as systemic diseases such as diabetes, thyroid disease, high blood pressure, and more. Here’s why more federal employees choose Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Vision: No copays for comprehensive eye exams. Basic lenses are included for High Option members. Standard Option members have a small copay. Accepted by over 117,000 points of access, including Visionworks, LensCrafters, Costco, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target Optical, Pearle Vision, and independent providers. Use your benefits for eyewear online at 1800contacts.com, befitting.com, glasses.com, and visionworks.com. Frame allowances: $200 for High Option and $140 for Standard Option. We cover Transitions, Varilux progressives, and Crizal anti-reflective-coated lenses at low or no out-of-pocket cost.

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OPEN SEASON IS COMING Enroll during the Federal Benefits Open Season: November 8 through midnight Eastern time December 13, 2021. To enroll, visit BENEFEDS.com or give them a call 1-877-888-FEDS (3337), TTY: 1-877-889-5680. Questions? Visit bcbsfepvision.com or call 1-888-550-BLUE (2583), TTY: 1-800-523-2847. Download our BCBS FEP Vision app on the App Store® or Google Play™ today. In addition, follow us on our Facebook and Twitter pages @bcbsfepvision.

OPEN SEASON REPORT (if employed) or OPM (if retired) will enroll the employee/annuitant in the lowest cost nationwide plan. How do I get a plan brochure for Open Season? I didn’t get the one I expected in the mail. Health insurance carriers are no longer required to send plan brochures through the mail. You can view the brochures online at OPM’s website (www.opm.gov/healthcareinsurance/healthcare/plan-information/ plans/) or call your carrier using the contact information on your health plan ID card. What changes are permitted during Open Season? During Open Season, you may enroll, cancel an enrollment, change plans or options, and waive or begin participation in premium conversion. If you waived participation in premium conversion, you can change from Self and

Family enrollment to a Self Only enrollment or cancel your enrollment at any time. I am a federal annuitant. Can I change my enrollment to Self Plus One during Open Season or was enrollment in Self Plus One required in the five years leading up to my retirement? No, you do not have to be enrolled in Self Plus One for the five years before you retire to change during Open Season. If I make a change during Open Season, when will it be effective? Open Season changes for annuitants are effective January 1. Changes for most current employees are effective the first day of the first full pay period in January. If you need medical services before the effective date of your Open Season enrollment, you should contact your old plan. — NARFE FEDERAL BENEFITS INSTITUTE

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NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

PROUD CIRCLE SPONSOR OF

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS. We proudly stand with The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) in supporting federal employees. We’re committed to providing reliable benefits, helpful online tools and incentives to help keep active and retired federal employees healthy. Learn more at fepblue.org

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Managing Money

‘Stealth Tax’: Medicare Part B and the Income Related Monthly Adjusted Amount

hile most Medicare Part B participants pay the standard Medicare Part B premium, high-income participants, including those carrying out taxable

transactions such as Roth conversions and large retirement plan distributions, may find themselves paying substantially more for their coverage. The total premium a Medicare participant pays is equal to the standard Medicare Part B premium plus the income related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA), which applies when income exceeds certain levels (there may be other adjustments for signing up late or for electing a Medicare Advantage plan). Each year, the Social Security Administration (SSA) reviews Medicare participants’ tax returns to see if their modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) requires them to pay the IRMAA, and if so, how much. For determining the IRMAA, MAGI is the sum of the Medicare participant’s adjusted gross income as reported on the tax filing form 1040, plus tax-exempt interest, if any. In total, there are six income brackets (including three for those married and filing separately) that determine how much one’s Part B premium will be. For 2021, the standard Medicare Part B premium is $148.50, which applies to single tax filers with a MAGI of $88,000 or less, and married couples filing jointly with a MAGI of $176,000 or less. The IRMAA kicks in when the MAGI exceeds

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

these thresholds. With the IRMAA ranging from a low of $59.40 per month and climbing to a high of $356.40 per month, a participant’s total Medicare Part B premium can be between $207.90 to $504.90 per month if subject to the IRMAA.

YOU MAY FIND IT COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT IF YOU GET HIT WITH THE IRMAA ONE YEAR, IT DOESN’T MEAN YOU ARE STUCK PAYING THE IRMAA FOR LIFE.

In past articles, I’ve likened the IRMAA to a stealth tax, because taxable transactions— such as Roth conversions, selling a capital asset for a large gain, or taking distributions from a retirement plan—may trigger the IRMAA on top of the ordinary or capital gains tax owed. In such cases, tax planning is key, and the IRMAA should be considered as a tax cost of the transaction.

You may find it comforting to know that if you get hit with the IRMAA one year, it doesn’t mean you are stuck paying the IRMAA for life. The SSA conducts yearly reviews of all participants’ income and will reduce or eliminate the IRMAA if a participant’s income drops in future years. It’s also important to note there is typically a two-year lag between the income the SSA uses and the year the IRMAA applies. For example, 2021’s Medicare Part B premiums are based on participants’ 2019 income. This means that participants should begin taking the IRMAA into consideration two years before applying for Part B. New retirees may get a shock when they sign up for Medicare Part B after retirement and subsequently receive a letter from the SSA stating they’ll be subject to the IRMAA. Due to the two-year lookback (sometimes three years, depending on the timing of the application), the SSA is basing the IRMAA decision off income from a year when the retiree was working, rather than the retiree’s income going forward, which is likely a lower amount. Not to worry though, as Part B participants may appeal the IRMAA decision or submit a request for a new initial determination if they experienced a life-changing event (LCE), which includes retirement. For a complete list of what is and isn’t considered an LCE, check

BENEFITS RESOURCES NARFE OFFERS MEMBERS a wide range of information on federal benefits. Visit www.narfe.org/federal-benefits-institute.

out section HI 01120.005 of the SSA’s Program Operations Manual System (https://secure.ssa. gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0601120005) or chapter 25 of the Social Security Handbook (https://www. ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.25/ handbook-2507.html). Consideration should also be given to the timing of applying for Medicare Part B. Those who become eligible for Medicare Part B have a window in which they must apply to avoid a lifetime late enrollment penalty. Individuals who retire prior to turning 65 have a seven-month window, beginning three months before the month they turn 65,

and those retiring after 65 have an eight-month window to apply after retirement. Depending on the circumstances, it may make sense to wait until the end of the window to minimize the impact of any IRMAA. The IRMAA is a stealth tax that should be factored into any retirement and tax plan to minimize its impact. MARK A. KEEN, CFP®, IS PARTNER, KEEN & POCOCK, AND AN INVESTMENT ADVISER REPRESENTATIVE AND REGISTERED PRINCIPAL OF THE STRATEGIC FINANCIAL ALLIANCE INC. (SFA). SECURITIES AND ADVISORY SERVICES ARE OFFERED THROUGH SFA.

Does MHBP have plans that work for retirees? We do. MHBP has plans for every stage of your life. We offer plans with highly competitive rates that are full of great features. And we understand how a health plan’s programs can help you live a healthy lifestyle. As we approach Open Enrollment, be sure to check out all your options.

HERE’S HOW TO LEARN MORE

© 2021 Aetna, Inc. Plans offered by First Health Life & Health Insurance Company. Plans contain exclusions and limitations. This is a brief description of the features of the plans. Before making a final decision, please read the Plan's Federal brochure. All Benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations, and exclusions set forth in the Federal brochure. © 2021 Aetna, Inc. 19.22.320.1-OCT (8/21)

Visit MHBP.com

Call 800-410-7778

Get live help with a one-on-one consultation, live chat or webinars

NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

For the Record

EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, SLOWING INFLATION CAUSE MARKETS TO RALLY

2021

THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN FUND RETURNS G FUND

F FUND

C FUND

S FUND

I FUND

AUGUST

0.11%

-0.18%

3.03%

2.00%

1.76%

JULY

0.13%

1.15%

2.37%

-1.24%

0.72%

JUNE

0.12%

0.74%

2.33%

3.46%

-1.44%

YTD

0.88%

-0.55%

21.56%

16.31%

11.70%

1 YEAR

1.15%

0.12%

31.13%

43.73%

26.32%

3 YEAR*

1.70%

5.49%

18.02%

16.43%

9.32%

5 YEAR*

1.99%

3.23%

17.99%

17.55%

10.07%

10 YEAR*

1.94%

3.41%

16.36%

15.59%

7.68%

2021

L INCOME

L 2025

L 2030

L 2035

L 2040

AUGUST

0.63%

1.16%

1.50%

1.63%

1.77%

JULY

0.47%

0.75%

0.92%

0.99%

1.05%

JUNE

0.39%

0.64%

0.79%

0.86%

0.92%

YTD

4.43%

8.33%

10.54%

11.50%

12.46%

1 YEAR

7.37%

14.67%

18.54%

20.37%

22.22%

3 YEAR*

5.02%

N/A

10.02%

N/A

11.54%

5 YEAR*

4.99%

N/A

10.28%

N/A

11.81%

10 YEAR*

4.59%

N/A

9.57%

N/A

10.83%

L 2045

L 2050

L 2055

L 2060

L 2065

AUGUST

1.88%

1.99%

2.42%

2.41%

JULY

1.10%

1.15%

1.26%

JUNE

0.98%

1.03%

1.17%

YTD

13.28%

14.12%

17.18%

1 YEAR

23.85%

25.50%

31.27%

3 YEAR*

N/A

12.81%

N/A

5 YEAR*

N/A

13.15%

N/A

10 YEAR*

N/A

11.90%

N/A

*ANNUALIZED.

Equity markets rallied despite the continuing pandemic as investors welcomed news of employment growth. Consumer prices rose at a slower rate, suggesting that some inflationary pressures may have been transitory. The Federal Reserve signaled an intent to scale back monetary stimulus if the economy continues to recover. The C and S Funds posted gains. The I Fund also rose, although its gain was dampened by a stronger U.S. dollar. Longer-term interest rates edged higher, contributing to a slight loss for the F Fund. All the L Funds rose.—BY MICHAEL JERUE, FINANCIAL ANALYST, THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN RETURNS are net of the effect of accrued administrative expenses and investment expenses/costs. Source: TSP G Fund: Government securities (specially issued to the TSP) F Fund: Government, corporate and mortgage-backed bonds C Fund: Stocks of large- and medium-size U.S. companies S Fund: Stocks of small- to medium-size U.S. companies (not included in the C Fund) I Fund: International stocks of 21 developed countries L Fund: (Lifecycle) Invested in the G, F, C, S and I Funds (The proportion of L Fund balance invested in each of the individual TSP funds depends on the L Fund chosen.)

COUNTDOWN TO COLA The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.52 percent in July 2021. To calculate the 2022 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), the 2021 third-quarter indices will be averaged and compared with the 2020 third-quarter average of 253.412. The percentage increase determines the COLA. July's index, 267.789, is up 5.67 percent from the base. The CPI represents purchases of food and beverages, housing, apparel, transportation, medical care, recreation, education and communication, and other goods and services. For FECA COLA updates, visit narfe.org and search for FECA.

OPM RETIREMENT CLAIMS PROCESSING STATUS

2021

2020

Claims Received

MONTH

Inventory Monthly FYTD (Steady State Average Processing Average Processing is 13,000) Time in Days Time in Days

JULY 6,819 17,631 AUGUST 6,775 18,570 SEPTEMBER 6,244 18,274 OCTOBER 8,323 19.605 NOVEMBER 5,876 20,022 DECEMBER 5,135 19,687 JANUARY 13,850 26,968 FEBRUARY 7,495 26,460 MARCH 9.664 27,638 APRIL 9,414 25,386 MAY 7,684 24,619 JUNE 7,264 24,999 JULY 8,922 27,001

95 73 73 77 74 74 85 77 69 71 70 78 91

68 68 69 77 76 75 78 78 76 75 74 75 76

FOR THE NUMBER of new retirement cases the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) receives each month by agency and the percent with errors that it returns to those agencies, go to www.opm.gov/retirement-services/. l Source: OPM 52

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

CPI-W

Monthly % Change

% Change from 253.412

OCTOBER 2020

254.076

0.03

0.26

NOVEMBER

253.826

-0.10

0.16

DECEMBER

254.081

0.10

0.26

JANUARY 2021

255.296

0.48

0.74

FEBRUARY

256.843

0.61

1.35

MARCH

258.935

0.81

2.20

APRIL

261.237

0.89

3.08

MAY

263.612

0.91

4.03

JUNE

266.412

1.06

5.13

JULY

267.789

0.52

5.67

AUGUST SEPTEMBER

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Support Alzheimer’s Research NARFE members contributed for Alzheimer’s research: $14 Million Fund

$13,948,628.05*

Enclosed is my NARFE-Alzheimer’s contribution: $ _________ Every cent that is contributed is used for research. q Mr.

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*Total as of July 31, 2021 100 percent of all contributed funds go to Alzheimer’s research.

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Give to the NARFE-FEEA Fund MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: NARFE-FEEA Fund PLEASE MAIL COUPON AND CHECK TO: FEEA 1641 Prince St. Alexandria, VA 22314 YOUR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION IS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW.

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The NARFE-FEEA Fund supports NARFE members during disasters; provides scholarships to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and funds other programs to support NARFE members at the direction of NARFE and FEEA. Enclosed is my NARFE-FEEA Fund Contribution: $ _________ Name: ______________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________ City: ________________________________________________ State: _______________________________________________ ZIP: ________________________________________________ Email: ______________________________________________

To make credit card or e-check contributions, visit www.feea.org/givenarfe.

NARFE News

SAVE THE DATE Make plans to attend FEDcon22 August 21-23 in Scottsdale, AZ. Details will be available in upcoming issues of NARFE Magazine and in NARFE NewsLine, NARFE's weekly newsletter. Email events@narfe.org with questions.

2022 NARFE Elections

t the August 2021 NARFE National Executive Board (NEB) Meeting, the NEB adopted a new timetable for the 2022 NARFE Elections. Here you will find key

dates, information on running for national officer or regional vice president, and updated instructions for the submission of bylaws and standing rule amendment proposals.

NATIONAL AND REGIONAL OFFICER CANDIDATES

All candidates for the positions of national president, national secretary/treasurer and regional vice president requesting publication of their candidate statements in the May 2022 issue of the NARFE Magazine should submit their candidate statements by 5 p.m. EST February 15 at communications@narfe.org or

by using the form at www.narfe. org/2022-narfe-election. Statements are strictly limited to 400 words and submitted as a Word document. No copy corrections will be made, including spelling, typographical or grammatical errors, so statements should be carefully proofread before submission. Candidates should also submit a high-resolution head-andshoulders photograph for publication with their statement.

Only emailed statements and photos or submission using the official online form will be accepted. Candidates waiving their right to publication of their candidate statement may still be nominated via email to communications@narfe.org by 5 p.m. EDT May 15. All candidates can also send messages to membership via NARFE’s email messaging system. Two messages may be sent between May 1 and July 14. Please indicate in the email transmitting the candidate statement or nomination whether you plan to opt in to this service, and we will contact you about scheduling. Timing of the distribution of candidate emails depends on the all-member email

KEY DATES

February 15, 2022

National Officer and Regional Vice President Candidate Statements Due

February 15, 2022

Proposed Bylaws and Standing Rule Amendments Due

April 1, 2022

Bylaws Committee Final Report

May 2022 Issue

Candidate Statements Published in NARFE Magazine

May 15, 2022

Candidate Nominations Due for Those Waiving Statement Publication

June/July 2022 Issue

Bylaws Committee Report Published in NARFE Magazine

July 15, 2022

Internet Voting Site Goes Live

August 1, 2022

Ballots Issued

August 31, 2022

Voting Ends

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

schedule. Due to member feedback, every effort is made not to send more than one email to the membership on the same day. When more than one candidate indicates he or she would like their email sent on the same day, the requests will be fulfilled in the order in which they are received.

BYLAWS AND STANDING RULES AMENDMENT PROPOSALS Article XII, AMENDMENTS, Section 1: Proposed Amendments of the NARFE Bylaws as adopted September 2, 2020, sets forth who may propose bylaws and standing rule amendments and resolutions. These must be submitted to National Headquarters either by email at bylaws2021-22@narfe.org or U.S. mail addressed to National Secretary/Treasurer, NARFE, 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria VA 22314. Hard copy and email submissions must be received no later than February 15, 2022. Only those submissions provided on the appropriate forms will be accepted. Forms and a copy of the current bylaws may be found online at www.narfe.org/2022-narfe-election or by contacting the National Secretary/Treasurer.

2021 FEDERATION CONFERENCES This information was correct as of late August; please contact your federation to confirm these details. California: October 18-20 in San Luis Obispo Colorado: October 7 in Aurora Indiana: October 28 in Indianapolis Michigan: October 20-22 in East Tawas Mississippi: October 28-30 in Louisville New York: October 27 in Albany South Carolina: October 18-19 in Summerville Texas: October 12-14 in San Antonio Virginia: October 11-13 in Richmond Wisconsin: November 8-10 in Tomah

IT’S EASY TO SEE 100 YEARS OF SUCCESS. We stand with the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) in supporting federal employees. We’re dedicated to supporting healthy eyes by offering nationwide vision coverage with free eye exams plus a generous frame allowance. Learn more at bcbsfepvision.com

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NARFE News

Welcome to FEDHub, the Online Community Exclusively for NARFE Members NARFE is excited to announce that members will now have exclusive access to FEDHub, our new online community that will help you connect with each other, learn from your shared experiences, and become part of our vibrant group of active and retired federal employees. Online communities on platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn and NextDoor.com are all around us, linking families, neighborhoods, colleagues and many other types of groups. FEDHub connects NARFE members who are, or were, part of the federal workforce. It breaks down the traditional one-way exchange of information and opens up communication among members to help you ask questions, find answers and interact with fellow Feds.

FEDHub keeps you informed and helps you engage with other members around the country and around the world. It will also reflect the structure of NARFE, with federations and chapters helping members connect at the state and local levels. To make all this happen, the FEDHub platform will feature: • Discussion forums, called communities, focused on federal benefits, legislation that affects Feds, job types or roles, career stages, and many other topics identified by NARFE or suggested by members. • Federation and chapter communities focused on geographic areas to help you engage with members in your area. • Opportunities to connect with NARFE subject matter

NARFE Magazine is providing a look back at milestones for the organization and its work on behalf of federal civilian employees, retirees and their survivors. In the 1980s, major amendments to the Social Security Act included mandatory Social Security and Medicare coverage for the federal workforce, necessitating a new retirement system for future federal workers. NARFE, acting to ensure that any new system would be fair, used contributed funds to undertake a year-long, in-depth study with input from other federal and postal organizations.

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

experts through live chats and event-related communities. • Polls and surveys to help NARFE keep its finger on the pulse of what members need and are thinking about. • A mobile-responsive website and a mobile app to keep you connected no matter where you are or what device you’re using. • A thoughtfully moderated environment to ensure your experience is always safe and enjoyable. In short, FEDHub will support your success by giving you access to the knowledge and value of fellow NARFE members. Just go to www. NARFE.org, click the FEDHub links, and start making real connections today. —BY DAVE BOWMAN, SENIOR DIRECTOR, MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

The result became the blueprint for the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), enacted in 1986. Primary goals of NARFE’s plan were obtaining assurance that the Civil Service Retirement Trust Fund would remain fiscally viable and ensuring that all employees (Civil Service Retirement System and FERS) were making mandatory contributions. Visit narfe.org/centennial for more about NARFE’s century of service. Eargo and GEHA are proud sponsors of NARFE’s Centennial.

NARFE MEMBER BENEFITS • Access the NARFE Federal Benefits Institute for powerful resources to help you fully understand and manage your benefits.

Active and Retired Federal Employees ... Join NARFE Today! The only organization dedicated solely to protecting and preserving the benefits of all federal workers and retirees, NARFE informs you of any developments and proposals that affect your compensation, retirement and health benefits, AND provides clear answers to your questions.

Who Should Join NARFE?

If your future security is tied to federal retirement benefits—federal retirees, current employees, spouses and individual survivors—you should join NARFE.

• Visit the Legislative Action Center to contact your representatives about bills affecting federal benefits. • Get NARFE Magazine with news and insights for the federal community. • Save time, hassle and money with NARFE Perks. • The opportunity to get involved at the local level by joining a chapter in your area. 1Q6

NARFE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION YES. I want to join NARFE for the low annual dues of $48.

q Mr. q Mrs. q Miss q Ms.

q MasterCard

______________________________________________

Full Name

______________________________________________

Street Address Apt./Unit

______________________________________________

City

State

ZIP

______________________________________________

Phone

______________________________________________

I am a (check all that apply) q Active Federal Employee

q Active Federal Employee Spouse

q Annuitant Spouse

q VISA

q Discover

q AMEX

___________________________________________ Card No. Expiration Date _____ /________ mm

______________________________________________

q Annuitant

PAYMENT OPTIONS q Check, Money Order or Bill Pay (Payable to NARFE) q Bill me (NARFE membership will start when payment is received.) q Charge my:

yyyy

___________________________________________ Name on Card ___________________________________________ Signature ___________________________________________ Date

TOTAL DUES $48 Annual Dues X ___________ = ___________ Per Person # Enrolling Total Dues Dues payments are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

q Survivor Annuitant

q Please enroll my spouse _________________________________________

Spouse’s Full Name

LOOKING TO MEET OTHERS in the federal community and participate in NARFE at a local level? Call 800-456-8410 to learn about a NARFE chapter in your area.

_________________________________________

Would you like to receive a FREE one-year chapter membership? Choose one: q Chapter closest to home OR q Chapter #____________

THREE EASY WAYS TO JOIN

MAY WE THANK SOMEONE? Did someone introduce you to NARFE? Please provide their Name and Member ID.

Spouse’s Email

1. Complete this application and mail with your payment to NARFE Member Services / 606 N Washington St / Alexandria, VA 22314-1914.

2. Join online at www.NARFE.org. 3. Call 800-456-8410, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

___________________________________________ Recruiter’s Name ___________________________________________ Recruiter’s Membership ID NARFE respects the privacy of our members. Personal information is used to provide content and relevant communications to our members, and will not be sold or rented to third parties. (01/21)

USE YOUR NARFE PERKS AND YOUR MEMBERSHIP WILL MORE THAN PAY FOR ITSELF!

PRODUCTS........................................................................................................................................... ADT Home Security | 844-892-3513 | https://Partners.ADT.com/SSE-DB-P56

Get Your FREE* ADT Video Doorbell today AND $100 Visa reward card from Protect Your Home ADT Authorized Premier Provider. A safer home and peace of mind are just one click away. Gain peace of mind knowing you’re protected with the latest security technology 24 hours a day. Call or go to the link above for full details. *New customers only. Early termination fee applies. Installation starts at $99 with 36 month monitoring agreement. Upgraded packages require an additional install fee

GE Appliances Store | Use the link below to start shopping!

Save with NARFE members-only access to the GE Appliances Store! You will enjoy up to 25% off MSRP every day on the latest in high-quality appliances. *Orders can not be shipped to P.O. boxes, APOS, Canada, Puerto Rico, HI, AK or U.S. Territories. https://www.myapstore.com/GEStore/Appliances/ Registration?AuthCode=MONARFE21

LegalShield | 410-419-7130 | www.legalshield.com/info/narfe

Whether it’s big, small or somewhere in between, you have affordable legal help when you need it. Members receive the discounted rate of $16.95 for individuals and $18.95 for families of 10 (two adults and up to 8 children).

Office Depot | 855-337-6811 x 2897 | www.officediscounts.org/narfe

Because you’re a member of NARFE you have access to exclusive, members-only discounts at Office Depot and OfficeMax. With your NARFE membership, you can save up to 75% off regular prices (as listed on officedepot.com) on our Best Value List of preferred products. Create an account and browse through our discounts, or shop in-store by printing your FREE Store Purchasing Card. Visit https:// officediscounts.org/narfe for details and more! *Tech, software and select furniture items are not part of the discount program.

Purchasing Power | www.PurchasingPower.com/NARFE

While not a discount program, Purchasing Power is an exclusive purchase program helps members buy brand-name computers, electronics, appliances and furniture via annuity allotment when cash is not an option. No credit check or down payments.

INSURANCE........................................................................................................................................... NARFE Insurance Services | 800-233-5764 | www.narfeinsurance.com

Designed exclusively for NARFE members, (plans administered by Mercer) Senior Age Whole Life Insurance, Senior Term Life Insurance, Hospital Income and Short Term Recovery Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, AssistPlus, Discount Prescription Plan and Pet Insurance.

Member Options | 833-378-8224 | https://www.member-options.com/narfe

Member Options Auto and Home Insurance Program - Save Money with Multiple Quotes! Get quotes from top-rated insurance carriers on Auto, Home, Renters, Pet insurance and more in a matter of minutes. Answer a few simple questions online or over the phone with our licensed insurance experts to compare multiple options that meet your specific needs. To review and choose what’s best for you, go to the link above or call 833-378-8224.

PRE-PLANNING................................................................................................................................... Neptune Society | 800-NEPTUNE (637-8863) | www.neptunesociety.com

Our prearranged plans cover all necessary expenses for one guaranteed price even if the services are not needed for 40 or 50 years. The Neptune Society offers a $100 discount to all NARFE members. *Discounted offer is not valid for residents of Louisiana, Tennessee and Kentucky. Void Where Prohibited.

MOVING SERVICES................................................................................................................................... Coleman Allied | 850-375-0917 | jack.jacobs@colemanallied.com

With over 300 agency partners and an entire team dedicated to a quality move experience, Coleman Allied provides customized discount levels for all NARFE members for Interstate moves. *The NARFE pricing only applies to moves that leave the state you currently reside in.

Wheaton World Wide Moving | 800-248-7960 | narfe@wvlcorp.com

At Wheaton, we know interstate relocation is much more than trucks and boxes. With a network of top-quality agents throughout the United States, Wheaton provides peace of mind with every relocation.

TRAVEL AND TRANSPORT.................................................................................................................... Choice Hotels International | 800-258-2847 | www.choicehotels.com

With 6,400 hotels throughout the world, Choice Hotels offers something for everyone. As a member, receive 20% off your next stay at participating hotels when you use Special Rate ID 00801967.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car® | Book Now! | https://partners.rentalcar.com/narfe

When you’re ready to go, Enterprise Rent-A-Car makes it easy. We offer everyday low rates on a great selection of cars, trucks and vans and customers are picked up at no extra cost*. See website for exclusions.

Hotel Engine | https://members.hotelengine.com/join/narfe175

Hotel Engine, a private booking platform, connects organizations and their members to deeply discounted hotel rates.

National Car Rental® | 800-CAR-RENT | www.nationalcarrental.com

NARFE members receive great rates with National Car Rental! At National, we pride ourselves on always providing you with unsurpassed convenience and choice. https://partners.rentalcar.com/narfe

Wyndham Hotels | 1-877-670-7088 | http://bit.ly/WYNDHAM_NARFE

NARFE members receive up to 20% off the “Best Available Rate” at participating Wyndham Hotel Group locations worldwide. To receive discount, book online or call our special member benefits hotline at 1-877-670-7088 and give the agent your special discount ID number 1000007874 at time of booking. For online bookings, your discount ID will automatically be entered and your discount displayed.

WELLNESS.................................................................................................................................................... Brookdale Senior Living Communities | 877-713-2762 | www.brookdale.com/narfe

As the largest operator of senior living communities in the US, Brookdale has over 1,000 locations all across the country. Members are eligible for 7.5% discount at Brookdale Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care communities and 10% discounts on Brookdale Private Duty Home Care. Discounts are for new move-ins/customers only. R

Life Line Screening | 800-324-9906 | www.lifelinescreening.com/NARFE

Life Line Screening, America’s leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will conduct health screenings using state-of-the-art ultrasound technology in your neighborhood. Operator code BKHN075.

ADDITIONAL PERKS.................................................................................................................................

SEE HOW MUCH YOU CAN SAVE AT

www.NARFE.ORG/memberperks

The Way We Worked

Informing Americans About World War II During World War II, journalist Theodore “Ted” Poston served as the head of the Negro Press Section for the Office of War Information (OWI) in Washington, DC. The OWI was a federal agency that provided war communications through radio broadcasts, newspapers, posters, photographs and films. Poston was part of President Roosevelt’s “Black Cabinet,” an informal group of African American advisers. When the war ended, President Truman abolished the OWI, saying it was no longer needed.

DID YOU KNOW? In 1942, the Office of War Information established the Voice of America (VOA), which today is the U.S. government’s official broadcasting service. Learn more at www.usagm.gov/ who-we-are/history/.

Today, the agency is credited as having a major influence on helping Americans mobilize to support the war effort. PHOTO from the records of the Office of War Information, National Archives, courtesy of the National Archives History Office, in collaboration with the Society for History in the Federal Government (SHFG), bringing together government professionals, academics, consultants, students and citizens interested in understanding federal history work and the historical development of the federal government. To join, visit www.shfg.org.

NARFE MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

The Way We Worked celebrates the past 100 years of public service through archival images. Eargo and GEHA are proud sponsors of NARFE’s Centennial.

5 Great Reasons Why Oticon MoreTM could be the answer to your hearing problems.

Oticon More with Brain HearingTM technology

A revolutionary hearing aid that gives the brain more of the relevant information it needs to make better sense of sound. So you can get better speech understanding with less effort and the ability to remember more.

Connectivity made easy

Never change a battery again

The hearing aid with built-in intelligence

No out of pocket expense

Simple, wireless connectivity to your favorite devices via Bluetooth®. Make hands-free calls, stream music, connect to smart devices and more!

Works more like how the brain works because it learned through experience. Clinical studies prove Oticon More delivers 30% more sound to the brain and increases speech understanding.2

A trouble-free rechargeable solution allows you to recharge at night for a full day of hearing. FREE charger included!1

Take advantage of your $2500 hearing benefit! You may be eligible for a pair of Oticon MoreTM3 hearing aids for $0 out of pocket.3

This special offer for federal employees and retirees is available only at Your Hearing Network locations. To find your location call

877-696-5335

Lithium-ion battery performance varies depending on hearing loss, lifestyle and streaming behavior. Compared to Oticon Opn STM, Santurette, et al. 2020. Oticon More clinical evidence. Oticon Whitepaper Your out-of-pocket costs may vary depending on plan benefits, eligibility, deductible, co-insurance, and model of device chosen. This is not a guarantee of coverage or payment. Benefit is not available through all insurance plans. Please call us to verify your coverage.

1 2 3

Members,

Pay $0

out-of-pocket! Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan members may be eligible for two fully covered hearing aids with zero out-of-pocket cost on many models when applying your hearing aid benefit*. HearUSA offers all these features and follows all safety protocols for our customers and employees. Call 1-855-252-0025 to discover more or visit www.blue365deals.com/hearusa. EXPERIENCE - HearUSA has been changing lives through better hearing since 1987 and a proud NARFE Circle Sponsor since 2016. CHOICE - All major hearing aid brands and styles available, including completely-in-the-canal, the smallest custom hearing aids on the market. TECHNOLOGY - Smart technology helps you hear more clearly and eliminates annoying feedback “whistling”. RECHARGABLE - Most models have rechargeable options; no need to ever replace batteries! Plus, many models connect with your cell phone! TELEHEALTH - Take advantage of HearUSA Telehealth Services where you obtain quality care at home. Telehealth appointments are available.

Three-year manufacturer’s warranty covers repairs Three-year loss and damage coverage provides peace of mind One-year of FREE batteries eliminates an extra expense One year of FREE in-office service will get you off to a great start!

Call 1-855-252-0025 to schedule a FREE in-person or telehealth hearing appointment today! *The Service Benefit Plan will pay a hearing aid benefit for Standard and Basic Option up to $2,500 total every 5 calendar years for adults age 22 and over, and up to $2,500 total per calendar year for members up to age 22. FEP Blue Focus does not have a hearing aid benefit. Do not rely on this communication piece alone for complete benefit information. All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations, and exclusions in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan brochure. Blue365® offers access to savings on health and wellness products and services that members may purchase from independent vendors, which are not covered benefits under the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program, Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Dental and/or Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Vision. These products and services will be offered to you through the entire benefit year. During the year, the independent vendors may offer additional discounts on these products and services. To find out what is covered under your policy, contact the customer service number on your member ID card. Any disputes regarding your health insurance products and services may be subject to your plan’s grievance process. BCBSA may receive payments from vendors providing products and services on or accessible through the Site. Neither BCBSA nor any Blue Company recommends, endorses, warrants, or guarantees any specific vendor, product or service available under or through the Blue365 Program or Site.

October 2021 NARFE Magazine

Articles inside

The Way We Worked

Member Perks

Benefits Brief

Open Season Preview

NARFE News

House Committee Advances Bill to Expand Federal Employee Paid Leave

Treasury Implements Extraordinary Measures as Debt Ceiling Nears

Managing Money

NARFE Seeks Volunteers to Help Protect Your Earned Federal Benefits

Budget Reconciliation Explained