December 2019 NARFE Magazine

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COVER STORY

YOUR HEALTH CHECKLIST Putting preventive care at your fingertips

Volume 95 • Number 12

TRAVEL PLANNING FOR FEDS OPEN SEASON REPORT

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SPECIAL SECTION

40 Open Season: Plan

Changes, Prescription Drug Guide, FEDVIP Premiums and Information

WASHINGTON WATCH

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6

2020 Cost-of-Living Adjustment Announced

7

Reports Spotlight Impact and Fallout of Government Shutdowns

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Social Security Advisory Board Releases Annual Report

10

New Windfall Elimination Provision Reform Bill Announced

COVER STORY YOUR HEALTH CHECKLIST: Come to your next doctor visit prepared, using these tips that can put information about preventive care at your fingertips.

12 Bill Tracker COLUMNS

4

From the President

58 Managing Money 60 Alzheimer’s Update DEPARTMENTS

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TRAVEL PLANNING FOR FEDS: Ever look forward to some time off and then not know what to do with it? With a little planning, you can go far—literally.

COVER STORY

YOUR

VISIT US ONLINE AT:

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Questions & Answers

62 For the Record 64 NARFE News

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On the Web

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TRAVEL PLANNING FOR FEDS OPEN SEASON REPORT

HEALTH CHECKLIST

70 Member Perks 72 The Way We Worked

Putting preventive care at your fingertips

Volume 95 • Number 12

ON THE C OVER Illustration by GRAPHEK

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DECEMBER 2019 | Volume 95 | Number 12

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Helen Mosher SENIOR EDITOR Mabel Yu COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT Precious Dorch-Robinson GRAPHIC DESIGN GRAPHEK Beth Bedard 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 NFB-NEWSLINE® 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.

NATIONAL OFFICERS KENNETH J. THOMAS President; natpres@narfe.org KATHRYN E. HENSLEY Secretary/Treasurer; natsectreas@narfe.org EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BARBARA SIDO, execdir@narfe.org

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS

REGION I James C. Risner (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont) TEL: 207-540-6233 EMAIL: rvp1@narfe.org REGION II Kathy Adams (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) TEL: 302-697-6650. CELL: 302-561-5660 EMAIL: adamskhawaii@aol.com REGION III Clarence Robinson (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands) CELL: 404-312-8028 EMAIL: crobin8145@att.net

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 Helen L. Zajac (California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada and Republic of Philippines) TEL: 707-644-7565 EMAIL: hlzajac125@gmail.com

REGION IV Robert L. Helfrich (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin) TEL: 317-501-1700 EMAIL: rvp4@narfe.org

REGION IX Richard Wilson (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington) TEL: 253-210-5609, CELL: 425-736-6899 EMAIL: narfe1404@comcast.net

REGION V Cindy Reneé Blythe (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota) TEL: 785-256-1450 EMAIL: mrsdocbusyb@yahoo.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

HERE’S HOW TO CONTACT US… 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

NARFE.org

narfe (ISSN 1948-4453) is published monthly 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 $40. 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 © 2019, 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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THANK YOU!

F

or almost a century, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association has been

recognized as the go-to association devoted exclusively to serving and protecting the earned pay and benefits of all federal employees, retirees and survivors.

Our predecessors took this association from an uncertain future in February of 1921 to one of great promise today. They worked tirelessly to showcase the critical role NARFE plays in advocating for and protecting civil servants’ benefits. By raising the association’s profile, strengthening alliances with like-minded organizations and shepherding the passage of federal legislation, they laid the groundwork for a modern association with the resources and tools to invest in defending what federal workers have earned through careers in public service.

NARFE’s goal is timeless, as the organization solely dedicated to the general welfare of all federal workers and retirees, delivering valuable guidance, timely resources and powerful advocacy.

NARFE’s Mission Statement

The current Congress has an agenda that includes health care and changes to Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare. The national deficit, our growing retirement crisis, and political in-fighting are additional key issues driving members of Congress to act.

NARFE’s focus continues to include preserving federal employees and retirees’ retirement and health benefits, championing adequate pay increases, proposing full COLAs for FERS retirees, and repealing or reforming the Windfall Elimination Provision. Other NARFE priorities include ensuring adequate oversight of federal reorganization efforts and urging modifications to postal reform proposals that preserve health care choices for postal retirees.

As I travel our great country speaking to and meeting with you and other members, I am energized by the opportunities that are ahead.

NARFE is in the midst of a transformation that will enable our association to have an even greater impact going forward. I am confident that NARFE’s hardworking and talented team of members and staff will continue to build our association, and we will enter our second century with the same mission and resolve as we did during our first hundred years—advocating for and protecting the earned benefits of federal employees and annuitants.

Thank you for being a member and for placing your trust in NARFE.

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.

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

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Washington Watch

2020 COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ANNOUNCED

S

ocial Security and federal annuity checks will increase by 1.6 percent in January 2020. This increase comes as a result of the 2020 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA),

announced in October.

COLAs are based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which is calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Pursuant to federal law, the COLA is determined by comparing the 2019 CPI-W third-quarter average (250.199) with the 2018 CPI-W third-quarter average (246.352) and calculating the percentage change between the figures.

The CPI-W is based on data collected from 75 urban areas and about 23,000 retail and service establishments. Some of the goods tracked include food and beverages, housing, clothing, transportation, medical care, recreation, education and communication. This year saw an increase in prices for food, housing and medical care services. These rises were partially offset by decreases

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in the price of energy, such as gasoline and piped gas.

NARFE supports changes to the COLA calculation that would benefit seniors and better account for the goods they purchase. In particular, NARFE supports the Fair COLA for Seniors Act, H.R. 1553, which would require using the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) to calculate COLAs. The CPI-E measures changes in prices for goods and services purchased by seniors. Its use would result in higher COLAs by an estimated 0.27 percentage ACTION ALERT!

points per year. This difference would compound over the years, better allowing seniors to keep up with increases in their costs.

Please contact your legislators and ask for their support of H.R. 1553 by dialing 1-800-456-8410 and selecting option 5. You can also send a message to your legislators through the Legislative Action Center on the NARFE website.

NARFE tracks the change in the CPI-W each month and posts updates to the NARFE website so members can stay in the know.

Just go to the “Federal Benefits” department link when logged in to www.narfe.org as a member, and see how the CPI-W is tracking towards your next COLA. — BY ROSS APTER, POLITICAL ASSOCIATE

DECEMBER

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) harms nearly 2 million local, state and federal retirees by reducing their earned Social Security benefits. In the 116th Congress, several bills have been introduced to reform or fully repeal the provision. Use NARFE’s Legislative Action Center—on the NARFE website—to send your members of Congress a personalized message urging them to support legislation that provides relief to those affected by the WEP. If this issue affects you personally, use this opportunity to detail the WEP’s effect on your welfare.

REPORTS SPOTLIGHT IMPACT AND FALLOUT OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS

T

wo reports released in September highlighted the repercussions of federal government shutdowns.

Issued by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and the Partnership for Public Service, the reports outline the tremendous costs of recent government shutdowns. The Senate report explored the government shutdowns in fiscal years (FYs) 2014, 2018 and 2019, while the Partnership’s report covered the most recent government shutdown in FY 2019.

The Senate report surveyed 26 federal agencies but did not include some of the government’s largest agencies, such as the Departments of Defense, Agriculture, Justice and Commerce, who were unable to provide complete data. The document highlighted significant monetary and productivity losses caused by the three most recent government shutdowns.

The three lapses amounted to nearly $4 billion in costs to taxpayers, a figure comprised of back pay to federal workers, lost revenue, late fees on interest payments and additional administrative work.

Employee productivity saw massive deficits totaling nearly 57,000 lost years of productive time over the last three shutdowns, stemming from furloughs. The most recent 35-day government shutdown,

the longest in history, caused 25,300 years of lost productivity and a back pay cost of over $2.25 million to the hundreds of thousands of employees who were furloughed—the highest back pay cost of the last three shutdowns. The report included specific data on productivity losses and back pay costs for each of the 26 agencies surveyed, as well as “selected shutdown impacts.” These spanned the gamut of agency functions from missed safety inspections at the Department of Labor, to $1 million of equipment damage at NASA, to a stoppage of tax enforcement at the IRS, to substantial delays in hiring at DHS, among hundreds of others.

The Partnership for Public Service’s report, titled “Shutdown Letdown,” detailed the effects of the FY19 shutdown on government agencies, federal employees and the American people they serve.

The Internal Revenue Service was particularly hurt by the shutdown; it saw an almost 20 percent drop in their level of service by February due to a shortage of over 2,000 employees and a five-week delay in hiring and training customer service representatives who answer taxpayer phone calls. Over the course of the shutdown, the agency accrued 5 million unanswered taxpayer letters and 87,000 amended tax returns awaiting review, canceled 16,000 taxpayer

assistance appointments, and put thousands of audits on hold.

The Partnership’s report describes how agencies believe shutdowns not only hurt employee morale, but also are a major detriment to recruitment and retention efforts in a federal government where just six percent of federal employees are under the age of 30. The report also includes comments from numerous government agencies and officials, including (Continued on p.10)

MYTH vs.

REALITY Myth: The 2020 cost-ofliving adjustment (COLA) took effect as soon as it was announced.

Reality: The 2020 COLA was calculated and announced in October 2019 using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). However, adjustments to federal annuities and Social Security benefits do not take effect until January of 2020.

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Washington Watch

SOCIAL SECURITY ADVISORY BOARD RELEASES ANNUAL REPORT

O

n September 30, the Social Security Advisory Board released its annual report summarizing agency activities from January 2017 through September 2018.

Principal to the work of the seven-member Board was its continued review of the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Representative Payment Program.

The Board lauded passage of the Strengthening Protections for Social Security Beneficiaries Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-165), which was signed into law in April 2018.

The law made changes to the representative payee program by strengthening oversight and beneficiary protections and directing SSA to study the representative selection and quality review processes.

SSA’s Representative Payment Program provides benefit management to Social Security beneficiaries who are incapable of managing their Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. When friends or family members are not able to serve as payees, SSA looks to qualified organizations to fill the role. Under the new law, states must conduct periodic onsite reviews of individual and organizational payees.

The new law also prohibits convicted felons from serving as representative payees and affords greater beneficiary autonomy, providing for the advance designation of representative payees. To encourage spouses (and parents) to take on the responsibility, the law reduces the burden of annual accounting 8

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in recognition that parents and spouses typically know the beneficiary’s needs and have his or her best interest in mind.

The Board held a roundtable discussion in August 2017— that included scholars and experts from around the country—soliciting suggestions for a long-term SSA research agenda and talking about data needs for informed decisionmaking. Included in the discussion was a focus on the factors that contribute to the economic security of retirees, how disability determinations are made, and how SSA’s communication with the public affects decision-making by workers, claimants and beneficiaries.

The Board’s annual report also highlighted visits to the field and operations outreach and oversight. The Board conducted 13 meetings and heard from SSA leadership, experts and stakeholders from SSA and from outside organizations, including other federal agencies and the private sector, during the year.

The annual report also noted that Board membership continued its transition cycle throughout the reporting period. Of particular note, Congresswoman Barbara B. Kennelly, longtime House Ways and Means Committee ally and friend of NARFE, completed her term of office on September 30, 2017, after ten years of service, including serving as acting chair for two three-year terms. Nancy J. Altman was appointed to replace Congresswoman Kennelly beginning October 1, 2017.

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.bitly.com/ NARFE-grassroots.

The Social Security Advisory Board is a bipartisan, independent federal government agency that was established in 1994 to advise the President, Congress and the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration on matters of policy and administration of the Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance program as well as the Supplemental Security Income program. The Board has seven members who are appointed by the President, Senate and House of Representatives.

— BY ALAN LOPATIN, NARFE LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL

NARFE-PAC:

MEETING OUR GOALS

NARFE-PAC, the political arm of NARFE, works to defend your earned pay and benefits by building strong relationships between NARFE and members of Congress. Support NARFE-PAC today and help fight for the federal community. Below is our progress toward our 2019-2020 goals.

Raise $1.75 million

$975,019

Disburse $1.25 million in political contributions

Grow monthly giving program (sustainer program) by 20%

Send NARFE members to 110 local fundraisers

$463,500

14%

51

Figures as of September 30, 2019

Contribute To NARFE-PAC I want to make a monthly sustainer credit card contribution:

OR

q $25/month

I want to make a one-time contribution: q $250 – Gold lapel pin and water bottle q $100 – Silver lapel pin

q $10/month q Other: ______/month ($10 minimum) Sustainers receive a Sustainer lapel pin and NARFE-PAC 17oz stainless steel thermal bottle that keeps liquids hot for 12 hours or cold for 24 hours.

q $50 – Bronze lapel pin q $25 – Basic lapel pin q Other: _________

q Please do not send any gifts for my contribution (This saves NARFE-PAC money!)

NARFE Member #: _________________________________________ Name: __________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________ City: _________________________________________________ State: ___________

ZIP: _______________

Only members of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association may contribute to NARFE-PAC. NARFE will neither favor nor disadvantage anyone based on the amount of a contribution or the failure to make a voluntary contribution to this political action fund. NARFE-PAC contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

q Charge my credit card (required for monthly contribution) q MasterCard

q VISA

q Discover

q AMEX

Card #: ________________________________________________ Exp. Date: _____ /_________ mm

yyyy

Name on Card: _________________________________________ Signature: _____________________________________________ Date: _________________________

Or mail check payable to NARFE-PAC to: NARFE Attn. Budget & Finance 606 North Washington St. | Alexandria, VA 22314 W W W. N A R F E . O R G

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Washington Watch

NEW WINDFALL ELIMINATION PROVISION REFORM BILL INTRODUCED

I

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n September, the House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal, D-MA, introduced the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act, H.R. 4540, a bill to reform the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

The bill would alter the current WEP formula, which reduces the Social Security benefits of retirees who receive benefits from having worked in both the private and public sectors, changing the Social Security benefit calculation for future WEP-affected beneficiaries.

The legislation would provide current Social Security beneficiaries affected by WEP and those turning age 62 before 2022 with a $150 per month increase in their Social Security benefits to offset the WEP penalty.

Social Security benefits for future retirees—those turning 62 in 2022 or later—would be subject to a new, fairer formula that calculates benefits based on the proportion of earnings covered by Social Security to total earnings; this formula would increase benefits by an average of $75 a month. All future retirees retiring in 2022 or later would receive a benefit calculated based on the new formula or the old one, whichever is greater.

The bill is the second WEP reform bill offered in the 116th

Congress, following the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act, H.R. 3934, which was introduced

by House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Kevin Brady, R-TX. While the bills are similar, there are some key differences that set them apart. The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act would provide WEP-affected individuals who are age 60 and older in 2019 with a monthly rebate of $100. Individuals receiving a WEP-reduced Social Security benefit based on their spouses’ employment would receive a $50 per month rebate—a provision that is not present in the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act. The two bills also implement different new formulas that would affect future retirees. The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act would replace the WEP with a formula that equalizes benefits for certain individuals with noncovered employment.

For those between age 21 and 59 in 2019, the penalty would be calculated using either the current formula or the new one created in the bill, whichever is more beneficial. However, individuals under age 20 in 2019 would have their WEP penalty calculated solely with the new formula.

NARFE is urging the leaders of the Ways and Means Committee

(Continued from p. 7) the Government Accountability Office, which noted that shutdowns only exacerbate efforts to generate interest among potential new hires and hamper current onboarding efforts. Other employees who were eligible to retire but

had yet to were spurred into action, retiring soon after the government reopened. Morale suffered greatly among current employees, many of whom were unable to pay bills and mortgages on time due to missed paychecks.

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— BY SETH ICKES, GRASSROOTS ASSISTANT

to come to a consensus on WEP reform. Reps. Neal and Brady both expressed interest in working across the aisle to address the longstanding provision, with Neal commending Brady “for his work to address the WEP issue for many years. He is a tireless advocate for affected workers, and I appreciate his commitment to fixing this problem. I look forward to working with him to move a solution through Congress expediently.”

The WEP reduces the Social Security benefits of federal, state and local retirees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) who earned Social Security benefits through other employment, such as privatesector jobs. As of December of 2018, the WEP affects 1,863,084 beneficiaries, including 1,747,212 retired workers, 13,345 workers with disabilities, and 102,527 spouses and children.

— BY SETH ICKES, GRASSROOTS ASSISTANT

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.

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Washington Watch

narfe bill tracker THE NARFE BILL TRACKER IS YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO THE CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION THAT NARFE IS FOLLOWING. CHECK BACK EACH ISSUE FOR UPDATES. ISSUE

BILL NUMBER / NAME / SPONSOR H.Res. 23: Rep. Susan Davis, D-CA Cosponsors: 203 (D) 51 (R)

H.Res. 33/S.Res. 99 Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-MA / Sen. Gary Peters, D-MI Cosponsors: H.Res. 33: 224 (D) 41 (R) S.Res. 99: 43 (D) 8 (R) 2 (I)

H.Res. 54: Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-VA Cosponsors: 215 (D) 69 (R) POSTAL REFORM

H.Res. 60: Rep. David McKinley, R-WV Cosponsors: 175 (D) 25 (R)

H.R. 2382: USPS Fairness Act / Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-OR

WHAT BILL WOULD DO

LATEST ACTION(S)

Expresses the sense of the Referred to the House House that the United States Committee on OverPostal Service should take all sight and Reform appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of door delivery for all business and residential customers.

Expresses the sense of the House that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the United States Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the federal government and is not subject to privatization.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform (H.Res. 33)

Expresses the sense of the House that the United States Postal Service should take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of its six-day mail delivery service.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform

Expresses the sense of the House that the United States Postal Service should take all appropriate measures to restore service standards in effect as of July 1, 2012.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform

Repeals the USPS’ prefunding requirement

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform

Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (S.Res. 99)

Cosponsors: 227 (D) 45 (R)

NARFE’s Position: 12

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Support

Oppose

No position

EDITOR’S NOTE: These bills are all listed online at www.narfe.org/legislation/votervoice.cfm.

ISSUE

BILL NUMBER / NAME / SPONSOR H.R. 141/S. 521 Social Security Fairness Act of 2019 / Rep. Rodney Davis, R-IL / Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH

WHAT BILL WOULD DO

LATEST ACTION(S)

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

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means (H.R. 141)

Reforms the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), allotting WEP-affected individuals who are eligible for benefits before 2022 $100 a month and $50 for an affected spouse.

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means

Provides Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirees with the same annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) as Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) retirees.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform

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

Cosponsors: H.R. 141: 165 (D) 53 (R) S. 521: 29 (D) 4 (R) 2 (I)

Referred to the Senate Committee on Finance (S. 521)

GPO/WEP H.R. 3934 The Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2019 / Rep. Kevin Brady, R-TX Cosponsors: H.R. 3934: 2 (D) 33 (R) H.R. 1254: The Equal COLA Act / Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA Cosponsors: 12 (D) 2 (R)

H.R. 1553: Fair COLA for Seniors Act of 2019 / Rep. John Garamendi, D-CA FEDERAL ANNUITIES

Cosponsors: 33 (D) 2 (R)

H.R. 2478: The Federal Retirement Fairness Act / Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-WA Cosponsors: 36 (D) 11 (R)

DC STATEHOOD

H.R. 51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act / Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-DC

Provides for the admission of the Referred to the House State of Washington, D.C. into Committees on Overthe Union. sight and Reform, and Rules

Cosponsors: 223 (D) 0 (R)

NARFE’s Position:

Support

Oppose

No position

W W W. N A R F E . O R G

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Washington Watch

EDITOR’S NOTE: These bills are all listed online at www.narfe.org/legislation/votervoice.cfm.

BILL NUMBER / NAME / SPONSOR

ISSUE

WHAT BILL WOULD DO

LATEST ACTION(S)

H.R. 1073/S. 426: Federal Provides a 3.6 percent federal Adjustment of Income employee pay raise in calendar Rates (FAIR) Act / Rep. year 2020.

Gerry Connolly, D-VA / Sen. Brian Schatz, D-HI Cosponsors: H.R. 1073: 48 (D) 0 (R) S. 426: 13 (D) 0 (R) FEDERAL COMPENSATION

H.R. 1534/S. 1174: Federal Employee Paid Leave Act of 2019 / Rep. Carolyn Maloney, D-NY / Sen. Brian Schatz, D-HI Cosponsors: H.R. 1534: 45 (D) 2 (R) S. 1174: 4 (D) 0 (R)

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform (H.R. 1073) Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (S. 426)

Provides federal employees with 12 weeks of paid leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child and other medical conditions.

Referred to the House Committees on Oversight and Reform, and House Administration (H.R. 1534)

NARFE’s Position:

Oppose

Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (S. 1174)

Support

No position

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Questions & Answers

The following Questions & Answers were compiled by NARFE’s Federal Benefits Institute staff.

NARFE does not provide legal, financial planning or tax advice or assistance.

EMPLOYEES ALTERNATIVE FORM OF ANNUITY

Q

I’m older than 62, and I have a lifethreatening medical condition. I’m thinking about retiring from federal service very soon. Can you tell me more about the “Alternative Form of Annuity?”

A

A Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) employee with a lifethreatening medical condition who applies for a regular nondisability retirement upon separation from federal service may elect to receive a lumpsum payment of all of his or her retirement contributions and still receive an annuity.

This lump-sum payment would include all CSRS and/or FERS deductions withheld for his or her entire federal career, as well as any civilian and/or military service credit deposits previously paid.

If an employee owes any deposits or redeposits for

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civilian service and elects the Alternative Form of Annuity (AFA), the deposits and redeposits are deemed to have been paid when computing the retirement benefit. However, military service deposits are not deemed paid under the AFA provisions and must be paid to the employing agency before separation for retirement if the annuitant wants the military service to be used in the computation of the annuity— though this deposit will be refunded shortly after OPM’s approval of the AFA. OPM applies a small (yet permanent) actuarial reduction to the annuity amount payable.

But since the reduction is based on the individual’s age

and the amount of the lumpsum payment at retirement, it could take OPM many years to recoup the lump-sum payment at the rate that the annuity is reduced. However, upon the death of the annuitant, the lump-sum payment is deemed paid in full and will have no impact on any potential spousal survivor benefit that becomes payable, if the annuitant was married. In other words, a surviving spouse could expect to receive the same survivor benefit payable as if the lumpsum payment of all retirement contributions was never taken.

Although the election of the AFA does not affect the value of the survivor benefit, it does require the consent of your current spouse (if applicable).

In the case of a former spouse who is entitled by court order to a survivor benefit or a portion of your retirement benefit, the

law prohibits election of an AFA, even if the former spouse consents.

A physician’s statement certifying the existence of a life-threatening condition must be attached to the retirement application along with a statement indicating interest in making the AFA election.

The following are examples of life-threatening conditions: • Class IV cardiac disease (any physical activity brings on discomfort and symptoms of heart failure occur at rest) with congestive heart failure • Respiratory failure • Emphysema with respiratory failure • Cardiac aneurysm • Active AIDS • Aplastic anemia For more details regarding the AFA, please refer to Chapter 53 of the CSRS/FERS

Handbook: www.opm.gov/retirementservices/publications-forms/ csrsfers-handbook/c053.pdf.

CSRS REDUCTION FOR EARLY AGE

Q

I’m an employee under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), and I’m thinking about retiring from federal service sometime next year. Is there any sort of “reduction for early age” that could be applied to a CSRS retirement?

A

The only time that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) applies a permanent reduction for early age to a CSRS annuity is if the CSRS employee voluntarily retires before the age of 55 under a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) or

is involuntarily separated before the age of 55 and applies for a discontinued service retirement (DSR).

This reduction for early age does not apply to disability retirement or special group retirement for special category employees such as law enforcement officers, air traffic controllers and firefighters.

SERVICE COMPUTATION DATES

Q

I’m a federal employee.

Can I use the Service Computation Date (SCD) that is reflected on my Statement of Earnings and Leave (SEL) to figure out the length of service that will be used in the computation of my future annuity? This SCD matches up with the SCD on the SF-50 (Personnel Actions) in my Official Personnel Folder.

MANDATORY TWO-STEP AUTHENTICATION PROCESS FOR TSP.GOV Logging into your TSP account may seem a little bit more complicated—but it’s a lot more secure. Starting this month, all TSP participants must have validated contact information and use two-step authentication to log into My Account.

Two-step authentication is a security process in which account holders must enter a second verification before or after entering a password. Some institutions ask users to confirm a security image, for instance. TSP.gov will be using the technique where a one-time code is sent to the user’s email or phone. Users can validate up to two email addresses and one phone number. The increased security helps prevent accounts from being accessed fraudulently.

The two-step authentication process becomes mandatory for all TSP.gov My Account users at the end of 2019. All users should update their information now to avoid interrupted access to their accounts.

W W W. N A R F E . O R G

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Questions & Answers

A

Keep in mind that your agency uses different SCDs to compute length of service for different purposes.

The SCDs on your SEL and your SF-50s are Leave SCDs, which are used by your agency payroll office to determine whether you are accruing four, six or eight hours of annual leave per pay period. Retirement SCDs are used for computing length of service for retirement eligibility.

The rules that govern Retirement SCDs are not the same as the rules that govern Leave SCDs, so the two sometimes differ. For retirement planning purposes, it is recommended that you contact your agency retirement office to

confirm your Retirement SCD, and if it isn’t the same as your Leave SCD, ask for an explanation.

If you don’t know how to contact your agency retirement office, you can use the following weblink to identify someone at your agency who can assist you: https://apps.opm.gov/abo/.

FORMER SPOUSE SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

Q

I’m divorced (after 15 years of marriage), have never remarried and am still working as a federal employee under CSRS. I’m approaching my normal retirement age for Social Security (66). My former spouse,

who remarried, died several years after our divorce. I recently heard that I might be entitled to a widower benefit from Social Security based on my ex-wife’s work record, even though she passed away after we divorced. Is this true? I also heard that because of the Government Pension Offset (GPO), I’m unable to collect this benefit from Social Security because I’m CSRS. Is this also true?

A

Even though you are still working, once you reach your full retirement age (sometimes called your normal retirement age) for Social Security, the “earnings test” that typically prevents workers from

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claiming Social Security at a younger age no longer applies.

Despite the fact that your former spouse died after your divorce, you are still potentially eligible for a widower benefit based on her Social Security work record since you were married to her for more than 10 years, and you didn’t remarry before the age of 60 (even though she did).

You will not be subject to the GPO until you retire from federal service under CSRS. So while you continue your federal career beyond the age of 66, you are free to collect 100 percent of the widower benefit she earned for you. However, once you retire from federal service, the GPO will

significantly reduce your widower benefit from Social Security—in most cases, down to $0. Once you’re retired under CSRS, the only benefit you can expect from Social Security is what you may have earned based on your own work record (subject to the Windfall Elimination Provision). Collect what you can while you can.

RETIREES COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS

Q

When and how is the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) applied to my federal pension?

A

Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are effective each December 1, based on the change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which is calculated by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. The amount of a COLA is determined by the percent change in the third quarter (July, August, September) price index from the previous year to the year in which the COLA is to become effective. In the “For the Record” page of each issue of NARFE Magazine, there is a section titled “Countdown to COLA” that you can reference for tracking purposes.

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Questions & Answers

If you’re eligible, the adjustment appears in your payment on the first business day of January, which is when your benefit for December is paid.

Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) annuitants who retired earlier in 2019 should expect a prorated COLA based on the number of months that they have been retired as of December 1, 2019. The same proration factor applies to Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) employees who retired earlier in 2019 and have passed age 62.

FERS annuitants don’t typically receive a COLA until after they reach age 62 unless they: • Have a CSRS component in their annuity (the CSRS component receives CSRS COLAs), or • Separated with a disability retirement (however, a COLA isn’t applied during the first 12 months while the annuitant receives 60 percent of their high-3 average salary), including military reserve technicians who are medically disqualified for military service or the rank required to hold their positions, or • Are military reserve technicians whose separation from technician service resulted from the loss of military membership or rank on account of disability after attaining age 50 and completing 25 years of service, or 22

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• Retired under special provisions for law enforcement officers, air traffic controllers and firefighters, or • Are receiving a spousal survivor annuity.

The amount of the FERS COLA is based on the change in CPI-W; however, the only time FERS COLAs match CSRS COLAs is if the change in CPI-W is 2 percent or less. If the change in CPI-W is more than 2 percent but less than 3 percent, the FERS COLA will be 2 percent. If the change in CPI-W is 3 percent or more, the FERS COLA will be 1 percent less than the CSRS COLA. For more details regarding COLA rules, you can refer to Chapter 2 of the CSRS/ FERS Handbook: www.opm. gov/retirement-services/ publications-forms/csrsfershandbook/c002.pdf.

FERS RETIREMENT ANNUITY SUPPLEMENT COLA

Q

Does the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) Retirement Annuity Supplement receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)?

A

No, it does not receive a COLA. By the time most FERS annuitants begin receiving a COLA to their annuity, the FERS Retirement Annuity Supplement has ceased. However, the FERS Spousal Supplement, which is potentially payable to a surviving spouse of a deceased

FERS annuitant, does receive a COLA.

CHANGE IN HEALTH INSURANCE PREMIUM

Q

When will the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) apply the new 2020 rate change in my health insurance premium under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program?

A

Annuity payments are paid the month after they are earned. As a result, the annuity payment that you receive in early February is for the annuity benefit you earned in January, and any changes to that annuity payment that take effect in January will show up in the February payment.

So the 2020 change in health insurance premiums from the 2019 rate will be effective January 1, 2020 and will be reflected in the annuity payment that you receive in early February 2020.

LATE ENROLLMENT FOR MEDICARE PART B

Q

I did not sign up for Medicare Part B during my Initial Enrollment Period (IEP), but I am covered under my wife’s group health plan. Will I be subject to a penalty for not enrolling during my IEP?

A

It depends on whether her group health plan is under her employment or not. If it’s under her employment, no worries—you

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Questions & Answers

would have an eight-month period from the date her employment coverage ends (or transitions to retirement coverage) to contact Social Security and sign up for Medicare Part B without any penalty. Medicare calls this a Special Enrollment Period (SEP).

We highly recommend that you visit the webinar section of our website (www.narfe.org/member/ FederalBenefitsInstitute/), available to NARFE members, and view the Medicare webinar we conducted on October 24, “FEHB And Medicare: What’s Your Best Choice?” It addresses this topic and a lot more regarding Medicare and the FEHB program.

ANNUITY STATEMENT

Q A

Where can I view a statement of my annuity payments online?

Use OPM’s Services Online at www. servicesonline.opm.gov to view your monthly annuity statement.

This statement shows your current annuity payment, including the gross amount, up to 35 possible deductions or additions, and the net amount.

The online statement ref lects any changes you have made through the previous business day, unless the changes were made after the date for updating the monthly payment.

Any changes you made after that date will be ref lected in the statement for the next month’s payment, which is when the change would be effective.

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You can ask OPM to provide you with their payment schedule for information on the dates by which changes must be made in each month’s payment.

Your statement will also show required payment adjustments that OPM makes, such as costof-living adjustments, health benefit premium changes, federal income tax withholding table changes and life insurance premium changes.

MEDICARE ENROLLMENT

Q

I will be 65 years old next year, but I don’t plan to apply for Social Security until I reach age 67.

I have been noticing a lot of mail from various Medicare Advantage plans. I’ll be keeping my FEHB coverage as a backup to Medicare once I become eligible next year. Will Medicare automatically enroll me when I reach age 65?

A

In most situations, the only people who are automatically enrolled into Medicare (Parts A and B) when they reach age 65 are those who are already drawing Social Security benefits. Since you will be waiting until later to draw Social Security, you can enroll in Medicare during the seven-month window surrounding your 65th birthday next year. This seven-month window is sometimes called your Initial Enrollment Period (IEP).

Applying for Medicare online at www.ssa.gov/benefits/ medicare is very easy; however, you also have the option to schedule an appointment with a local Social Security office if you want assistance. For help

NARFE at Your Service At NARFE headquarters, experts are available to answer questions and to assist with a variety of benefit matters.

Call NARFE at:

800-456-8410, Option 2 over the phone, you can call the Social Security Administration for assistance with Medicare enrollment using the following phone number: 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778).

If you haven’t done so already, we also suggest that you watch some of the webinars that NARFE has conducted regarding Medicare and the FEHB program. These webinars are available for viewing by NARFE members anytime.

All webinars conducted by NARFE’s Federal Benefits Institute can be accessed anytime by logging into the member’s side of the NARFE website at www.narfe.org.

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 National Headquarters, ATTN: Federal Benefits; or submit it by email to fedbenefits@narfe.org.

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YOUR HEALTH CHECKLIST Take advantage of these tools to make the most of your preventive care benefits each year.

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Preventive health screenings save lives.

Getting routine screenings and diagnostic tests that detect conditions like cancers and heart abnormalities can greatly improve the odds of treating or managing conditions successfully. They may also be the most effective health cost savings tool that individuals can control.

Yet some preventive care recommendations diverge from common expectations. A few have changed in recent years. And in the case of many other potential tests and screenings, the answer as to whether to get them may be, “It depends.” Thus, it’s helpful to understand which preventive care measures are and are not recommended for specific sectors of the public and why.

THE CASE FOR PREVENTIVE CARE

Proper preventive care can make a big difference when it comes to detecting and treating medical conditions early.

If everyone in the United States received their recommended clinical preventive care, the United States could save 100,000 lives each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). For example, the CDC notes that regular colorectal (also called colon) cancer screening beginning at age 50 is the most effective way to reduce a person’s risk of getting the disease. And blood pressure screening and control is one of the most effective ways to prevent heart disease and stroke. Among people with diabetes, blood pressure control reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by 33 to 50 percent.

Preventive care is also a money-saver for patients, insurance companies and society as a whole, as it can forestall emergency room care and larger, more costly treatments once a disease progresses.

Many insurance plans advocate for members to take advantage of preventive care options, and some provide preventive care W W W. N A R F E . O R G

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services at no cost. “Adults and children need routine immunizations, health screenings and an array of preventive services and check-ups that are critically important, while getting the most out of their health coverage,” says David Yoder, Vice President, Member Care and Management, Federal Employee Program (FEP), Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBS). BCBS FEP members are eligible for free annual physical exams and many other preventive services when members use a preferred provider (see www.fepblue.org/ benefit-plans/coverage/preventive-care).

THE BENCHMARK FOR PREVENTIVE CARE EFFORTS

The standard-setting body for preventive care measures is the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel of experts in primary care and prevention that systematically reviews the evidence for prevention measure effectiveness and develops recommendations for clinical preventive services.

“We tend to pay close attention to their [USPSTF’s] suggestions and will sometimes develop guidelines on certain areas not otherwise covered or possibly needing clarification,” says Robert McLean, MD, FACP, President of the American College of Physicians (ACP), a society of 159,000 internal medicine physicians, many of whom practice primary care. McLean notes, for example, that the ACP will soon issue a guidance statement analyzing colon cancer screening guidelines from several other organizations.

Most USPSTF guidelines, however, are for individuals without signs or symptoms of the condition in question. Pre-existing conditions greatly change the types of screenings patients need. “Many guidelines are aimed at people of average risk, people who do not have symptoms and are otherwise healthy,” McLean says. “But if you have higher risk, such as a family history of a particular condition like breast cancer, that might change the strategy. And if there is a previous abnormality that has been detected, such as one based upon an abnormal breast biopsy or a colon polyp, a physician would not suggest the standard screening strategy.

Rather, the physician might suggest a more frequent interval to perform a follow-up test.

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So the guidelines are just that—guidelines for what the evidence says we generally should do for healthy people of average risk, and not absolutes for every patient.”

USING THE GUIDELINES

The CDC has taken the USPSTF standards along with some other preventive care standards and created an easy-to-use calculator that allows users to receive a checklist of recommended preventive care.

At www.cdc.gov/prevention/index.html, the calculator is in the center of the page and is titled “Get Preventative Care Resources for You or Someone You Care About.” It asks you to type in your sex and age and hit the “submit” button. For example, a 53-year-old male would find out that for all men aged 53, the following preventive care actions are recommended: • Talk to your doctor about taking an aspirin every day to help lower your risk of heart attack (while often beneficial, it can increase the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding).

• Get your blood pressure checked at least once every 1-2 years. Ask your doctor how often you need to get checked.

• Get your cholesterol checked once every 5 years.

• Get tested for colorectal cancer.

• Get tested for HIV at least once and possibly more depending on an individual’s risk.

• Get a flu vaccine every year to protect yourself and others from the flu.

• Get important adult vaccines (vaccinations).

• Ask your doctor if you are at a healthy weight.

In addition, the CDC calculator provides doctors’ recommendations for some men age 53, based on family history and other risk factors: • If you are concerned about your drinking, ask your doctor about screening and counseling.

• Talk with your doctor about how you are feeling if you have been sad, down or hopeless.

• If you have high blood pressure, ask your doctor if you need to be screened for type 2 diabetes.

• If your doctor has told you that you are at risk for heart disease or diabetes, ask about dietary counseling.

• Get tested for hepatitis C at least once if you were born between 1945 and 1965.

• Talk with your doctor about how to keep from getting sexually transmitted infections.

• Talk with your doctor to find out if you need to be tested for syphilis.

• If you use tobacco, ask your doctor about services to help you quit.

A 53-year-old woman using the calculator would find quite a few differences in the recommendations: • Get a mammogram to detect breast cancer every two years.

• Get a PAP test every three years (a recent change from a previous recommendation of yearly exams, notes McLean).

• Get enough folic acid.

• Discuss any family history of breast or ovarian cancer with your doctor.

• Talk with your doctor to find out if you need to be tested for chlamydia, gonorrhea or syphilis.

• Get a bone density test.

Many recommendations, of course, vary by gender and age.

For a lot of the checklist items, the CDC calculator also suggests questions to ask your doctor and provides additional information about that type of care.

Individuals interested in doing a deep dive on the preventive care recommendation for a particular potential condition can go to the USPSTF website, www. uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org/ BrowseRec/Index, and look up each type of recommended preventive care. The USPSTF recommendations rate the preventive care option for a particular subgroup of the population using five letters: A,B,C,D and I. Basically, a grade of A or B means the Task Force recommends the service. A grade of C suggests physicians offer or provide this service for select patients, depending on individual circumstances. A grade of D prescribes that physicians discourage the use of that service. A grade of I indicates that there is uncertainty regarding the benefits and

More preventive care is not necessarily better preventive care. Deciding which procedures to recommend at various ages often involves a careful clinical analysis and balancing of the relative benefits and risks related to both the possible condition and the test.

harms of the service due to insufficient current evidence.

The grade can vary depending on a patient’s age. For example, the Task Force recommends biennial (every two years) mammography screenings for women aged 50 to 74. For women aged 40 to 49, that option rates a C, because it depends based upon the risk-benefit calculus of a particular woman. For women aged 75 and older, it rates the service an I. “Breast cancer screening strategies vary slightly between some organizations because of differences in the way some of the research studies are interpreted,” says McLean, who in addition to leading the ACP, practices internal medicine and rheumatology in New Haven, CT with Northeast Medical Group of Yale New Haven Health. “Some physicians say patients should do it every year. Our and others’ analyses says every two years is fine for women at average risk. Some also recommend ultrasound testing if women have dense breasts, but the data on that is also not absolutely clear.”

THE LIMITS OF PREVENTIVE CARE

More preventive care is not necessarily better preventive care. Deciding which procedures to recommend at various ages often involves careful clinical analyses and balancing of the relative benefits and risks related to both the possible condition and the test.

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Unnecessary preventive care also may be undesirable because it can lead patients down a frustrating, anxietyinducing, and potentially expensive road.

“Mammograms have radiation that introduces some small risk, and colonoscopies involve anesthesia, which also has some risks.

Any procedure or test has potential risks that frequently do not receive adequate attention,” McLean says. “If the risk is higher and the benefit lower, then the Task Force will often say we don’t recommend performing these treatments on people without symptoms of a condition. In several of these situations, if one’s life expectancy is less than 10 years, like for someone age 90, a test might pick up a slow growing cancer that might never cause a problem before the person will probably die from something else. For this reason, many screening recommendations include specific age ranges for when to do these tests.”

Stephanie Erickson, MD, a family medicine physician and instructor at the Mayo Clinic, notes that for patients of average risk, a DNA fecal screen (ColoGuard) that tests for the likelihood of polyps that may become cancerous as well as for colon cancer itself may be a reasonable alternative to a colonoscopy for many individuals. “By age 45 we are having the conversation as to whether they are average or high risk,” Erickson says. “I ask about a family history or presence of concerning symptoms of possible colon cancer, such as bloating, night sweats, weight loss and abdominal pain.”

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Erickson notes. “For example, currently, for colonoscopies, the recommendation is for ages 50-75, but we discontinue them for averagerisk individuals after 75. Yet, we continue mammograms past page 75,” Erickson says.

“The difference is that after age 75, the risks of colonoscopies are higher—the risk of anesthesia and damaging the thinning colonic lining is higher, even for healthy individuals—sometimes higher than the risks from colorectal cancer. The equation shifts if someone shows symptoms. If someone age 80 had colon cancer symptoms, we might still recommend a colonoscopy. The difference with mammograms is that a mammogram is just an x-ray—it is a much less risky procedure and one whose risk does not increase with age.”

Unnecessary preventive care also may be undesirable because it can lead patients down a frustrating, anxiety-inducing, and potentially expensive road. Some tests find minor abnormalities that are not actually cancers but require a series of tests to rule that out. The possibilities of such “false positive” tests need to be discussed with patients, McLean says.

And there are unsettled areas in preventive care, such as prostate cancer screenings. Erickson notes that the USPSTF guidelines call for shared decision-making between a patient and his doctor when determining whether to conduct the test for men aged 55 to 69, given that the tests present some risk of impairing male sexual or bowel functioning. As with some preventive care, prostate testing is also an area where the race and/or ethnicity of the patient can make a difference. “African American men have a higher incidence of prostate cancer, of the deadly form of prostate cancer, and of early onset of the disease,” Erickson says. “So while a white man might not need prostate tests, which includes measurement of PSA levels and a digital rectal exam, an African American man of the same age and general health might.”

THE DOCTOR’S ADVICE GENERALLY GOVERNS

The advice of a patient’s primary care physician, usually in the specialties of family or internal medicine, should always trump any published guidelines, Erickson says.

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VACCINES The anti-vaccine movement has gained some high-profile celebrity adherents who assert that administering vaccines create risks that are unwarranted, particularly for children.

But leading doctors say that foregoing vaccines are a serious health mistake. Vaccines are safe, save lives, and are not just for kids.

“We need to get past the bad information on social media,” says Robert McLean, MD, FACP, President of the American College of Physicians, a society of 159,000 physicians, many of whom practice primary care. ”The risks of vaccines are really low, and they prevent hospitalizations, complications and spreading diseases to other susceptible individuals. They have had a tremendous public health benefit in reducing disease rates and disease-related deaths.”

Vaccine guidelines are provided by the CDC on its website: https://healthfinder. gov/HealthTopics/Category/doctor-visits/ shotsvaccines/get-important-shots.

“This may mean less or more conservative screenings than the guideline,” Erickson says. “For example, if I had a patient who is a 76-year-old woman in excellent health, the guidelines state she doesn’t need a mammogram. But I might say, given your excellent health and the longevity in your family, you may live until you are 90. Let’s keep the annual mammogram screenings going.”

Still, doctors should welcome discussions about the whethers and whys of preventive care and not avoid them, Erickson says.

Patients should definitely ask a physician if the screenings he or she proposes depart from the USPSTF recommendations, McLean says.

Some commercially marketed testing companies offer a battery of tests for low cost.

“I would use caution and ask a physician to interpret the results,” Erickson says. “There may be little evidence that doing something with that information is actually proven safe and effective in saving lives; some screens are incomplete for certain conditions, and how to interpret these tests is half the battle.”

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Below are some of the key vaccines the CDC recommends.

• A flu vaccine every year.

• A Tdap shot to protect from tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough (pertussis) once, another dose if pregnant, and a Td shot every 10 years.

• A shingles vaccine if you’re age 50 or older.

• A shot to prevent pneumococcal disease (including pneumonia, meningitis and blood infections) if you’re age 65 or older.

GENERAL GOOD HEALTH

Much about good health comes down to factors such as proper nutrition, adequate sleep and sufficient exercise. “Get enough sleep—six to eight hours, dependent upon the individual, is generally adequate,” McLean says. “Eat a good, well-balanced diet—not too much of anything, particularly carbohydrates.”

U.S. Dietary Guidelines can be found at https://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/, she added.

“Americans tend to eat a diet with too many calories and fat, and we tend to be heavier and have more chronic diseases,” she continued.

“With respect to exercise, it can help reduce weight, and fit muscles help support bones and can result in fewer falls, which is important because falls can result in health declines.

There are enough medical conditions that occur that one cannot control, that you want to control what you can.”

— DAVID TOBENKIN IS A FREELANCE WRITER IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON, DC AREA.

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TRAVEL PLANNING for FEDS When it comes to vacations and retirement travel for federal employees and retirees, getting there is truly half the battle. These ideas can help you choose the perfect spot at the right price.

Working for the federal government has many advantages, one of which is the amount of vacation time employees accrue. According to a 2019 report by the Center for Economic and Policy Research, the United States is a “no-vacation nation”—the only advanced economy in the world that does not guarantee workers paid vacation time or holidays.

Nearly one in four Americans don’t receive any paid vacation or holidays—but every federal employee is entitled to 10 paid holidays. During their first three years of service, civil servants earn 13 paid vacation days. After three years, Feds receive 20 vacation days, and after 15 years, they get 26 vacation days. Senior Executive Service (SES) employees and some in other categories receive 26 vacation days annually regardless of the number of years of service they’ve completed.

Most employees can carry over a maximum of 240 hours, or 30 days, from one calendar year to the next. SES members can carry over 720 hours, or 90 days. (Postal Service and overseas employees have slightly different limits.) Once you’ve reached those limits, you have to use the leave before the end of the calendar year or you’ll lose it forever.

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So if you reach your carryover limit, do something to take time off. Use your leave for personal business or for family emergencies, to stay home and rest up, or to visit places you’ve always wanted to go.

Some federal retirees vacation frequently.

While they are no longer constrained by their work schedule or strict bosses, they still must decide where to go, what to do and what their budget allows.

Travel can be good for your health, your outlook on life, and your personal and professional development. Tour guide and television personality Rick Steves (www. ricksteves.com) wrote, “Travel changes people. It broadens perspectives and teaches new ways to measure quality of life. Many travelers toss aside their hometown blinders.

Travel is freedom.”

How to Choose a Vacation Spot

Travel may be liberating, but it comes with the responsibility of picking the right destination for you and your traveling companions. The following are tips to help you plan an enjoyable vacation.

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO

Need some vacation inspiration? Here are some fresh ideas for your next getaway. —By Mabel Yu, Senior Editor

Adventure Seekers

Chile This long-stretching South American country is home to geographic diversity that can appeal to many travelers. City slickers can flock to the art, culture, nightlife and cuisine of Santiago and Valparaiso; oenophiles can tour Chile’s wine region; and nature lovers can explore the wilds of Patagonia or stargaze in the Atacama desert.

Montenegro Enjoy the charms of this small Balkan country while it remains relatively under the radar.

Montenegro is home to the mountainous vistas, pristine beaches, glacial lakes, historic towns and spirited nightlife that many look to check off of their European sightseeing itineraries.

Madagascar For a unique experience, visit this African island—almost 90 percent of the country’s flora and fauna are endemic.

Pricey flights may deter some travelers, but you won’t be hindered by large crowds as you walk among Baobab trees, spot lemurs in the national parks, snorkel in the Indian ocean, or whale watch during humpback breeding season.

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Closer to Home

Nashville, Tennessee Music City isn’t just for devotees of country songs—these days, its venues host musicians from all genres, so you can clap your hands at honky tonks, pump your fist at rock concerts, or nod your head to folksingers in intimate listening rooms. Also check out Nashville’s museums, historical landmarks and southern cooking.

Glacier National Park, Montana Enjoy the fresh air and stunning landscape of northwestern Montana. A hiker’s paradise with over 700 miles of trails, the park offers activities that are active (biking, rafting, canoeing, horseback riding) as well as those that are more leisurely (photography, boat tours, Native America Speaks program activities).

Oaxaca, Mexico This vibrant state is one of Mexico’s major cultural and culinary centers. In Oaxaca city, visit elaborate churches, lively markets, and art galleries and museums. Take a cooking class or just feast on the local cuisine, including mole, tlayuda and mezcal. In Monte Alban, walk the ruins of this Unesco Heritage site. Hike and then soak in natural mineral springs at Hierve el Agua.

The Journey as the Destination

An RV trip Hitting the road allows you to control your own destiny—along with your pace and preferred pitstops. Plot a cross-country course or pick a certain region to explore. Or drive with specific destinations in mind, such as visiting major league ballparks; indulging in barbecue from America’s pitmasters; or making your way through the country’s quirky roadside attractions, like Carhenge near Allicance, NE. Train travel Trains allow you to view an abundance of scenery without having to helm the wheel or sit in traffic. In the U.S., check out Amtrak’s offerings, such as its Adirondack or California Zephyr routes. Europe’s extensive rail system makes it easy to cobble together your own multicountry itinerary, or you can join specific train tours. Many countries can be traversed via train, such as Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer and Russia’s TransSiberian Railway.

Cruising along Cruises offer a variety of things to do as you make your way across oceans or down rivers.

Alaskan and Caribbean cruises are perennially popular. Also consider a cruise on the Mekong River, which may include stops in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand; or board an Amazon River cruise that may wind through Peru, Colombia and Brazil.

Decide who you are traveling with.

Are you going with your partner to a romantic destination or with your children to a familyfriendly spot? Is this a girls’ or guys’ trip, a large mixed group, or are you going solo?

When traveling with others, everyone will likely need to compromise and agree on a place that appeals to different interests.

Check your schedule. Popular destinations can be overrun by tourists in the summer months—but if you can wait until October, you’ll be able to avoid huge crowds at museums, sightseeing hotspots and popular restaurants. Check for closures before you decide, though—some significant attractions are only open during high season.

Figure out how much time you have available. It’s unusual for Federal employees to be granted more than two weeks of leave at one time for vacation, and you don’t want to spend it traveling from place to place.

(That’s one of the reasons for the popularity of cruise ship vacations—the party starts as soon as you get on board and doesn’t end till the moment your ship returns to port.) Don’t cram too much into your itinerary. Retirees often have more time, so longer, multicity tours and itineraries are much more feasible for them.

Consider your personal preferences.

Have you had a rough few months at the office and need to plant yourself in a beach chair?

Or have you had enough of sitting at your desk and need a physical challenge, like hiking or rock climbing? Do you like to be exposed to other cultures and cuisines, or would you rather be surrounded by familiar faces and not have to deal with currency conversions?

Think about what you want to get out of your travels: what knowledge do you want to gain, what experiences do you want to have, and how do you want to remember the trip?

Do your research. Online, there are thousands of travel bloggers whose experience and outlook may mirror yours. Search by location (Paris, Rome, New York City) or by activity (hiking or biking vacations, best beach destinations). Read reviews on TripAdvisor (www.tripadvisor.com), Yelp (www.yelp.com) and elsewhere. Watch out for sites that steer you to a particular destination or try to sell you something, and make sure you’re looking at current information.

Ways to Save Money Many important travel decisions depend on your budget: do you stay in a five-star hotel downtown or on a campground further out?

What about trying a local bed-and-breakfast, or an “Airbnb” (www.airbnb.com) or “Vrbo” (www. vrbo.com) listing, where you rent someone’s home or apartment? Should you travel by plane, train, bus or automobile?

Federal employees and retirees can stretch their travel dollars in ways other travelers cannot.

NARFE Members

NARFE members are eligible for valuable savings when they travel through Member Perks. They get a 20 percent discount at more than 6,400 Choice Hotels throughout the world, and 20 percent off the best-available rates at participating members of the Wyndham Hotel Group. NARFE members get discounts on rental cars from Alamo, Avis, Budget and National. They can participate in MemberDeals, which gives them access to huge savings on attractions and events throughout the United States, and in TravelDiscounts, an exclusive service that offers an average of 10 to 20 percent below market rates on hotels throughout the world. Check out page 70 for information on NARFE’s Member Perks.

Seniors

Once travelers have attained senior citizen status (which can vary from ages 55 to 65—and sometimes older) they are eligible for valuable discounts whether they are retired or not.

According to USA Today, two large airlines offer cheaper fares to senior travelers: Southwest and British Airlines. Amtrak offers 10 percent discounts on some of its trains, as does VIA Rail in Canada and train systems in Belgium and Portugal. Train lines in Britain and France offer discounts for first-class tickets, and if you’re 75 or older, you can ride many Italian trains for free. If you’re taking the bus, Greyhound offers seniors a 5 percent discount.

Most large American hotel chains offer discounts of about 10 percent for seniors and AARP (www.aarp.org) members (who need only be 50 years old). To get that discount, book your room directly with the hotel, either by phone or through the chain’s website. AARP members can also obtain discounts from some W W W. N A R F E . O R G

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cruise lines and tour operators as well as with car rental companies including Avis, Budget, Payless and Zipcar.

Working Feds

Federal employees not of retirement age can take advantage of other offers available exclusively to them. CWT SatoTravel (www.cwtsatotravel. com) provides global corporate travel services, including lodging negotiation and management services, to all federal agencies, the Department of Defense (DoD) and military organizations through its FedRooms and DoD Preferred programs. A division of the company, CWT SatoVacations (www.satovacations.com) helps federal employees and active-duty service members book vacation travel at a discount.

The company claims that its relationships with leading travel suppliers worldwide gives Feds access to exclusive partnerships and perks, such as discounted cruises, flights, rental cars and hotels. Be careful, though—other travel sites may offer similar or even better discounts for some trips, so shop around before you decide.

Interested in cruises? CruiseDealsForFeds. com is a website run by a travel agency dedicated exclusively to helping federal and state government employees find deals on more than 1,000 cruises each year. The agency’s sister site, VacationDealsForFeds.com, offers government employees and retirees great rates on tour packages and all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean and in Mexico. Sign up for their online newsletter to see what’s available each week.

Federal employees who travel know about the “government rate”—discounted hotel rates negotiated by the government that determine what employees will pay for their lodging on official travel—but can they get the same rate on their personal trips?

In the Houston Chronicle, Viki Reath of the General Services Administration stated, “It is strictly a business decision of the lodging establishment as to whether or not they will extend the government per diem rate to employees traveling on personal business.” In other words, it depends.

Instead of automatically using a booking service like Travelocity, Booking.com or Orbitz, try contacting hotels directly and ask whether you can get the government rate—but always do some comparison shopping. The government 38

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rate may sometimes be higher than rates on booking sites or elsewhere.

Most federal employees can also get discounts on car rentals for their leisure travel—as much as 20 percent off of the regular rate or the car class upgrades, depending on the company. Find special offers on rental company websites.

Wherever you go and however you get there, happy (and safe) travels.

Military Retirees While the use of government contract flight carriers is limited to official travel only, federal employees, retirees and their families who are also military retirees can fly free on government aircraft. They can fly spaceavailable (Space-A) on military flights to military bases all over the world. Military retirees and their dependents, reservists, and 100 percent service-disabled veterans are the last priority for these seats—but they are sometimes available.

Military flights often don’t keep to schedule, so anticipate delays. Seats can be primitive, and information about flights can be hard to obtain due to operational security. Still, if you are a military retiree or family member who can be flexible, it’s a great way to see the world.

Wherever you go and however you get there, happy (and safe) travels.

— EVERETT (EV) A. CHASEN IS A WRITER AND COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT IN THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA. HE RETIRED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AFTER 35 YEARS OF SERVICE.

SECURITY MEASURES

If you have access to any classified information or hold a government position regarded as sensitive, you must notify your local security officer before traveling abroad, even on unofficial travel. Other reporting requirements may also apply under the provisions of Security Executive Agent Directive 3 (SEAD 3), which took effect beginning June 12, 2017. Check with your security office for more details.

Federal Employees and Retirees: call today to schedule your hearing exam 1-877-696-5335

Federal Employees and Retirees may be eligible for a pair of Oticon Opn STM 3 hearing aids for $0 out-of-pocket.1

Opn S breaks the limits of what has previously been possible with hearing aids. Take a more active part in difficult listening situations and get better speech understanding with less effort.

You can thrive in noisy environments, just like people with normal hearing.2, 3 Opn S is more than just a hearing aid. It’s a wearable technology that makes it possible to connect to your favorite devices. Take handsfree calls, stream music, connect to smart devices, and more.

Bonus: Free charger, no batteries needed!

Exclusive offer for federal employees and retirees. A full day’s power. Every day. The discreet miniRITE R style with an easy-to-use, stylish and reliable charger. Simply recharge at night for a full day of use.4

Special offer for federal employees and retirees available only at Your Hearing Network locations. Call 877-696-5335 today to schedule an appointment.

1 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 consult your plan for coverage details. 2 For people with typical hearing loss and well-fitted hearing aids, in noisy situations. 3 Juul Jensen 2018, Oticon Whitepaper. 4 Lithium-ion battery performance varies depending on hearing loss, lifestyle and streaming behavior.

Open Season Report

PEN SEASON REPORT

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FEHB PLAN CHANGES

T

he 2019 Federal Benefits Open Season for changes to your Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program enrollment ends Monday, December 9. There is still time to review health plans and make an informed decision.

FEHB participants will be able to pick from 279 health plan choices during this Open Season.

If you are a federal employee and not presently enrolled in the FEHB, you may enroll during Open Season if you are not otherwise excluded from coverage because of the nature of your appointment.

If you are a federal annuitant and are not presently covered by the FEHB program as an enrollee or a family member, you cannot enroll in the FEHB program during Open Season, unless you previously suspended your FEHB enrollment in favor of coverage under TRICARE, TRICARE For Life, a Medicare Advantage HMO plan, CHAMPVA, Medicaid or as a Peace Corps volunteer.

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Open Season changes for employees are effective at the beginning of the first pay period after January 1, 2020.

Open Season changes made by annuitants and survivor annuitants are effective on January 1, 2020, and the premium changes will be effective in the February 1, 2020, annuity payments.

all plan brochures have a box on the cover that provides the page numbers to find the new premium rates and the plan’s changes for the new year. All plans provide a Summary of Benefits and Coverage with easyto-understand information about out-of-pocket costs, coverage and rights of enrollees.

PLAN BROCHURES

The average total premium increase in FEHB plans for annuitants and nonpostal employees for 2020, based on all of the enrollees in all of the plans, is 4 percent. The average premium increase for enrollees is 5.6 percent.

These figures are not an across-the-board increase per plan. It is the weighted average increase for the total premium (government and employee share) for all of the plans in the FEHB program. This means that some plans’ premiums decreased, some did not change at all and some increased.

When deciding which plan is best for you, be sure to review your current plan’s 2020 brochure, as well as the brochures for other plans you are considering. The 2020 plan brochures for all of the FEHB plans can be viewed online and downloaded at www.opm.gov/ healthcare-insurance.

Each brochure is formatted the same way, with sections on specific topics, such as “How Our Plan Has Changed,” “Your Costs for Covered Services” and “Coordinating Benefits With Other Coverage.” And

PREMIUM CHANGES

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Fee-for-service (FFS) plans’ total premiums will rise an average of 3.6 percent, while local health maintenance organization (HMO) plans’ premiums will increase an average of 6.0 percent.

Federal employees with Self Only coverage will pay, on average, 4.9 percent more per two-week pay period; those with Self Plus One coverage will pay an average of 4.7 percent more per pay period, and those with Self and Family coverage will see an average increase of 6.6 percent. Employees in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Standard option, the most popular

enrollment, will see biweekly premiums rise $4.68 for Self Only coverage, $18.53 for Self Plus One, and $10.61 for Self and Family.

HMO plans have a wide range of rate changes. If yours is one that is going up by hundreds of dollars, you may want to shop around. But for other HMOs, the rate has decreased significantly.

You may also want to consider one of several brand new HMO plans, such as Aetna Advantage, which is available in all states.

But even if your particular plan’s premiums are not rising by much, make sure you read

the plan brochure—particularly Section 2, “How We Changed for 2020.” This section will reveal which, if any, out-of-pocket expenses, such as co-payments and coinsurance, will increase in 2020.

Another reason to check your brochure is that you should not assume that your coverage will not change. Procedures and medications that have been covered or not covered in years past might have changed. Also, note which costs are not included in meeting the plan’s yearly deductible. These out-of-pocket expenses can really add up.

—FEDERAL BENEFITS INSTITUTE

MEDICARE PREMIUMS: PART B AND PART D Medicare Open Season for Part D began on October 15 and ends December 7.

PART B

At press time, we did not have the monthly Medicare Part B base premium or the annual deductible for Medicare Part B beneficiaries for 2020.

Medicare Part B covers physician services, outpatient hospital services, certain home health services, durable medical equipment and certain other medical and health services not covered by Medicare Part A. An estimated two million Medicare beneficiaries (about 3.5 percent) will pay less than the full Part B standard monthly premium amount due to the statutory hold harmless provision, which limits certain beneficiaries’ increase in their Part B benefits to be no greater than the increase in their Social Security benefits.

Look for more information about Medicare Part B in our January issue.

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PART D

The Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit is geared to people who do not have employer-provided or union-provided prescription drug coverage. Under your FEHB coverage, you simply pay co-payments and/or coinsurance for your prescription drugs, so the majority of FEHB enrollees will not need Medicare Part D. Anyone covered under the FEHB has what is known as “creditable prescription drug coverage.” This means that the FEHB prescription drug coverage is at least as good as, if not better than, the Part D coverage.

This also means if a person with FEHB coverage turns down Part D when he or she is first eligible to enroll but signs up at some point in the future, he or she will not be required to pay a penalty for late enrollment in Part D.

FEHB plan brochures for 2020 contain statements certifying the creditability of each plan’s drug coverage for Part D lateenrollment purposes. These statements will be found at the beginning of each plan’s brochure, immediately before the table of contents, and will be headlined “Important Notice From (Plan’s Name) About Our Prescription Drug Coverage and Medicare.”

Part D requires a monthly premium in addition to the Medicare Part B premium. The estimated average monthly basic premium for 2020 is $30, the lowest its been since 2013.

Enrollees in Part D may have to pay a deductible before the plan’s prescription drug coverage starts.

For more information on Medicare Parts B or D, visit www. medicare.gov.

HAPPY TEETH. HAPPY LIFE. Affordable GEBA Dental Plans OPEN ENROLLMENT NOV 11–DEC 16 NOW AVAILABLE TO ALL FEDERAL EMPLOYEES, RETIREES AND THEIR FAMILIES. Since 1957, GEBA (Government Employees’ Benefit Association) has offered affordable, high-quality insurance from financially strong companies. Our dental and vision plans are a great alternative to FEDVIP and could be a better choice for you and your family. To learn more, please visit GEBA.com.

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Open Season Report

KEY: Employees pay biweekly Annuitants pay monthly

2020 PREMIUMS — FEE FOR SERVICE Plan Option

Code

Total Premium biweekly monthly

APWU HEALTH PLAN High Self 471 $335.18 $726.22 High Self & Family 472 $804.42 $1742.91 High Self Plus One 473 $703.86 $1525.03 CDHP Self 474 $275.85 $597.68 CDHP Self & Family 475 $654.04 $1,417.09 CDHP Self Plus One 476 $599.54 $1,299.00 BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD SERVICE BENEFIT PLAN Standard Self 104 $352.68 $764.14 Standard Self & Family 105 $833.21 $1805.29 Standard Self Plus One 106 $771.27 $1671.09 Basic Self 111 $303.78 $658.19 Basic Self & Family 112 $737.69 $1598.33 Basic Self Plus One 113 $682.73 $1479.25 FEP Blue Focus Self 131 $212.58 $460.59 FEP Blue Focus Self & Family 132 $502.70 $1089.18 FEP Blue Focus Self Plus One 133 $457.02 $990.21 GEHA BENEFIT PLAN High Self 311 $341.19 $739.25 High Self & Family 312 $850.86 $1843.53 High Self Plus One 313 $750.63 $1626.37 Standard Self 314 $242.18 $524.72 Standard Self & Family 315 $622.08 $1347.84 Standard Self Plus One 316 $520.71 $1128.21 HDHP Self 341 $237.16 $513.85 HDHP Self & Family 342 $600.16 $1300.35 HDHP Self Plus One 343 $509.91 $1104.81 GEHA ELEVATE INDEMNITY BENEFIT PLAN Plus Self 251 $290.69 $629.83 Plus Self & Family 252 $720.91 $1561.97 Plus Self Plus One 253 $674.39 $1461.18 Standard Self 254 $189.29 $410.13 Standard Self & Family 255 $530.03 $1148.10 Standard Self Plus One 256 $435.38 $943.32 MHBP Value Self 414 $209.22 $453.31 Value Self & Family 415 $505.63 $1153.19 Value Self Plus One 416 $495.73 $1074.08 Standard Self 454 $263.47 $570.85 Standard Self & Family 455 $612.30 $1326.65 Standard Self Plus One 456 $606.47 $1314.02 HDHP Self 481 $264.59 $573.28 HDHP Self & Family 482 $614.80 $1332.07 HDHP Self Plus One 483 $585.53 $1268.65 NALC High Self 321 $326.61 $707.66 High Self & Family 322 $735.21 $1592.96 High Self Plus One 323 $722.43 $1565.27 CDHP Self 324 $218.55 $473.53 CDHP Self & Family 325 $502.63 $1089.03 CDHP Self Plus One 326 $482.16 $1044.68 Value Self KM1 $179.37 $388.64 Value Self & Family KM2 $412.69 $894.16 Value Self Plus One KM3 $395.70 857.35 SAMBA High Self 441 $416.19 $901.75 High Self & Family 442 $998.84 $2164.15 High Self Plus One 443 $915.61 $1983.82 Standard Self 444 $314.08 $680.51 Standard Self & Family 445 $716.56 $1552.55 Standard Self Plus One 446 $676.00 $1464.67

Govt Pays biweekly monthly

OPEN SEASON CHANGES for employees are effective at the beginning of the first pay period after January 1, 2020. Changes for retirees and survivor annuitants are effective January 1, 2020, and premium changes will

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Enrollee Pays biweekly monthly

Enrollee Increase/Decrease biweekly monthly

$235.77 $546.47 $504.12 $206.89 $490.53 $449.66

$510.84 $1184.02 $1092.26 $448.26 $1,062.82 $974.25

$99.41 $257.95 $199.74 $68.96 $163.51 $149.88

$215.38 $558.89 $432.77 $149.42 $354.27 $324.75

-$5.59 -$21.15 -$11.85 $0 $0 $0

-$12.12 -45.83 -$25.67 $0 $0 $0

$235.77 $546.47 $504.12 $227.84 $546.47 $504.12 $159.44 $377.03 $342.77

$510.84 $1184.02 $1092.26 $493.64 $1184.02 $1092.26 $345.44 $816.89 $742.66

$116.91 $286.74 $267.15 $75.94 $191.22 $178.61 $53.14 $125.67 $114.25

$253.30 $621.27 $578.83 $164.55 $414.31 $386.99 $115.15 $272.29 $247.55

$4.68 $18.53 $10.61 $2.22 $13.98 $8.04 $0 $0 $0

$10.13 $40.14 $23.00 $4.81 $30.29 $17.43 $0 $0 $0

$235.77 $546.47 $504.12 $181.64 $466.56 $390.53 $177.87 $450.12 $382.43

$510.84 $1184.02 $1092.26 $393.54 $1010.88 $846.16 $385.39 $975.26 $828.61

$105.42 $304.39 $246.51 $60.54 $155.52 $130.18 $59.29 $150.04 $127.48

$228.41 $659.51 $534.11 $131.18 $336.96 $282.05 $128.46 $325.09 $276.20

-$0.55 -$8.56 -$0.75 $1.76 $7.41 $3.80 $0.59 $4.37 $1.27

-$1.20 -$18.55 -$1.62 $3.82 $16.05 $8.22 $1.27 $9.47 $2.74

$218.02 $540.68 $504.12 $141.97 $397.52 $326.54

$472.37 $1171.48 $1092.26 $307.60 $861.30 $707.49

$72.67 $180.23 $170.27 $47.32 $132.51 $108.84

$157.46 $390.49 $368.92 $102.53 $287.10 $235.83

N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

$156.92 $379.22 $371.80 $197.60 $459.23 $454.85 $198.44 $461.10 $439.15

$339.98 $821.65 $805.56 $428.14 $994.99 $985.52 $429.96 $999.05 $951.49

$52.30 $126.41 $123.93 $65.87 $153.07 $151.62 $66.15 $153.70 $146.38

$113.33 $273.88 $268.52 $142.71 $331.66 $328.50 $143.32 $333.02 $317.166

-$2.76 -$6.65 -$6.52 -$0.66 -$1.55 -$1.53 $1.30 $3.02 $2.87

-$5.96 -$14.42 -$14.13 -$1.45 -$3.35 -$3.32 $2.81 $6.54 $6.22

$235.77 $546.47 $504.12 $163.91 $376.97 $361.62 $134.53 $309.52 $296.78

$510.84 $1184.02 $1092.26 $355.15 $816.77 $783.51 $291.48 $670.62 $643.01

$90.84 $188.74 $218.31 $54.64 $125.66 $120.54 $44.84 $103.17 $98.92

$196.82 $408.94 $473.01 $118.38 $272.26 $261.17 $97.16 $223.54 $214.34

$6.21 $7.13 $17.61 $0 $2.47 $1.19 $0 $2.02 $0.98

$13.45 $15.45 $38.16 $0 $5.34 $2.58 $0 $4.38 $2.13

$235.77 $546.47 $504.12 $235.56 $537.42 $504.12

$510.84 $1184.02 $1092.26 $510.38 $1164.41 $1092.26

$180.42 $452.37 $411.49 $78.52 $179.14 $171.88

$390.91 $980.13 $891.56 $170.13 $388.14 $372.41

-$10.64 -$33.28 -$22.96 -$8.33 -$24.74 -$33.34

New Plan New Plan New Plan New Plan New Plan New Plan

-$23.06 -$72.12 -$49.74 -$18.05 -$53.60 -$72.23

be reflected in February 1, 2020, annuity payments. If verified enrollment is required, the change notice from OPM should suffice for annuitants; the notification from their agency will suffice for employees.

2020 FEE-FOR-SERVICE PLAN CHANGES

T

he following are the six feefor-service (FFS) providers available to all employees and annuitants and the changes in benefits.

In addition to these open-to-all carriers, there are four FFS plans open to specific groups of federal employees and annuitants. The rates for these restricted plans are in the November 2019 issue of NARFE Magazine.

Please note that our summaries below do not capture all the change details for 2020. Review the brochures, available either on the plans’ websites or at www.opm. gov/healthcare-insurance. Many plans will include clarifications of existing benefits that could be beneficial when choosing a plan.

When reviewing each plan’s changes, take note of announced changes in preferred provider organizations (PPOs). If you live in a state where your plan is changing its PPO network, you need to contact the plan and ask for a new PPO directory for 2020 to ensure that your doctors, hospitals, etc., will be in the new network. Otherwise, you may wish to change plans during Open Season. Using your plan’s PPOs is a major way to save on out-ofpocket costs.

American Postal Workers Union Health Plan (APWU) Planwide changes: Telehealth services for mental health and substance abuse disorders are now covered. Women’s prescription birth control is 100 percent covered in-network. Prescription drugs with an over-the-counter (OTC) equivalent are not covered.

Skilled nursing care is now covered with 15 percent coinsurance innetwork, (High Option) 40 percent out-of-network, or (ConsumerDriven Health Plan) 50 percent coinsurance out-of-network.

High Option Changes: The innetwork deductible has changed to $450 for Self Only and $800 for Self Plus One and Self Plus Family, and the in-network coinsurance has changed to 15 percent of the plan allowance.

The out-of-network deductible has changed to $1,000 for Self Only and $2,000 for Self Plus One and Self and Family, and the out-of-network coinsurance has changed to 40 percent of the plan allowance.

The plan’s in-network catastrophic out-of-pocket maximum is $6,500 for Self Only and $13,000 for Self Plus One and Self and Family. The out-ofnetwork maximum is $12,000 for Self Only and $24,000 for Self Plus One and Self and Family. Medical emergencies treated at an urgent care facility are covered with a $30 co-pay in-network, 40 percent coinsurance out-of-network.

Skilled nursing care is now covered with 15 percent coinsurance innetwork, 40 percent coinsurance out-of-network.

Consumer Driven Health Plan: The in-network deductible has changed to $1,000 for Self Only and $2,000 for Self Plus One and Self Plus Family. The out-ofnetwork deductible has changed to $1,500 for Self Only and $3,000 for Self Plus One and Self and Family, and the out-of-network coinsurance has changed to 50 percent of the plan allowance.

More information on APWU can be found at www.apwuhp.com.

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Service Benefit Plan Changes: Basic and Standard options are now known as FEP Blue Basic and FEP Blue Standard. The plan provides two telehealth visits at no member cost-share. Telehealth services for preventive nutritional

services are now fully covered. An “episode of care” for traditional home hospice is now defined as one home hospice treatment plan per calendar year, and there is increased responsibility for traditional hospice care ($450 co-pay for Standard, no coverage for Basic). Continuous hospice care is covered with no member cost-share. There is a new program to help members manage diabetes, and additional diabetic supplies are now included in the reduced cost-share benefit.

FEP Blue Focus: Changes to this plan include no member cost-share for the first 10 laboratory tests in certain diagnostic categories, a preventive telehealth benefit for nutritional counseling with no member cost-share, and specific mental health coverage associated with pregancy-related or postpartum depression. Like the FEB Blue plans, Blue Focus has a number of changes with regard to hospice care that should be reviewed.

More information on BCBS can be found at www.fepblue.org.

Government Employees Health Association (GEHA) GEHA is offering a new plan called Elevate with two levels of coverage: Plus and Options.

The changes listed below are for GEHA’s High and Standard options.

Overall Plan Changes: The plan will no longer require preauthorization for physical, occupational and speech therapy.

The telehealth benefit will now cover dermatological care.

High Option: Members enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B are now eligible to be reimbursed up to $600 per calendar year for Medicare Part B premium payments.

Standard Option: The W W W. N A R F E . O R G

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Open Season Report

coinsurance maximum will increase for specialty drugs under the pharmacy benefit.

More information for GEHA can be found at www.geha.com.

Mail Handlers Benefit Plan (MHBP) As of press time, the 2020 plan brochures for MHBP were not available. Please visit www.mhbp. com for the current brochures.

National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Planwide changes: The plan now covers medical telehealth visits, osteoporosis screening for all postmenopausal women at increased risk, and eating disorders. The plan limits the number of drug tests it will cover in a calendar year and no longer covers over-the-counter Vitamin D supplements for those age 65 and older. The plan now uses a standard drug formulary rather than an open drug formulary.

High Option: Increased coverage for assistant surgeons, hearing aids, foot orthotics and postpartum depression. Copayments for hospital admission

or observation stays have increased to $350 for a PPO hospital and to $450 plus 35 percent coinsurance at a nonPPO facility. Non-network and mail order prescription co-pays have increased, as have those for nonformulary brand drugs purchased at retail pharmacies.

CDHP and Value options: Anesthesia services are now covered at the in-network level for out-of-network providers when services are performed at an in-network hospital or surgical center. There is also increased coverage for foot orthotics and virtual doctor visits. Co-pays for mail order prescription drugs are now $90 for formulary brands, $125 for nonformulary brands.

More information for NALC can be found at www.NALC.org.

Special Agents Mutual Benefit Association (SAMBA) Planwide Changes: The plan no longer requires preauthorization for durable medical equipment and extended outpatient treatment. Co-

payment is waived for the first two telehealth visits per person, per calendar year for any covered service.

High Option: The PPO copay for primary care physician services has been decreased to $15 per visit. The calendar year deductible has been reduced to $300 per person (limited to $600 for Self Plus One and Self Plus Family). Enrollees with Medicare Part B as their primary coverage will pay $5 at retail and $10 at mail order per generic, and 25 percent ($100 maximum) at retail and 25 percent ($200 maximum) at mail order per preferred brand name.

Standard Option: The PPO co-pay has been decreased to $20 per visit for primary care physician services. Enrollees with Medicare Part B as their primary coverage will pay $7 at retail and $15 at mail order per generic, and 30 percent ($150 maximum) at retail and 30 percent ($300 maximum) at mail order per preferred brand name.

More information for SAMBA can be found at www.

SAMBA.org.

CORRECTIONS TO OPEN SEASON INFORMATION Open Season presents a challenge to even the best magazine editors: When OPM releases the information, the editors have a limited amount of time to prepare it for publication in NARFE Magazine.

The following are known errata in the Open Season Report information published in the November 2019 issue.

Code 105, Blue Cross Standard Self and Family: The total monthly premium should be $1805.29.

Code 106, Blue Cross Standard Self Plus One, monthly premium is incorrect. The information should be: Total Premium: $1671.09

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Government Pays: $1092.26 Employee Pays: $578.83 Code JN5, Aetna Open Access–Capitol Region: The biweekly enrollee pay amount is incorrect. It should be $189.84.

Codes E34, E35, and E36, Kaiser Mid-Atlantic HMO, monthly “enrollee pays” column is incorrect.

It should be: Standard Self (E34): $142.89 Standard Self & Family (E35) and Standard Self Plus One (E36): $328.62 Code 626, Kaiser S. California HMO, monthly total premium for Self Plus One is incorrect. It should be $1077.70.

Together.

Better Health.

MEDICARE

Part A

=

MEDICARE

Part B

+

+

APWU HEALTH PLAN

HighOpenOption Season 2019

100% coverage for your medical bills #BetterTogether60Years

MEDICARE

Part A MEDICARE

Part A

MEDICARE

+

Part B

+ MEDICARE

Part B

+

APWU HEALTH PLAN

High Option

+ PLAN APWU HEALTH

High Option *

= for your medical bills

100% coverage 100% coverage for your medical bills 2020 APWU Health Plan High Option premiums = Enrollment code 471

Self Only

473premiums 2020 APWU Health Plan High Option Self 2020Plus APWUOne Health Plan High Option premiums Self and Family

472

November 11th to December 9th (800) PIC-APWU www.apwuhp.com

APWU Health Plan serves federal employees and retirees with diligence and compassion. We’re here to help you get the most from your plan. With Medicare A&B: • • •

Your deductible and coinsurance is waived Have access to a stronger prescription coverage than Part D Choose any physician or facility that accepts Medicare

Federal monthly retirees pay $215.38 $432.77 $558.89

Enrollment codeFederal Federal monthly codemembers monthly retirees pay *HighEnrollment Option when Medicare Part A andretirees B paypay as primary

Open Season Report

2020 FSAFEDS

E

ligible federal employees can enroll in FSAFEDS, the federal government’s flexible spending program, each year during the Federal Benefits Open Season. Under the program, employees contribute money from their salary into a FSAFEDS account before taxes are withheld and use it to get reimbursed for out-of-pocket health care and dependent care expenses.

The federal government offers three types of FSAFEDS accounts: • Health Care Flexible Spending Account, used to pay for qualified medical costs and health care expenses that are not paid by an employee’s Federal Employees

Health Benefits (FEHB) program plan or any other insurance.

• Limited Expense Health Care Flexible Spending Account, only available to employees who enroll in an FEHB High Deductible Health Plan with a Health Savings Account, and limited to dental and vision care services/products.

• Dependent Care (Day Care) Flexible Spending Account, used to pay for eligible dependent care expenses such as child care.

Open Season FSAFEDS enrollments are effective January 1, 2020.

Current enrollees must enroll each year to continue participating in FSAFEDS. Federal retirees are not eligible for FSAFEDS.

For participants enrolled in a health care or limited expense health care account: • The minimum election for all accounts is $100.

• The ability to carry over funds has been adopted for health care and limited expense health care FSAs. If employees are enrolled in one of these FSAs, they will be able to bring up to $500 of unspent funds from 2019 into 2020. These funds can be used to reimburse eligible expenses incurred in 2020.

Employees must re-enroll for the 2020 benefit period to be eligible for the carry-over. (This carry-over ability does not affect dependent care FSAs.)

IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR ANNUITANTS AND SURVIVORS

and premiums for 2020—you decide to continue your current coverage, you do not have to do anything. Your enrollment in your current plan will continue into 2020, and the new premiums will be deducted from your February 1, 2020, monthly annuity payment.

plan but your monthly annuity is not sufficient to withhold the premium amount.

• OPEN SEASON NOTIFICATION. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will send you notification by mail or electronically if you have provided OPM with your email address. Both notices will provide details on Open Season and guidance on how to obtain information and materials.

• PLAN PARTICIPATION. Make sure your current plan will participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program for 2020. This is especially important if you are currently enrolled in a health maintenance organization (HMO) plan.

• STAYING PUT. If, after reading your current plan’s brochure— particularly about changes 48

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• MAKING A CHANGE. For Open Season changes, call the Open Season Express number provided in your FEHB Open Season notice, log on to Open Season Online at the internet address provided in your Open Season notice, or contact the Open Season Processing Center provided in your Open Season notice.

• LOW ANNUITY. If your monthly annuity is not enough to cover your plan’s 2020 premiums, you have the option to change to a plan that you can afford.

You also may pay your monthly premiums directly to OPM if you want to stay with your current

• MEDICARE ENROLLEES. Make sure you read your plan brochure’s sections titled “When You Have Medicare” and “Coordinating Benefits With Other Coverage.” Section 9 of every FEHB brochure should provide these details.

Call a service representative from the plan to address any questions you might have about the coordination of your FEHB benefits with Medicare.

• AGE 65 AND NOT ENROLLED IN MEDICARE. Fee-for-service (FFS) plans include a section in their brochures titled, “When You Are Age 65 or Over and Do Not Have Medicare.” This section details how, by law, the plan must use Medicare’s approved amounts on which to base its payments.

2020 FEDVIP PLANS

O

pen Season for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) coincides with the Open Season for the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. Eligible individuals will be able to choose benefits that cover dental care, vision care or both. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sponsors the program, which offers participants a choice from 10 dental and four vision carriers.

Three types of enrollment are available: Self Only, for the enrolled employee or annuitant; Self Plus One, for the enrolled employee or annuitant and one eligible family

member; and Self and Family, for the enrolled employee or annuitant and all eligible family members.

Typically, in-network coverage is covered by the plan allowance; outof-network benefits are covered at the same plan allowance but with the member paying the difference between what insurance pays and what the provider charges. The coinsurance or co-pay of each tier of coverage (preventive and diagnostic, intermediate services, major services, and general services) varies by carrier and plan type. For more information, including plan brochures, go to www.benefeds.com or call 877-888-3337.

DENTAL PLANS

There are six nationwide and four regional plans. Premiums are based on rating areas (a group of ZIP codes). Each plan can have up to five rating areas. See the chart on page 52 for nationwide plan premiums. To find out your rating area, go to www.opm.gov and put “dental rating areas” in the FAQ Search window. For regional plan rates, go to www.benefeds.com.

All FEDVIP dental plans cover preventive services at 100 percent when using an in-network provider as part of their comprehensive coverage.

Additionally, there are no deductibles and no waiting

Your service goes above and beyond.

We see it every day!

You deserve a vision plan that focuses on you.

Get the most out of your plan, including: • Stylish frames from names like Warby Parker — online and in stores.

• Savings on contacts, glasses and vision correction surgery.

• Extra coverage for kids from the Children’s Eye Care Program.

Take a look at fedvip.myuhcvision.com.

Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program UnitedHealthcare Vision® coverage provided by or through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, located in Hartford, Connecticut, or its affiliates. Administrative services provided by Spectera, Inc., United HealthCare Services, Inc. or their affiliates. This policy has exclusions, limitations and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete details of the coverage contact UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company.

B2C 9619956.0 9/19 ©2019 United HealthCare Services, Inc. 19-12880-C

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Open Season Report

periods for major services under in-network coverage.

NATIONWIDE DENTAL PLANS

Aetna • No annual deductible • $30,000 yearly maximum per member for in-network services • Orthodontia (including Invisalign) covered at 50 percent with a $2,000 per person lifetime maximum; no age limit • Additional benefits include gym memberships and weightloss programs Delta Dental Two plan options • No deductible charged when using in-network • Annual benefit maximum: High option: $30,000 yearly maximum per member in-network; $3,000 out-ofnetwork. Standard option: $1,500 yearly maximum per member in-network; $600 out-of-network • Orthodontia covered at 50 percent after 12 months of enrollment. High Option: 3,500 lifetime maximum for children, $2,000 for adults. Standard Option: $2,000 lifetime maximum in-network, children only FEP BlueDental (Blue Cross Blue Shield) Two plan options • New for 2020: Three cleanings per year are included • Deductible: None, in-network; Out-of-network: $50 for high option • Annual benefit maximum: High option: unlimited in-network, $3,000 out-ofnetwork. Standard option: $1,500 in-network, $750 out-of-network.

• Orthodontia, adults and children: High option has no waiting period and covers a lifetime maximum of 50

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$3,500 regardless of network; standard option has a 12-month eligibility waiting period and covers a lifetime maximum of $2,000 in-network and $1,000 out-of-network GEHA Two plan options • No deductible • Annual benefit maximum: Unlimited, except for implants, which have a limit of $2,500, in high option; $2,500 for standard option • Orthodontia covered at 70 percent of network-allowed cost with no age limitation; no waiting under high option; 12-month waiting period for standard option • Benefit provided for medically necessary/ noncosmetic implants • Additional benefits include hearing and vision discounts, Life Alert and teeth whitening MetLife Two plan options • Deductible: No deductible in-network for both options. Outof-network deductible: $50 high option; $100 standard option • Annual benefit maximum: Unlimited in high option; $1,500 in-network and $1,000 out-ofnetwork for standard option • Orthodontia: No waiting period. High option coverage at 70 percent of plan allowance; standard option at 50 percent.

Lifetime benefit maximum is $5,000 child/$3,000 adult for high option; $2,000/person for standard option. No deductible for orthodontia United Concordia • No deductible • No annual benefit maximum • Orthodontia covered at 50 percent of plan allowance after 12-month waiting period for all members, waived with proof of prior orthodontic coverage;

lifetime maximum: $3,000 per covered person • Additional benefit available: tuition reward program

REGIONAL DENTAL PLANS

Dominion Dental Services, Inc. Two dental health maintenance organization (HMO) options Service Area: Mid-Atlantic Region, including the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, most of Virginia and southern New Jersey • For this HMO Dental Plan, enrollees are required to select a primary care dentist • No out-of-network benefits available, except for emergency services when an in-network provider is not available • No maximum dollar limits, waiting periods or deductibles • $10 office co-pays plus additional fixed co-pays (rather than percentage based) for major and minor restorative services as well as orthodontia EmblemHealth Service Area: All of New York state and some counties in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and New Jersey.

• 100 percent coverage for all in-network dental services • Deductible: In-network: None; Out-of-network: $50/ person ($150/family) for intermediate, major and general services • No annual benefit maximum • Orthodontia: In-network 100 percent coverage for the first 20 months of treatment paid directly to the network dentist up to a $3,000 lifetime maximum.

Out-of-network: Payment of plan allowance to the participant, who must submit claims to receive payment. Participant pays the difference between plan allowance and provider’s charge

Wherever Old Glory proudly waves, MetLife Federal Dental is with you.

Wherever Old Glory proudly waves, MetLife Federal Dental is with you.

You’ve earned coverage that offers one of the nation’s largest dental networks.

A MetLife Dental Plan gives you access to over 434,000 dentist locations. You and your family can also take advantage of no out-of-pocket costs for in-network cleanings and exams, child and adult orthodontia coverage, and high annual maximums per person.* So be sure to enroll in the plan that’s with you wherever you are.

MetLife.com/FEDVIP 1-888-865-6854

FEDVIP Open Season ends December 9, 2019 EST. *Subject to frequency limitations. Savings from enrolling in the MetLife Federal Dental plan will depend on various factors, including how often you visit the dentist and the cost of services rendered.

Like most group benefit programs, benefit programs offered by MetLife contain exclusions, exceptions, limitations, and terms for keeping them in force. Contact MetLife for costs and complete details.

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company | 200 Park Avenue | New York, NY 10166 L0919517824[exp0920][All States] © 2019 METLIFE, INC.

Open Season Report

2020 PREMIUMS - NATIONWIDE DENTAL PLANS PLAN NAME

KEY: Employees pay biweekly Annuitants pay monthly

RATING Region*

SELF ONLY biweekly | monthly

SELF PLUS ONE biweekly | monthly

SELF AND FAMILY biweekly | monthly

1 2 3 4 5

$16.03 | $34.73 $17.65 | $38.24 $18.79 | $40.71 $20.73 | $44.92 $22.52 | $48.79

$32.05 | $69.44 $35.31 | $76.51 $37.58 | $81.42 $41.46 | $89.83 $45.03 | $97.57

$48.08 | $104.17 $52.95 | $114.73 $56.35 | $122.09 $62.19 | $134.75 $67.54 | $146.34

$9.38 | $20.32 $10.22 | $22.14 $11.03 | $23.90 $11.64 | $25.22 $13.33 | $28.88

$18.75 | $40.63 $20.46 | $44.33 $22.07 | $47.82 $23.29 | $50.46 $26.66 | $57.76

$26.13 | $60.95 $30.67 | $66.45 $33.11 | $71.74 $34.93 | $75.68 $39.99 | $86.65

AETNA PPO

High

DELTA DENTAL PPO

Standard

High

1 2 3 4 5

1 $18.13 | $39.28 $36.28| $78.61 2 $19.90 | $43.12 $39.80| $86.23 3 $21.83| $47.30 $43.68 | $94.64 4 $23.24 | $50.35 $46.47 | $100.69 5 $27.06 | $58.63 $54.11 | $117.24

$54.40 | $117.87 $59.71 | $129.37 $65.51 | $141.94 $69.74 | $151.10 $81.17 | $175.87

FEP BLUEDENTAL PPO

Standard

1 2 3 4 5

$9.16 | $19.85 $10.04 | $21.75 $11.42 | $24.74 $12.33 | $26.72 $13.63 | $29.53

$18.32 | $39.69 $20.09 | $43.53 $22.83 | $49.47 $24.64 | $53.39 $27.26 | $59.06

$27.49 | $59.36 $30.13 | $65.28 $34.22 | $74.14 $36.94 | $80.04 $40.89 | $88.60

High

1 2 3 4 5

$17.31 | $37.51 $19.40 | $42.03 $21.12 | $45.76 $22.88 | $49.57 $25.60 | $55.47

$34.63 | $75.03 $38.77 | $84.00 $42.23 | $91.50 $45.72 | $99.06 $51.17 | $110.87

$51.94 | $112.54 $58.16 | $126.01 $63.35 | $137.26 $68.59 | $148.61 $76.77 | $166.34

Standard

1 2 3 4 5

$10.06 | $21.80 $11.04 | $23.92 $12.55 | $27.19 $13.54 | $29.34 $15.02 | $32.54

$20.12 | $43.59 $22.08 | $47.84 $25.05 | $54.28 $27.06 | $58.63 $30.02 | $65.04

$30.17 | $65.37 $32.11 | $71.74 $37.58 | $81.42 $40.58 | $87.92 $45.04 | $97.59

High

1 2 3 4 5

$17.27 | $37.42 $19.00 | $41.17 $21.56 | $46.71 $23.28 | $50.44 $25.83 | $55.97

$34.56 | $74.88 $37.97 | $82.27 $43.13 | $93.45 $46.55 | $100.86 $51.70 | $112.02

$51.84 | $112.32 $57.00 | $123.50 $64.68 | $140.14 $69.85 | $151.34 $77.59 | $168.11

Standard

1 2 3 4 5

$10.30 | $22.32 $11.17 | $24.20 $12.39 | $26.85 $13.75 | $29.79 $15.12 | $32.76

$20.59 | $44.61 $22.33 | $48.38 $24.78 | $53.69 $27.51 | $59.61 $30.23 | $65.50

$30.89 | $66.93 $33.50 | $72.58 $37.17 | $80.54 $41.26 | $89.40 $45.35 | $98.26

High

1 2 3 4 5

$19.10 | $41.38 $21.39 | $46.35 $23.31 | $50.51 $25.24 | $54.69 $28.25 | $61.21

$38.19 | $82.75 $42.79 | $92.71 $46.62 | $101.01 $50.48 | $109.37 $56.50 | $122.42

$57.29 | $124.13 $64.18 | $139.06 $69.92 | $151.49 $75.73 | $164.08 $84.75 | $183.63

$15.44 | $33.45 $17.32 | $37.53 $19.24 | $41.69 $21.13 | $45.78 $23.04 | $49.92

$30.87 | $66.89 $34.68 | $75.14 $38.45 | $83.31 $42.27 | $91.59 $46.06 | $99.80

$46.28 | $100.21 $52.00 | $112.67 $57.70 | $125.02 $63.41 | $137.39 $69.08 | $149.67

GEHA PPO

METLIFE PPO

UNITED CONCORDIA PPO

High

1 2 3 4 5

* Rating regions for each carrier are not the same for all plans

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fepbluevision.com

TAKING CARE OF YOUR EYES IS ESSENTIAL TO GOOD HEALTH

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program (FEP) has been the provider of choice for federal employees and their families. Our plan, FEP BlueVision®, 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 FEP BlueVision®: Accepted by 95,000+ points of access, including Visionworks, LensCrafters, Costco, Walmart, Sam’s Club, and independent providers $0 copay for comprehensive eye exam, Collection frames, and lenses

A generous frame allowance that can be increased to $200 at Visionworks locations If eligible for LASIK, you can see significant savings of 40% - 50% off the average price of traditional LASIK procedures Use your benefits for eyewear online at visionworks.com.

OPEN SEASON IS COMING Enroll during the Federal Benefits Open Season: November 11 through midnight Eastern time December 9, 2019.

To enroll, visit BENEFEDS.com or give them a call 1-877-888-FEDS (3337), TTY: 1-877-889-5680.

BLUVISFLR2019-08-EDIT

Questions? Visit fepbluevision.com or call 1-888-550-BLUE (2583), TTY: 1-800-523-2847.

Open Season Report

Humana Service Area: All of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, DC, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and most of Maryland • No out-of-network benefits available except for emergency services when an in-network provider is not available • No waiting periods • No annual deductible or benefit maximum • No co-pay for preventive and diagnostic services. Fixed co-pays (rather than percentage based) for major and minor restorative services as well as orthodontia Triple-S Salud Service Area: Puerto Rico • No deductible or annual maximum • No out-of-network benefits available except for orthodontia

VISION PLANS

There are four vision plans. See the chart below for premiums.

Aetna Vision Preferred Two plan options •In-network: No co-pay for annual eye exam; choice of glasses or contact lens once each calendar year

• Lenses: No co-pay for standard lenses in-nework; co-pays for premium lens coverage • Frame allowance: $230 for high option, $140 for standard option; 20 percent discount on remaining balance • Contact lenses covered with allowances and co-pays • Out-of-network benefits available as reimbursements • Extra discounts at participating providers on balances over the allowance, LASIK laser surgery, retinal imaging, and second pairs of eyeglasses and sunglasses FEP BlueVision (Blue Cross Blue Shield) Two plan options • No co-payments for covered eye examinations, standard eyeglass lenses or plan frames.

There may be co-payments for optional lens types and treatments.

Low-vision services offered • Annual eye exams. Lenses every year for both plan options.

Frames every year for high option, every other year for standard option • Unconditional breakage warranty to repair or replace any plan frame or lens(es) for a period of one year from date of delivery • High option provides an outof-network benefit mostly based on a fee schedule

• No out-of-network benefits under standard option UnitedHealthcare Vision Plan Two plan options • Annual eye exam. Frames/ lenses or contacts in lieu of glasses every year • Option for extra eye exam and an extra pair of glasses every year for children under 13 • Low-vision and vision therapy services offered • Discounts on lens enhancements and laser vision correction • Prosthetic eye replacement on a lifetime maximum basis • Some out-of-network reimbursements available VSP (Vision Service Plan) Two plan options • In-network annual eye exam with $10 co-pay covers visit and lenses up to standard progressive. 20 to 25 percent savings on lens enhancements.

20 percent discount on second pair of glasses. Contacts in lieu of glasses are covered up to $150 • Average 15 percent discount on regular price laser vision services offered at VSP centers • Low-vision service benefits with preauthorization • Guaranteed pricing on retinal screenings

2020 PREMIUMS - NATIONWIDE VISION PLANS

KEY: Employees pay biweekly Annuitants pay monthly

PLAN NAME SELF ONLY SELF PLUS ONE

biweekly | monthly biweekly | monthly AETNA VISION Standard $3.18 | $6.89 $6.36 | $13.78 High $5.77| $12.50 $11.53 | $24.98

54

SELF AND FAMILY biweekly | monthly $9.55 | $20.69 $17.29 | $37.46

FEP BLUEVISION Standard High

$3.50 | $7.58 $5.49 | $11.90

$6.99 | $15.15 $10.79 | $23.77

$10.49| $22.73 $16.46| $35.66

UNITEDHEALTHCARE VISION PLAN Standard High

$3.28 | $7.11 $4.93 | $10.68

$6.38 | $13.82 $9.61 | $20.82

$9.50 | $20.58 $14.30 | $30.98

VSP (VISION SERVICE PLAN ) Standard High

$3.51 | $7.61 $6.65 | $14.41

$7.01 | $15.19 $13.32 | $28.86

$10.53 | $22.82 $19.99 | $43.31

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VICTORY LAP. Retirement is your time to call the shots. That’s why our Standard Option and High Option medical plans work hand in hand with Medicare A & B. With GEHA, you’ll have the coverage to live every day of your retirement on your terms.

• • • • • • • •

$600 Medicare Part B premium reimbursement for High Option members Most deductibles, copays and coinsurance are waived Access to more than 2.9 million provider locations Comprehensive coverage, including prescription drugs Choose in- or out-of-network providers $5 eye exams and discounts on glasses* $2,500 toward hearing aids every three years Coverage that travels with you, even overseas

Learn more at gehapossible.com or give us a call at 800.262.4342.

Do your possible. /gehahealth

/company/gehahealth

*GEHA supplemental benefits are neither offered nor guaranteed under contract with the FEHB program but are made available to all enrollees and family members who become members of GEHA. © 2019 Government Employees Health Association, Inc. All rights reserved. This is a brief description of the features of Government Employees Health Association, Inc. Before making a final decision, please read the GEHA federal brochure, 71-006 at geha.com/planbrochure. All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations and exclusions set forth in the federal brochure.

Open Season Report

2020 FEHB PRESCRIPTION DRUG GUIDE

I

n the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, prescriptions can be filled by health plans through the plan’s preferred retail pharmacies, nonpreferred retail pharmacies and the plan’s mail order service. The plans charge coinsurance and/ or co-payments for prescription drugs when they are purchased through any of these sources. Some plans provide prescription drug plan benefits even if the plan’s annual deductible is not met. Other plans may have a specific annual deductible that must be met before the plan begins to pay prescription drug benefits.

Health plans will substitute

available generic equivalent drugs for brand name drugs for prescriptions submitted to local pharmacies and mail order services unless the prescribing physician indicates that the patient is to receive only the brand name medication.

To keep prescription drug benefit costs down for the plans, some are reducing out-of-pocket costs for generic drugs and raising them for brand name drugs. This will make prescription drugs more costly for enrollees needing life-saving and life-extending medications, which are usually brand name specialty drugs. You also will see that some plans have capped the yearly

amount of out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs to keep enrollees who need the expensive brand name drugs—sometimes called specialty drugs—from possible financial hardship.

Enrollees covered by Medicare Part A and Part B may note that some plans waive their own deductibles, coinsurance and co-payments for hospital and medical services. These waivers do not apply to the prescription drug co-payments and/or coinsurance.

Some plans will charge lower coinsurance and co-payment rates for enrollees who are covered by Medicare Part A and Part B. In addition, there are some plans that

YOUR C O STS: PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS

56

PLAN

RETAIL PHARMACY / NETWORK

APWU - High

Generic: $10 Brand name: Preferred 25% / Nonpreferred: 45% Specialty drugs: Generic: 25% / Brand name: Preferred: 25% / Nonpreferred: 45%

Blue Cross Blue Shield - Standard

Generic: $10 Brand name: Preferred $55 ($50 with Medicare B); Nonpreferred 60% coinsurance, $75 minimum (50%, $60 minimum with Medicare B)

GEHA - Standard

Generic: Lesser of $10 or pharmacy’s usual and customary cost Brand name: Preferred: 25% for up to a maximum of $150 for a 30-day supply Nonpreferred: 40% for up to a maximum of $200 for a 30-day supply

GEHA Elevate Plus

Generic: Lesser of $5 or pharmacy’s usual and customary cost Brand name: Preferred: Lesser of $80 or pharmacy’s usual and customary cost / Nonpreferred: 40% of plan allowance

NALC - High

Generic: 20% of cost; 10% for hypertension, diabetes and asthma Brand name: Formulary: 30% of cost / nonformulary: 50% of cost (If enrolled in Medicare: NALC Senior Antibiotic generic: $0; generic: 10% of cost but 5% for hypertension, diabetes and asthma; formulary brand: 20% of cost)

SAMBA - Standard

Generic: $12 Brand name: Preferred: 35% of plan allowance with a $150 maximum / nonpreferred: 50% of plan allowance with a $600 maximum

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charge Medicare enrollees the same coinsurance and co-payments as non-Medicare-eligible enrollees in one option, while charging Medicare enrollees smaller coinsurance and/or co-payment amounts than non-Medicare enrollees in the plan’s other option.

Usually, patients will fill orders for short-term prescription drugs, such as antibiotics, at a local pharmacy. They will use mail order services for maintenance drugs, such as medications used to treat high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart disease, etc.

It is wise to compare the prices of medications at local pharmacies with the cost of obtaining the

medications through mail order services. Many times, the cost of filling a prescription at a local pharmacy is less than the copayment for using a mail order service. Some plans charge the full mail service co-payment even though the actual cost of the prescription drug is less than the co-payment; other plans charge only the cost of the prescription drug if the actual cost of the drug is less for the mail service pharmacy than the co-payment. In other words, do not expect the mail service pharmacy to charge less than the co-payment because the local pharmacy has the prescription drug at a lower price.

Some plans have limitations on the amount and frequency of dispensing prescription drugs.

Plan members should be aware of those limitations and also should be aware that more plans have prior-approval requirements before certain prescriptions can be filled.

The general rule for most plans is that refills can be obtained when 75 percent of the current supply is used up.

With some plans’ co-payments for brand name drugs increasing January 1, check your current prescription level to see if you can order a refill before the end of the year and avoid any increase.

—FEDERAL BENEFITS INSTITUTE

SELECTED PLANS RETAIL PHARMACY / NON-NETWORK

MAIL ORDER (90-DAY SUPPLY)

50% of cost

Generic: $20 Brand name: Preferred brand name: 25% / Nonpreferred brand name: 45% Specialty drugs: Generic: 25% / Brand name: Preferred: 25% / Nonpreferred: 45%

You pay all charges.

Limited to Medicare Part B Members Generic: $20 Brand name: Preferred: $100 per presc. / N onpreferred: $120 per presc.

Generic: Lesser of $10 or pharmacy’s usual and customary cost Brand name: Preferred: 25% for up to a maximum of $150 for a 30-day supply/ Nonpreferred: 40% for up to a maximum of $200 for a 30-day supply

Generic: Lesser of $20 or the cost of the drug Brand name: Preferred: 25% for up to a maximum of $350 for a 90-day supply/ Nonpreferred: 40% for up to a maximum of $500 for a 90-day supply

You pay all charges.

Generic: Lesser of $12 or the cost of the drug Brand name: Preferred: Lesser of $200 or the cost of the drug / Nonpreferred: 40% of plan allowance

50% of plan allowance

Generic: NALCSelect: $5 / NALC Preferred: $7.99 / generic: $15 Brand name: Formulary $90 / nonformulary $125 (For 60 day supply: generic: $10 / formulary brand: $60 / nonformulary brand: $84) Specialty drugs: $400 (60-day supply: $300; 30-day supply: $200)

Not specified in brochure

Generic: $20 Brand name: Preferred: 35% of plan allowance ($300 maximum) / nonpreferred: 50% of plan allowance

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Managing Money

TAX EFFICIENT WITHDRAWALS UNDER THE NEW TSP RULES

W

hile much has been said about the new Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) withdrawal rules (see Cloud Spurlock’s cover story in the October 2019

issue of NARFE Magazine), in particular the enhancements to partial withdrawals and installment payments, another significant improvement hasn’t received as much attention; it has to do with the proportional distribution rule when a TSP holds both traditional and Roth balances.

Under the old rules, all withdrawals came proportionately from the traditional and Roth balances.

For example, a $150,000 TSP, with $120,000 in the traditional and $30,000 in the Roth, would result in a withdrawal comprised of 80 percent from the traditional balance and 20 percent from the Roth one. The new rules allow participants to take a withdrawal entirely from the traditional balance, entirely from the Roth balance, or proportionately between the two. This new flexibility allows TSP participants to avoid a tax trap and creates new opportunities for tax efficient withdrawals.

The main appeal of a Roth account is tax-free growth and withdrawals; however, the old rules may have created a tax trap resulting in taxable Roth TSP withdrawals. Roth contributions are funded with after-tax dollars and may 58

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always be withdrawn tax-free.

Earnings, on the other hand, may only be withdrawn tax-free with a qualified withdrawal. For a withdrawal to be qualified, two factors must be satisfied: first, the TSP participant must be older than 59½; second, the Roth TSP account must be open for at least five years.

The IRS requires any Roth TSP withdrawal to come proportionately from contributions and earnings.

Thus, under the old rules, the proportional withdrawal rule would have forced a TSP participant with both traditional and Roth balances into a taxable Roth withdrawal if the participant didn’t meet the two-pronged test for qualified withdrawals.

Under the new rules, a TSP participant may simply avoid this tax trap by taking withdrawals from the traditional TSP balance until he or she can take a qualified withdrawal.

BY MARK A. KEEN,

CFP®

Alternatively, it may make sense for a participant to transfer some of his or her Roth TSP to a Roth IRA. Unlike a Roth TSP withdrawal, the IRS specifically states that a Roth IRA withdrawal comes from contributions first and earnings last. This makes it possible for a TSP participant to transfer some of the Roth TSP to a Roth IRA and take a tax-free, nonqualified withdrawal up to the amount of contributions in the account.

Taxes can have a dramatic impact on a retiree’s financial security. The new withdrawal rules allow TSP participants to coordinate their traditional and Roth balances for tax efficient withdrawals. For example, let’s assume that Ed, a married TSP participant with $75,000 in taxable income, plans on taking $10,000 from his TSP account.

In 2019, a married couple filing a joint return will pay 12 percent on taxable income between $19,400 and $78,950, and 22 percent on taxable income between $78,951 and $168,400. If Ed takes the $10,000 from the traditional balance only, the first $3,950 will be taxed at 12 percent, while the remaining $6,050 will be taxed at the 22 percent rate.

However, if Ed had money in both the traditional and

BENEFITS RESOURCES NARFE offers members a wide range of information on federal benefits. Visit www. narfe.org/federalbenefits and www.narfe.org/ FederalBenefitsInstitute.

Roth TSP, he could coordinate their balances to avoid the 22 percent tax rate. While the new TSP withdrawal rules don’t allow participants to split a withdrawal into specific amounts from the traditional and Roth balances, Ed could take two single withdrawals: one single withdrawal for $3,950 from the traditional balance, and then 30 days later, a second single withdrawal for $6,050 from the Roth balance.

Besides playing the tax brackets, TSP participants may use this new maneuverability to avoid stealth taxes, such as higher Medicare Part B premiums, which are

based on gross income (qualified Roth withdrawals don’t count as income). For example, Medicare Part B premiums start increasing when adjusted gross income exceeds $85,000 for single tax filers and $170,000 for joint filers.

Many TSP participants don’t realize a Roth TSP is subject to required minimum distributions (RMD) just like a traditional TSP. The new withdrawal rules allow participants to preserve the Roth balance by taking any RMD based on the Roth TSP balance from the traditional TSP balance. Of course, if a TSP participant doesn’t want an RMD to be based on the Roth balance at all, he or she may transfer the Roth TSP to a Roth IRA where there are no RMD requirements for owners.

The new withdrawal rules provide new opportunities.

Like many other aspects of finances, planning is key.

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.

2019 NARFE Fall Membership Drive

EARN CASH AND PRIZES Everybody wins!

SEPTEMBER 1-DECEMBER 31 EARN $10 FOR EVERY NEW MEMBER YOU RECRUIT Get complete details about the Fall Membership Drive at www.narfe.org/recruit.

Questions? Contact membership@narfe.org.

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59

Alzheimer’s Update

GRANTS AWARDED FOR ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH

E

ach year, the NARFE-Alzheimer’s National Committee determines which research projects will receive grants from the NARFE-Alzheimer’s

Research Fund.

NARFE has awarded a total of 81 research grants since the program began in 1985.

In 2019, NARFE members donated $399,006 to the fund.

At its September meeting, the committee awarded three new grants totaling $399,006. This year’s grants go to: Matthias Truttman, Ph.D., University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI), $149,996; funding over three years for research on “The Impact of Protein AMPylation on Gene Regulation in Alzheimer’s Disease.”

This study will look at whether proteins that help protect DNA are “read” properly when someone has Alzheimer’s disease. A person’s DNA is tightly packaged inside of cells, but specific proteins open up the portions of DNA containing genes, as needed. This is carefully controlled in part by attaching AMP, a small molecule, to the protein—a process known as AMPylation. The study will examine why many regulatory systems inside cells become less effective as a person ages. This could be true for AMPylations, which may place a person’s

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DNA at risk of improper use or damage.

Recent studies have found unusually high levels of enzymes that perform AMPylation inside of the brain cells of people who had Alzheimer’s. The addition of too much AMP could change how proteins are able to safeguard brain cell DNA. Dr. Truttman’s team will probe whether this is one way genes become dysregulated during Alzheimer’s disease, analyzing brain tissue samples from people who had Alzheimer’s. Using fluorescent chemical compounds attached to AMP, they will track how it interacts with proteins that protect DNA, and ultimately explore how the AMPylation of proteins alter functionality of the cell that helps “read” DNA. The result of this study could reveal the ways in which AMPylation is beneficial and how the process could be a potential target for therapy to ensure genes are properly turned on and off during Alzheimer’s disease.

Anna Majewska, Ph.D., University of Rochester, (Rochester, NY), $150,000; funding over three years for research on “Rejuvenating

BY OLIVIA A. WILLIAMS

NARFE-ALZHEIMER’S CHAIR

Microglia in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease.”

The study will focus on the impact replacing old immune cells in the brain with younger ones have on brain health and Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s is characterized in part by the accumulation of protein fragment beta-amyloid and an abnormal form of the tau protein. Microglia, specialized immune cells, removes those harmful proteins and other toxins. In brains affected by Alzheimer’s, however, microglia are abnormally activated, which may hinder them from properly clearing beta-amyloid and tau. Previous research suggests that microglia become weakened in the brains of those who have Alzheimer’s and lose their ability to carry out helpful activities.

Dr. Majewska and her colleagues will use genetically engineered mice with Alzheimer’s-like symptoms to test whether replacing older, weakened microglia with newly born microglia can improve the health and function of the mice’s brains. Brain scans and other methods will test how well the new microglia clear betaamyloid plaques and whether it will reduce the mice’s changes in cognition.

The study’s results could improve our understanding of how the immune system becomes damaged by Alzheimer’s disease

and shed light on novel therapeutic strategies for slowing or reversing the progression of Alzheimer’s.

Qi Zhang, Ph.D., Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton, FL), $99,010; partial funding over three years for “APP Modulates Presynaptic Membrane Cholesterol and Integrity.”

This study will examine whether a decrease in the cholesterol levels in nerve cells may disrupt nerve cell communication in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

One of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s is the accumulation of high levels of beta-amyloid fragments in the brain. Beta-amyloid is formed from its parent protein, amyloid precursor

protein (APP). Several previous studies focused on how APP is cut by enzymes inside the nerve cells to form beta-amyloid. However, the APP may have other functions inside the nerve cells.

Dr. Zhang and colleagues have added a fluorescent molecule to APP to visualize its movement and distribution within the nerve cells.

They have found that APP directly interacts with cholesterol—a key component of nerve cells. Disrupting this interaction appears to damage nerve cells by decreasing cholesterol levels in synapses that nerve cells use to communicate. Synapse integrity is vital to healthy brain function.

The researchers will investigate how the cholesterol levels in synapses

are impacted by variations in APP found in people with Alzheimer’s disease, and they will use medication and genetic tools to manipulate APP amounts in nerve cells growing in the lab. The team will then assess the cells to see if the manipulations change synapse cholesterol levels.

The study may shed some light on how a decrease in cholesterol levels in nerve cells could impact nerve cell communication and nerve cell damage in those with Alzheimer’s disease. The results may be able to provide new tools for future Alzheimer’s research.

OLIVIA A. WILLIAMS IS CHAIR OF THE NARFE-ALZHEIMER’S NATIONAL COMMITTEE. EMAIL: OEASHF3@GMAIL.COM. THIS COLUMN APPEARS QUARTERLY.

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2019_07_NARFE_Dec_HHoriz.indd 1

10/8/19 10:56 AM W W W. N A R F E . O R G 61

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2019

G FUND

F FUND

C FUND

S FUND

I FUND

OCTOBER

0.14%

0.28%

2.16%

1.93%

3.60%

SEPTEMBER

0.14%

-0.54%

1.87%

1.06%

2.87%

AUGUST

0.18%

2.60%

-1.59%

-4.19%

-1.77%

YTD

1.93%

8.82%

23.14%

19.83%

17.28%

1 YEAR

2.46%

11.50%

14.31%

9.07%

11.48%

3 YEAR*

2.51%

3.44%

14.89%

12.21%

8.89%

5 YEAR*

2.28%

3.47%

10.80%

8.24%

4.51%

10 YEAR*

2.25%

3.97%

13.73%

13.49%

5.87%

*ANNUALIZED

2019

L INCOME

L 2020

L 2030

L 2040

L 2050

OCTOBER

0.70%

0.79%

1.67%

1.95%

2.20%

SEPTEMBER

0.51%

0.63%

1.28%

1.50%

1.69%

-0.12%

-0.24%

-0.96%

-1.22%

-1.46%

YTD

6.06%

7.55%

13.47%

15.72%

17.61%

1 YEAR

5.21%

5.89%

9.28%

10.45%

11.36%

3 YEAR*

4.68%

6.36%

8.95%

10.05%

11.05%

AUGUST

5 YEAR*

3.76%

4.82%

6.40%

7.05%

7.59%

10 YEAR*

4.36%

7.00%

8.66%

9.61%

N/A

*ANNUALIZED

RETURNS are net of the effect of accrued administrative expenses and investment expenses/costs. Source: TSP (For additional monthly returns, go to www.tsp.gov.)

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.)

OPM RETIREMENT CLAIMS PROCESSING STATUS

Claims Received

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

2018

SEPTEMBER 7,142 17,628 64 59 OCTOBER 9,012 19,729 63 63 NOVEMBER 7,510 19,162 61 62 DECEMBER 5,782 18,019 60 61 JANUARY 13,264 23,121 58 60 FEBRUARY 10,792 23,370 58 57 MARCH 10,048 20,201 50 55 APRIL 6,993 17,802 56 55 MAY 7,877 17,228 62 56 JUNE 8,201 18,501 60 56 JULY 8,000 18,413 55 56 AUGUST 8.878 17,576 50 56 SEPTEMBER 7,456 17,376 57 56 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

2019

For the Record

TRADE NEGOTIATIONS AND FED CUTS BOOST MARKETS

THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN FUND RETURNS

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Healthy corporate earnings and reports of progress in trade negotiations generated optimism among equity investors. Although muted inflation and concerns about global growth prompted the Federal Reserve to cut its target interest rate for a third consecutive meeting, the accommodative move further boosted investors’ appetite for equities.

The C and S Funds both posted gains. The I Fund rose to an even greater extent thanks to a weaker U.S. dollar. Longer-term interest rates rose slightly, limiting the F Fund to a small gain. All of the L Funds posted gains.—BY MICHAEL JERUE, FINANCIAL ANALYST, THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN

1.6% COLA IN 2020

Next month’s cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) annuities, Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuities and Social Security benefits will be 1.6 percent The COLA was determined by comparing the change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from year to year, based on the average of the third-quarter of 2019, which was 250.199, compared to the average CPI-W for the third quarter of 2018, which was 246.352.

Benefits awarded under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) to individuals suffering workrelated injuries or illnesses are adjusted according to each calendar year’s percentage change in the CPI-W. September’s index, 250.251, is 2.23 percent higher than the December 2018 base index of 244.786.

The CPI represents purchases of food and beverages, housing, apparel, transportation, medical care, recreation, education and communication, and other goods and services. Included are various government fees, such as water charges, auto registration fees, and sales and excise taxes.

MONTH

CPI-W

Monthly % Change

% Change from 246.352 239.668

OCTOBER 2018 2017

240.573 247.038

-0.15 0.19

0.28 0.38

NOVEMBER

245.933 240.666

-0.45 0.04

-0.17 0.42

DECEMBER

244.786 240.526

-0.47 -0.06

-0.64 0.36

JANUARY 2019 2018

245.133 241.919

0.14 0.58

-0.49 0.94

FEBRUARY

246.218 242.988

0.44

-0.05 1.39

MARCH

247.768 243.463

0.63 0.20

0.57 1.58

APRIL

249.332 244.607

0.63 0.47

1.21 2.06

MAY

249.871 245.770

0.22 0.48

1.43 2.55

JUNE

249.747 246.196

-0.05 0.17

1.38 2.72

JULY

250.236 246.155

-0.02 0.20

1.58 2.71

AUGUST

250.112 246.336

-0.05 0.07

1.53 2.78

SEPTEMBER

250.251 246.565

0.06 0.09

1.58 2.88

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

$13,233,548.86*

*Total as of September 30, 2019 100 percent of all contributed funds go to Alzheimer’s research.

If you have any questions, write to: NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIR Olivia Williams 22 Garden Springs Road Columbia, SC 29209

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

q Mr. q Mrs. q Miss q Ms. Name:____________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________________ City:______________________________________________________ State:_____________________________________________________ ZIP:______________________________________________________

EMAIL: oeashf3@gmail.com

Chapter Number:___________________________________________

WRITE YOUR CHAPTER NUMBER ON CHECK; MAKE IT PAYABLE TO:

Credit Card Information:

q MasterCard

q VISA

AND MAIL TO:

q Discover

q AMEX

Alzheimer’s Association 225 N. Michigan Ave., 17th Floor Chicago, IL 60601-7633

Card Number:______________________________________________

NARFE-Alzheimer’s Research

YOUR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION IS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW.

Expiration Date:_____(mm)/____ (yy) 3-Digit Security Code:______ Signature:_______________________________ Date:___ /___ /____ Name: (please print)________________________________________

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

q YES!

I would like to help with my contribution.

The NARFE-FEEA Fund supports NARFE members during disasters; provides scholarships to their children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren; and funds other programs to support NARFE members at the direction of NARFE and FEEA. Enclosed is my NARFE-FEEA Fund Contribution: $______________

YOUR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION IS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW.

Name:____________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________________ City:______________________________________________________ State:_____________________________________________________ ZIP:______________________________________________________ Email:____________________________________________________ To make credit card or e-check contributions, visit www.feea.org/ givenarfe.

NARFE News

OPEN SEASON DEADLINE

NARFE SCHOLARS

N

ARFE is proud to announce the 2019 NARFE Scholarship winners and their NARFE sponsors.

Each chosen student receives a certificate and a $700 check towards the 2019-20 school year.

In 1987, the Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (FEEA) established a scholarship program for children and grandchildren of federal employees.

APPLY FOR THE 2020 NARFE-FEEA SCHOLARSHIPS The 2020 NARFE-FEEA Scholarship Program is open.

The deadline is Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at 3 p.m.

EDT. The competition is open to high school seniors only, and applicants must be children, grandchildren or great-grandchildren of NARFE members Ten winners will be chosen.

Each will receive a one-time award of $1,000.

To apply, visit www.feea.org/ our-programs/scholarships/

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Ten years later, NARFE joined FEEA’s board of directors and soon after that authorized creation of a scholarship program open to the children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren of NARFE members.

This program is funded by the NARFE-FEEA Fund, supported by NARFE members and administered by FEEA. For members who wish to support the scholarship program, donations to the NARFE-FEEA Fund can be

A reminder that the Open Season deadline to make any changes to your health coverage is Monday, December 9. Be sure to look over the Open Season information in the November and December issues of NARFE Magazine.

You can also visit OPM’s Open Season webpage at www.opm. gov/healthcare-insurance/ open-season.

made using the form on page 63.

This year, a total of $7,000 was awarded to the 10 high school seniors; they were chosen from 226 applicants. Winners are listed below by their region of residence.

NARFE thanks the members of NARFE’s 10 regions who served on the judging teams and to the staff of the Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund, which administers this program for NARFE.

2019 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS REGION I

REGION VI

REGION II

REGION VII

REGION III

REGION VIII

Johan Wichterle, New York, NY Middlebury College Sponsor: Paul Ort

Elizabeth Blake, Laytonsville, MD University of Maryland Sponsor: Trevor Blakei

David Cathey, Niceville, FL University of Florida Sponsor: Shirley Clark

REGION IV

Kathryn Klein, Dunlap, IL University of South Carolina Honors College Sponsor: Kimberly Klein

REGION V

Vera Petrovic Lawrence, KS Harvard College Sponsor: Zineta Petrovic

Jeremy Taitel Dallas, TX University of Texas at Austin Sponsor: Lee Taitel Claire Panella Fort Collins, CO University of Edinburgh Sponsor: Leonard Panella Kaylee Miki Honolulu, HI University of Hawaii Manoa Sponsor: Gregory Miki

REGION IX

Bailey Burger-Moore Redmond, WA Williams College Sponsor: Michelle Moore

REGION X

Ethan Eckardt The Villages, FL Northeastern University Sponsor: Geoffery King

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W W W. N A R F E . O R G

|

65

NARFE News

2019 REFERENDUM RESULTS AND 2020 BALLOT REMINDER

T

he 2019 NARFE Referendum results are in. All bylaws amendments passed.

Revised bylaws incorporating these amendments (Form FH‑4) are available on the website, replacing the 2018 edition, at www. narfe.org/pdf/fh-4.pdf. Please note that this version is not available in booklet format but is formatted to print easily on any printer.

Proposed Amendments of the NARFE Bylaws as amended June 30, 2018, sets forth who may propose bylaws and standing rule amendments and resolutions.

These must be submitted to National Headquarters either by email at resbylaws@narfe.org or U.S. mail addressed to National Secretary/Treasurer, NARFE, 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314.

Hardcopy submissions must be postmarked no later than January 1, 2020, and email submissions must be received by January 1, 2020. 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/2020Balloting or by contacting the National Secretary/Treasurer.

This also is an opportunity to remind members that candidate statements for the positions of national president, national secretary/treasurer and regional vice president are due by 5 p.m.

EST December 13, 2019.

Statements are limited to 400 words and should be carefully proofread before submitting.

All statements should be sent as

Microsoft Word attachments.

Photos should be high-resolution digital photos in JPG format.

Submit both photo and statement to communications@narfe.org.

Only emailed statements and photos will be accepted.

Candidates can also send their statements to the membership via NARFE’s email messaging system. Two messages may be sent between May 1 and August 31. Please indicate in the email transmitting the candidate statement whether you plan to opt in to this service, and we will contact you about scheduling.

A list of candidates will be available on www.narfe.org the week after statements are due.

Statements will be published in the March 2020 issue of NARFE Magazine.

NARFE Magazine Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation 1. Publication Title: NARFE 2. Publication Number: 4632-60 3. Filing Date: September 27, 2019 4. Issue Frequency: Monthly 5. Number of Issues Published Annually: 12 6. Annual Subscription Price: $40 7. Address of Known Office of Publication: National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, 606 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 8. General Business Office of the Publisher: National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, 606 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 9. Names and Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher: National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, 606 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 Editor: Helen Mosher, Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Membership, 606 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 Managing Editor: Mabel Yu, Senior Editor 10. Owner: National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, 606 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages or Other Securities: None 12. Tax Status: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months 13. Publication Title: NARFE 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: October 2019 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation:

Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months

No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date

A. Total Number of Copies (Net Press Run) 200,424 196,825 B. Paid Circulation 1. Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 190,296 186,544 2. Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 3. Paid Distribution Outside the Mails including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Ouside USPS 241 228 4. Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS 300 300 C. Total Paid Distribution 190,837 187,072 D. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution 1. Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies included on PS Form 35410 1,452 1,679 2. Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies included on PS Form 3541 3. Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS 7,635 7,574 4. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail E. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution 9,087 9,253 F. Total Distribution 199,924 196,325 G. Copies Not Distributed 500 500 H. TOTAL

200,424 196,825 I. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation 95.4% 95.3% 16. Publication of Statement of Ownership: December 2019 17. I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete.

Helen Mosher, Editorial Director/Sept. 27, 2019

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SAVE THE DATE! NARFE’S PREMIER NATIONAL CONFERENCE

August 30-September 1, 2020 Westin Kierland Resort and Spa | Scottsdale, AZ Get ready for a lively two and a half days of thought-provoking speakers, leadership training, intensive education on federal benefits and financial planning, and opportunities to connect with fellow NARFE members and federal colleagues.

Registration Opens February 1st.

ATTENDEE ROOM RATE: $115 More information coming soon on the NARFE website.

NARFE.org

NARFE News

NEW MEMBER BENEFITS INCLUDE SHOPNARFE AND HEALTH PLAN GUIDE

I

t’s time to show off your NARFE spirit and our sleek, updated brand. NARFE is excited to announce the official launch of ShopNARFE, our new online store.

You can find it at www.narfe.org/ shopnarfe.

ShopNARFE offers reasonably priced branded items such as clothing, drinkware, pins, badges and exhibit tablecloths. More items will be added each month as we continue to expand our offerings.

Members are encouraged to purchase these items through ShopNARFE rather than from

other vendors to maximize our buying power as an organization offering the best pricing.

Please send any suggestions for items you’d like to see in ShopNARFE to shopnarfe@narfe. org. We welcome your input.

NARFE also has a new Member Perks partnership with Consumers’ Checkbook.

Through surveys and evaluations of the quality and prices of local service providers and products, Consumers’ Checkbook offers information and reviews that help consumers make smart

choices. Its findings—published by the Center for the Study of Services, an independent, nonprofit consumer organization—are available online and in magazines in certain major metropolitan areas.

NARFE members will likely be particularly interested in Consumers’ Checkbook’s Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees, which helps active and retired federal employees select the best FEHB plan for their families.

Members can save 20 percent on the Guide to Health Plans by entering code 20NARFE at checkout.

Call 888-596-0729 or visit GuidetoHealthPlans.org for more information.

Give the GIFT of NARFE Membership Share NARFE this Holiday Season!

A gift of NARFE membership includes all the benefits afforded NARFE members.

FROM: Sponsor name ___________________________________________________________________________________ NARFE Membership ID number ________________________ TO: Name _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________ City_________________________________________________________ Phone ( _______) _________________________________ q Active Federal Employee

State _________________ ZIP _____________

Email _______________________________________________

q Active Federal Employee Spouse

q Annuitant

q Annuitant Spouse

q Survivor Annuitant

Would you like your gift to include a FREE one-year chapter membership? Choose one:

PAYMENT OPTIONS

q Chapter closest to recipient’s home OR

q Charge my: q MasterCard q VISA q Discover q American Express

q Chapter # _____________________

Card No. _____________________________________________

TOTAL GIFT MEMBERSHIP = $40

Expiration Date _____ /_________ mm yyyy Name on Card ________________________________________

MAIL THIS APPLICATION TO: NARFE / Member Services 606 N. Washington St. / Alexandria, VA 22314-1914

68

Apt./Unit ________________________

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q Check, Money Order or Bill Pay (Payable to NARFE)

Signature __________________________________ Date _______

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 monthly issues of NARFE Magazine with news and insights for the federal community.

• Visit the Member Perks page for a full listing of the many time-, money- and hassle-saving benefits available only to NARFE members.

• 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 $40.

q

q Mr. q Mrs. q Miss q Ms.

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: q MasterCard

______________________________________________

Full Name

______________________________________________

Street Address

______________________________________________ ______________________________________________

City

State

ZIP

______________________________________________

Phone

q Discover

q AMEX

___________________________________________ Card No. Expiration Date _____ /________ mm

Apt./Unit

q VISA

yyyy

___________________________________________ Name on Card ___________________________________________ Signature ___________________________________________ Date

TOTAL DUES

______________________________________________

$40 Annual Dues X ___________ = ___________ Per Person # Enrolling Total Dues

I am a (check all that apply)

Dues payments are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

Email

q Active Federal Employee q Annuitant

q Active Federal Employee Spouse

q Annuitant Spouse

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.

(08/19)

Member Perks Perks Member

SAVE MONEY WITH NARFE PERKS NARFE appreciates your service, and so do businesses across the country.

Whether you are planning your next vacation or planning for retirement, members can save money on everyday purchases, thanks to our Affinity Partners. It’s just one more way we’re able to say “thank you” for being a NARFE member.

R

ShopNARFE

PUT YOUR NARFE MEMBERSHIP TO WORK Money-saving discounts that benefit you.

For a complete list of Member Perks, visit www.NARFE.org/memberperks.

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INSURANCE: NARFE Insurance Services 1-800-233-5764 www.narfeinsurance.com

Plans administered by Mercer Health offering life, short term recovery, pet, travel, vision and hospital insurance policies.

Nationwide

1-855-550-9216

Discover how Nationwide’s suite of insurance solutions can help protect your financial future.

TRAVEL: Choice Hotels International 1-800-258-2847 www.choicehotels.com

Receive 20% off of your next stay when you use the special rate id 00801967.

Alamo 1-800-462-5266

www.alamo.com

Drive Happy with Alamo, where NARFE members receive year-round discounts using contract id 262544.

Avis 1-800-633-3469 www.avis.com

Avis has 5,500 locations worldwide.

Get discounted rate using the AWD number A701900.

MemberDeals 1-877-579-1201

www.memberdeals.com/narfe

Exclusive discounts on nationwide attractions and entertainment.

WELLNESS: Brookdale Senior Living 813-440-8415 www.brookdale.com

Discounts on memory care, independent and assisted living communities, and more throughout the U.S. Offer good on new move-ins only.

HearUSA

1-855-845-2706 www.hearusa.co/narfe

The Nation’s Most Trusted Name in Hearing Care. Choose from 250+ models from 11 manufacturers, including Bluetooth, Wireless, Nearly Invisible and more!

PERSONAL SERVICES: Allied Van Lines – Coleman Worldwide 800-239-4099, ext. 99445 nicole.wood@colemanallied.com Discounted moving services across the United States.

Office Depot/Office Max

1-855-337-6811, ext. 2897 www.officediscounts.org/narfe

Save up to 80% on more than 93,000 products. Shop online or in any Office Depot or Office Max Store.

Verizon Fios

Verizon Fios offers NARFE members that are new customers to Verizon Fios a discount on the double and triple play packages IF the new account is opened online using the link found at www.narfe.org/memberperks.

W W W. N A R F E . O R G

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The Way We Worked

CENSUS CARD PUNCHER In this photo from 1940, a Census Bureau card punch operator works on cards from the 1940 census. Card punchers were an integral part of the tabulation system used by the United States Census Bureau to compile the thousands of facts gathered during the decennial census.

Card unchers punched holes in the card according to a prearranged code transferring the facts from the census questionnaire into statistics. April 1, 2020, is the next Census Day. It will be the first time that the U.S. Census Bureau will collect responses online from any device in addition to by mail or phone.

PHOTO from the Records of Records of the Census Bureau, National Archives, courtesy of National Archives History Office , 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.

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DID YOU KNOW? Under President George Washington and the U.S. Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, the U.S. conducted the first census in 1790. It took 18 months to complete the census with enumerators (U.S. marshals and their assistants) using their own supplies, books and sheets, to record the information. The 1790 census recorded 3.9 million inhabitants and increased the U.S. House of Representatives from 65 to 105. The U.S. Census Bureau opened on July, 1, 1902 under the leadership of William Rush Merriam.

Visit www.census.gov

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