Re: Opening up FEHB

As a retiree, you won't mind the extra taxes the Government takes from you in order to share out the FEHB program to all those uninsured and unable to pay taxpayers.

Re: Opening up FEHB

No, I won't. I'm one of those who, while employed briefly in private sector, was unable to get health coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition. So I recognize, and really appreciate, how fortunate I was to have worked for the federal government and to have been covered by an excellent benefits package. And I was also brought up to believe that those who do reap benefits have an obligation to share them with those less fortunate.

Re: Opening up FEHB

There are any number of employers in this country who provide some form of health insurance to their employees, but not to the public-at-large. It is in no way selfish for the Federal Government, in the role of employer, to follow this standard.

Re: Opening up FEHB

Nothing prevents you--HR Retired--from finding someone that's less "fortunate' than you and giving them money for their health care needs!!!!!! Why don't you do it??

Why do you insist that others should pay?

Last time I checked, we all "earned" our benefits and pay.

If HilLIARy takes it from us earners, and GIVES IT to those that aren't earners, then we should all stop working and await the federal largess.

(Hill and Bill banked a cool $110M the last 8 years) Easy for her to be generous with others earned benefits!!

Many might think you don't "need" to waste money on the type of housing you have. It's TOO much! Or perhaps the type of hobbies you spend money on. Perhaps THEY need to make decisions for you.

Re: Opening up FEHB

They do, it's called Welfare, so now you think we should pay twice?

Re: FEHB For Everybody

Congress DOES get free health care! And they get paid a LOT more than I ever will! Put them on FEHB and make them pay a share like all the rest of us do. It's only "fair" don't you think?!

Re: Opening FEHB

How come all these Senators running for President have plans that will save the world and they do not introduce them as bills into the Congress? Because they are nothing more than a ploy to win votes. All the former candidates on both sides, where are these wonderful plans now? Awaiting their next campaign so they can say " I HAVE A PLAN!!!!"

Re: Opening FEHB

Other countries off extended health care. Guess what, you might have the health care but you can't get an appointment, even for urgent surgery...you get on a waiting list for years from now. FEHB is OUR benefit that is part of our compensation package for serving our country, even if not in uniform. Model a SEPARATE health care plan but DO NOT open up ours. This isn't selfish; it's reality. I'm sick and tired of working two and three jobs in my lifetime to get me where I am today and then watching everyone constantly having their hand out. Not only do they have their hand out, they want more and more and more and think it's due them. If they extend this plan, it will be on the backs of those who have an earned income. NO VOTE FOR CLINTON HERE...

Re: Opening FEHB

To ATSS and DON Analyst: Plans have been introduced but nothing has been done because too many of us are out to only protect our own interests. Senator Clinton whether one likes her and her husband or not, has been among those leading the effort to get health coverage to those who don’t have it. We, as Federal employees or retirees, are very lucky to have good health coverage plans and should be able to support using them, at the very least, as a model on how to provide such care to others. If you don’t know how lucky we are, just volunteer at one of the free community health clinics where people without health coverage line up sometimes days ahead of time just to see a doctor, dentist or nurse. It is sad to see so many people, many of them children with working parents, at these clinics. As for the health plans of other countries, no one is advocating adopting them if they don’t provide what our citizens need – all we need are the parts that have proven to work.

Re: Adding People to FEHB

What a shame that you see the world and its people through such demeaning eyes. I sure hope you are not in a position that influences how your agency provides its services. Your ill advised and derogatory stereotypical comments do not contribute to solving the problem of having millions of workers without health coverage. Your comments do, however, give us a clear idea of how you view persons who do not share your race, ethnicity or gender and how unhappy you must be. Many people using emergency rooms do so because they can not go to a doctor’s office since they do not have insurance and this is the only way they can get health care. If anything this is an example of why we need a better health coverage system. The majority of these individuals, and you can check this out with your local hospitals, do not cheat the system. And, as for the Mexican janitor, at least he is working while on the clock and not submitting comments to this column. He is an example for you to follow.

Re: Adding People to FEHB

HR Manager Retired, I'm not sure why you're so angry at me, since we seem to be in agreement that a lot of people have nowhere to go but the emergency room, and that this is a deplorable, and expensive, situation that should be corrected.

An urban hospital will be lucky if it breaks even. Don't take my word for it, go do some research. That's what I did. Also, ask people you know who work in the medical field.

I wrote my statement on my lunch period, as I am doing now. Please stand corrected.

Re: Adding People to FEHB

HR Manager (Ret.) is doing what I have noticed a fair number of people on this site doing - read part of something, fail to read carefully, and fly off the handle. He may have been offended by your remarks about the "Mexican pushing the broom" and the lady cleaning the motel room. However, these are not stereotypes - this is how things are. Women and minorities are far more likely to be in low-wage, benefitless jobs. (Increasingly, those who could have expected to have a "better" job are finding themselves in the same boat; some of the people reading this will probably be there before it's over.)

I liked your comment about the Japanese system, where insurance companies are required to be non-profit. A major problem with proposals to require that everyone buy health insurance in this country is that there appears to be no proposal for control of rates. Can't you see the eeg-zec-u-teevs drooling over that?!