Name:   Talullahhound - Subject:   Healthcare question Date:   10/7/2016 5:16:24 PM

It is not an over the top giveaway.  The only real benefit I get is to stay in the group after I retired, but I have to pay the full cost of my health insurance, i.e., it is not subsidized by the government.  The premiums stay low, because the population of the group is so large.  to realize any savings, I have to stay with the network drs., the network hospitals. And some procedures they pay a very low amount so my copayment is really high.  And the will not pay for bloodwork.  Whenever I have to get a blood test, I will get a bill for $150 and that is just the basic screen. I'm waiting to see now if they will pay for Braca genome testing.

I know a lot gets written about it, but most of what you read is not correct.  And for years, this is the same insurance that Congress had. The only additional benefit they got was access to military hospitals (particularly Bethesda) and they had a free clinic in the Capitol.  the insurance is not free at all.