Name:   Talullahhound - Subject:   P.S Date:   1/26/2017 4:49:06 PM

For the record, I will never be able to claim social security, as the only time in my life I worked under social security was duing my high school years and I have not paid in enough quarters to collect.  Also, I will not be entitled to some part of my husband's social security benefit if he passes away because I already collect a federal pension.  I will however, be covered under Medicare when I turn 65, because I have paid into it while working for the government. 

My health insurance premiums go up every year, just like everyone else's.  While I have no complaints about my health insurance, my deductible goes up every year (like everyone elses), the drugs they are willing to pay for gets smaller (it's a tiered system) and the percentage of tests they pay the full cost for goes down every year.  The only thing that has been stable are the copays - $25 for a regular doctor and $35 for a specialist.  It's not exactly the gold plated insurance that everyone seems to think it is.  One thing about the federal health insurance is that there are in excess of 30 different companies and plans to choose from including a couple of HMOs.  I have elected to have BC/BS becasue it is the most widely accepted, but I could have Atnea, or Kaiser or some others if i wanted to pay less for less covereage.  And even the BC/BS is offered at 2 levels - Standard and Basic, for two different costs.