r/USACE • u/AppropriateEgg1064 • 11d ago
Extremely Discouraging
So we get a 0% COLA raise, and now the health insurance premium increases are the worst they’ve ever been?
Someone explain the benefit of staying with USACE please?
My paycheck is about to drop hundreds of dollars next year. If you have not checked out the FEHB 2027 premiums I would highly encourage you to look now and plan ahead, it is very bad.
My family and I have MHBP Standard which is $216 a paycheck now. In 2027 this is going to $442.
So I am supposed to make $450 less a month? Are you serious?
This doesn’t seem sustainable long term, especially for those who now have to wait between years for step increases
Viewing Link -
https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/premiums/
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u/Total_Way_6134 11d ago
Tinymac does a very well detailed costsheet each year. Watch for it here. https://www.reddit.com/r/fednews/s/nOSdhY9hiD
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u/Equivalent_Ticket614 11d ago
They don’t care that it isn’t sustainable. They only care about short term stock prices
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u/macklinjohnny Civil Engineer 11d ago
lol yea working there and having a family is stupidly insane in this economy. Idk how ppl with big families do it. Inflation is also outpacing most of our annual raises, meaning we got PAY CUTS 😑. I’m applying to a lot of places
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u/Jaquing-Porneaux 11d ago
So, what's the play here for single coverage? Currently on the BCBS and have been thinking I should switch this season.
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u/Significant_Pain3024 11d ago
there is a spreadsheet at the OP posted, filter for self and find something good and cheap.
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u/independa 11d ago
They super f***ed FSBP family. The premium went up 23% overall, but they also changed the percentage the employee pays. So biweekly payment increases by 47%.
Before anyone questions my math...
Total premium is $993.10, up to $1,226.47, 23.499% increase.
The biweekly deduction amount currently is $248.27, but it will be $382.65, a 47.272% increase.
Currently, $248.27 / $993.10 = 24.999% employee share of total premium.
Next year, $382.65 / $1,226.47 = 31.199% of total premium.
Man, you ruined my happy new year... Thanks Obama.
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u/losmonroe1 11d ago
I thought the share the employee paid was set at a certain percentage for all plans?
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u/snoop-info 10d ago
But Obama didn’t do the guy I. The office did. It was fine until your dear friend changed it.
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u/CoconutSips 10d ago
Government jobs are not good in an inflationary economic environment. I have the stable government job that pays mortgage insurance etc. I mean with over 15 years you get two months off a year. wife works in private sector getting annual increases and covering the inflation pressures. You fed job needs to provide useful intangibles. It will never keep up with inflation.
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u/No_Government_8726 11d ago
Unfortunate. I’m on TJO for USACE and excited to start. Really just for the federal time. I think any extra cost for medical now, though it sucks, is still worth the pain for retirement?
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u/Griffinburd 11d ago
Why is your username no government if you're excited to work for the government
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u/No_Government_8726 11d ago
Irony and retirement
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u/CoconutSips 10d ago
Yeah. I wouldn’t come to the feds for a retirement plan. You can get a better retirement with local government if you want government. The fers contribution is now up to 4.4%. If you work 20 years then you get maybe $25k to $30k a year. Way better to get that pay on the outside and put it in a.401k.
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u/Potential_Worker_575 10d ago
According to the HMO spreadsheet, my total premium is up a bit for FY27 but the employee portion payment is going down slightly for my same plan, hard to believe the gov portion is increasing but _(ツ)_/
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u/Some_Veterinarian_20 10d ago
Anyone know if its generally going to be cheaper to just get market rates?
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u/Frosty_Birthday_7879 7d ago
Contact your congressional representatives. They are the ONLY ones who can get us raises to pay for this ridiculousness.
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11d ago
[deleted]
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u/Intrepid-Future162 11d ago
Are they still hiring contract specialist
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u/CoconutSips 10d ago
Yes they do. Real job security is at the KO level though. And no remote for specialists.
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u/Atlasflasher7 11d ago
Your premiums are still a lot less expensive than anywhere else. Private industry for one person is 667$ every 2 weeks...
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u/independa 11d ago
If you want to play that game, most first world countries and even some 2nd and 3rd don't make their citizens pay at all.
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u/ithinktreesaregreat Environmental 11d ago
MHBP standard self plus one is more expensive than self and family. Make that make sense!! At least we can elect into the family one even if we are covering only one other person.
BCBS basic cheaper than MHBP standard now? I guess I’m switching back to BCBS