In a world of “have’s” and “have not”s, there is always a certain jealously and rivalry among those who don’t have against those who do have. There is also a certain fear on the part of the “have’s” that the “have not”s want to take it away from them. These scenarios are symptomatic of human behavior, and thus at least understandable.
But how does one justify a group of “have’s” who enjoy a government-provided, government subsidized, common sense, multiple choice, quality health care program, but refuse to support making it available to the “have not”s?
As blatantly selfish as that seems, it is exactly what every republican senator and representative in congress is doing. They will unanimously vote against the democrats’ revised health care reform bills, despite the fact that every GOP member of congress and their families enjoy essentially the same health benefits they will vote against for everyone else. These health benefits are embodied in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program (FEHB). In fact, this plan is available to every single active and retired US Government federal employee and his/her dependents.
FEHB is a conglomeration of private health insurance plans which are negotiated yearly between the US Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the many participating insurance companies. The program is administered and regulated by the federal government. OPM sets minimum standards for the insurance companies to comply with. This is no different from the minimum regulation proposed in the revised health care reform bills which are universally opposed by the Congressional republicans.
In addition to national health plans, certain regional and/or statewide-only plans are also available to the feds under FEHB. This is similar to the health insurance exchanges proposed in president Obama’s revised health care reform bill which is universally opposed by the GOP.
The US government pays approximately two-thirds of each premium under FEHB, and the employee or retiree pays the other third. This is akin to premium subsidization proposed in the revised bill, which, to remind everyone, is universally opposed by the GOP.
FEHB does not permit insurance companies to refuse coverage for pre-existing conditions, nor does it allow cancellation of policies if someone gets sick. Sick people do not pay more than well people. These features are also included in president Obama’s revised health care reform bill, which, again, is universally opposed by the GOP.
Prescription coverage in FEHB is not subject to the “doughnut hole” of coverage suspension that seniors on other plans are required to pay out-of-pocket after reaching a certain amount per year. This feature is also included in the proposed health care reform bill, which, as you know totally understand, is universally opposed by the GOP.
While FEHB is not perfect, it does allow folks to change plans yearly during a month-long “open season”. That means that if you like your plan, do nothing and you are automatically continued in your present plan into the following year. But if you want to change to a different insurance company, you may do so anytime during open season, and every year if desired. Your new health insurance company then takes over your coverage effective the beginning of the new year. Certainly, you know that this feature is also proposed in president Obama’s revised health care reform bill, which is universally opposed by the GOP.
The GOP congressfolk oppose providing these benefits, which they and their families enjoy and take for granted, to all Americans. Yet, not one of them is declining FEHB coverage for themselves or their families; not while they’re active legislators, and not after they retire.
Thus, the democrats have no choice but to attempt to bypass the GOP and get as much of their health care reform plan passed through reconciliation. The GOP is ranting over this prospect, but history shows them to be the majority users of the reconciliation process since its inception in 1974. It becomes more and more apparent that the GOP’s practice of “do as I say, not as I do” is still going strong.
Yet, there now seems to be a new rule involved in the GOP playbook. That rule is that it’s okay for them to have a health benefit, but the rest of us are on our own. Despite the FEHB benefits they enjoy, the GOP still insists that the democrats must scrap their already-passed plan and start over with the GOP.
Well…if the GOP is really serious about that, they can convince everyone (even We, the PEOPLE!!) of it by proposing the following:
Either all Americans will henceforth be covered by FEHB, the same health benefit program that every past, present and future GOP member of both houses of congress (and their families) take for granted, or FEHB coverage for all past,present, and future members of congress will end immediately.
Tag, you’re it, GOP….put your money where your mouth is.


