Happy New Year

The FEHBlog wishes all of its readers a happy and prosperous 2011. There are several Affordable Care Act related changes to the Program that take effect this year -- in particular the extension of dependent child coverage from age 22 to age 26 and expanded coverage of in-network preventive care services with no enrollee cost sharing. What's more, OPM has implemented an enhanced anti-smoking program for FEHB Program enrollees and dependents.

In subsequent years (2012-2013 time frame), health plans, including FEHB plans, must begin to use a standard benefits summary of four or five pages and a standard glossary of health insurance terms. Last week, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners sent the Health and Human Services Secretary model documents for the Affordable Care Act regulators's consideration according to Kaiser Health News. These documents will supplement the existing FEHB plan brochures which were put into plain language about ten years ago. The next step likely will be a proposed rule from HHS implementing the requirement.

The Federal Times reports that the Office of Management and Budget will be delaying release of the Administration's FY 2012 budget proposal until mid-February 2011 -- a delay of about a week.