Your union health plan keeps sights set high for 2010

As NALC members examine the cost of enrolling in a good health

benefit plan for 2010, one thing will quickly become clear.

Recession or not, medical costs are still skyrocketing—and

everyone is feeling the pain. In fact, when the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced the rates for 2010 for Federal Employees Health Benefit programs, it said the average premium increase was 8.8 percent.

The NALC Health Benefit Plan, your union-owned and union-operated

plan, is no exception. Its rates are going up, too. But it is important for active and retired letter carriers to maintain their perspective as they and other postal and federal employees consider their choices during this year’s Open Season, November 9 through December 14.

Fortunately, the NALC Health Benefit Plan—guided by your elected

union officers—was able to keep the increase to a minimum while offsetting much of the cost with enhanced benefits. Check the special sixpage insert in this issue of The Postal Record and the official brochure to get all the details.

“Everyone knows what’s happening to medical costs in this country,

and we are no more immune to it than any other program,” said NALC President Fredric V. Rolando. “What we can do, and did do for 2010, is make valuable changes in the benefits to give our enrollees the best plan possible.”

Health Benefit Plan Director Timothy O’Malley said, “NALC

offers great competitive premiums along with quality benefits and

outstanding customer service to letter carriers.” And he proudly

noted the NALC plan is not only union-owned, its employees are

union members, too.

So, by all means, take some time and compare the benefits and the costs of the various plans, including the NALC HBP—the not-for-profit union plan created 60 years ago specifically for letter carriers and their families.