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Dear AFGE Activist,

Federal employee health insurance premiums will increase an average of 8.8% in 2010, according to the Office of Personnel Management. And that means more money out of your pocket. In January, a federal worker with individual coverage should expect to pay on average an additional $5.98 a pay period for health insurance, and employees with family coverage should expect to pay an additional $12.87 per pay period.

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Even worse, the report by OPM found that federal employees covered by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Standard Option – which covers 60% of the enrollees in FEHBP – will see an increase of 15% for self coverage and 12% for family coverage. That means starting in January of 2010, employees with self coverage will pay $10.62 more a pay period, or $20.48 more per paycheck under the family coverage plan.

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The health of our family budgets is suffering due to the rising costs of health care. And this is why we need real health care reform now. While Congress is currently debating health care reform, please take a few moments to contact your lawmakers and ask them to support health care reform so federal workers, working families, and our economy no longer suffer the ills of a broken health care system.

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We must call on Congress to ensure that any health care reform package that is passed includes:

• A quality Medicare-style public health insurance option that will keep private companies honest;
• A requirement for employers to pay their fair share;
• Strong regulations that prevent insurance companies from denying coverage or refusing to pay for care; and,
• Effective measures to bring down costs for everyone, including federal employees and retirees in FEHBP.

Please take a few moments of your time and send your lawmakers a fax today. Ask them to put an end to the skyrocketing costs of FEHBP and pass real health care reforms.

Please click here to send a fax to your lawmakers

In solidarity,

John Gage
National President
American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO

Subject: FEHBP Costs Skyrocket. Healthcare Reform can't Wait.

Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],

As a federal employee and a proud member of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, I'm shocked and gravely concerned about the announcement yesterday that FEHPB premiums will increase an average of 8.8% in 2010. This is one more sign that America's health care system is broken.

Even worse, the report by OPM found that federal employees covered by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Standard Option - which covers 60% of the enrollees in FEHBP - will see an increase of 15% for self coverage and 12% for family coverage. That means starting in January of 2010, employees with self coverage will pay $10.62 more a pay period, or $20.48 more per paycheck under the family coverage plan

This can't go on. I urge you to support a comprehensive health insurance plan that includes:
-A quality Medicare-style public health insurance option that will keep private companies honest;
-A requirement for employers to pay their fair share;
-Strong regulations that prevent insurance companies from denying coverage or refusing to pay for care; and,
-Effective measures to bring down costs for everyone, including federal employees and retirees in FEHBP.

I look forward to hearing where you stand on this important issue.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]