Are the new FEHBP rates onerous?

Well, OPM has posted the new Federal Employees Health Benefits Program premium rates—and reaction is mixed.

Federal employee unions are saying they are disappointed in the rate hikes, but take comfort (cold as it may be) in the fact that the average premium increase is not as bad as last year, and that plans now will cover adult dependent children to age 26.

Fixed-income retirees may be the most affected, and can find little to like about program changes in the coming year (unless they have an under-26 dependent still living in the basement).

Of course, you get what you pay for, and in today’s job market, where employees are made to shoulder more (as in a greater percentage) of the cost of their benefits, some would say things could be worse.

But we put it to you: Are this year’s premium increases unreasonable?