National Active and Retired Federal
Employee Association
113th Congress
2013 - 2014
NARFE’s Mission
• To support legislation beneficial to current and
potential federal annuitants and to oppose
legislation contrary to their interests.
• To promote the general welfare of current and
potential federal annuitants by advising them
with respect to their rights under retirement
laws and regulations.
• To cooperate with other organizations and
associations in furtherance of these general
objectives.
Coalitions
• The Federal-Postal Coalition
• The Coalition to Assure Retirement Equity
(CARE)
• The Leadership Council of Aging
Organizations (LCAO)
• The Military Coalition
• The Coalition for Effective Change (CEC)
• The Public Employees Roundtable
What Services NARFE Provides
• Legislative Advocacy
– Experienced legislative staff
– Expert analysis and testimony on proposed
legislation
• Retirement Benefits Counseling
– Lifetime benefit counseling
– Works with OPM daily resolving benefit
problems for members
113th Congress
Legislative Program Outline
• 113th Congress Priorities
• Three Major Categories
– Preserving Existing Benefits
– Enhancing Existing Benefits
– Additional Key Positions
113th Congress
Legislative Priorities
• Defend the earned pay, benefits and
deferred compensation of federal civilian
employees and retirees.
• Protect federal and postal retirees’
existing retirement and health benefits
from reduction and/or erosion.
– Examples: FERS Income & FEHPB
Protecting Current Benefits
Examples: FERS Income and FEHBP
• Current Federal/Postal FERS Enrollees
– Numerous bills introduced to increase
contributions, reduce annuity or totally
eliminate.
– FERS defined-benefit annuity (1.1%)
constitutes largest portion of FERS retirement
income
• Potential impact of converting FEHBP to a
voucher payment plan.
% of FERS Income by Source
Current FERS employee retiring at age 62 after 30 years service .
A TSP monthly annuity with only 1% agency automatic contribution.
TSP
% of FERS Income by Source
Current FERS employee retiring at age 62 after 30 years service .
A TSP monthly annuity with only 1% agency automatic contribution.
TSP
% of FERS Income by Source
Current FERS employee retiring at age 62 after 30 years service.
A TSP monthly annuity with only 1% agency automatic contribution.
FERS Annuity
(1.1%)
NARFE is working to protect all three FERS
income sources.
Hypothetical FEHBP Voucher Example
Blue Cross-Blue Shield Family Plan
BC/BS
Total Cost
Government
Employee
2009
$13,446
$9,167
$4,279
2012 (Voucher)
$15,934
$9,167
$6,767
2012 (FEHBP)
$15,934
$10,774
$5,160
Added Cost
+ $1,607*
* + $1,607/Year = NARFE Dues for 40 Years
113th Congress
Legislative Priorities (cont’d)
– Protect current and future federal civilian
employees’ pay, and the retirement and
health benefits of current and future federal
and postal employees.
– Protect the viability, stability and standard
of service of established government
functions.
113th Congress
Legislative Program Outline
• 113th Congress Priorities
• Three Major Categories
– Preserving Existing Benefits
– Enhancing Existing Benefits
– Additional Key Positions
13
Preserve Existing Benefits:
Postal Service Reform
• NARFE supports legislation to maintain six
delivery days per week
• NARFE will join with other federal organizations
to seek legislation to keep small Post Offices
open through the United States
• NARFE supports legislation to relieve USPS of its
burdensome requirement to prefund over 10
years its future retiree health care obligations
that are estimated to accrue over the next 75
years.
Preserve Existing Benefits:
Economic and Health Security Examples
• Economic Security
– NARFE supports full implementation of
federal pay parity
– Will advocate legislation to remove the
increase in pension contributions of new
federal employees enacted in February 2012.
– Shall continue efforts in strong support of
COLAs on a regular annul schedule, computed
on the same basis and paid at the same time.
Preserve Existing Benefits:
Economic and Health Security Examples
• Health Security
– NARFE opposes reductions in the government
contributions toward FEHBP premiums.
– Opposes unjustified cost increases, including
those caused by shifting cost to enrollees or
where insurers raise rates without legitimate
rationale.
– Will oppose indexing flat payment by the US
Government for FEHBP.
Why You Should Join NARFE
• World’s cheapest insurance…$40/yr
– Protect 60% of your FERS Income
– Control FEHBP costs
• Your own personal HR benefits counselor
– Help avoid retirement mistakes
– Available for spouse and family
Join Today!
National Active and Retired Federal
Employees Association
Presentation Notes
• Please make any changes to the charts to suit your
situation.
• These charts incorporate the examples used at the
national convention.
• This presentation was developed for use by the
Ohio Federation and has not been vetted by the
national headquarters.
Edward J Konys
Past President Ohio
Federation
ejk0610@woh.rr.com