August 5th, 2009

Writes Josh Drobnyk, of the Morning Call, answering a reader’s letter:

Q: I keep hearing federal lawmakers enjoy ”Cadillac” policies. What kind of health benefits are available to members of Congress?

A: A variety, to say the least.

All members of Congress are eligible for benefits under the Federal Health Benefit Program, administered by the Office of Personnel Management.

The program is available to all federal employees, retirees and dependents, from the heavy hitters in the Senate to the average government workers. President Obama can opt in.

More than 8 million people are covered under the program — at an annual cost of $15 billion to taxpayers.

The options are wide-ranging — and considered generous by private employer standards.

Someone living in Pennsylvania, for example, could choose from more than two dozen different health maintenance organization plans or fee-for-service options.

Premiums varying widely in price. What’s consistent is that the government picks up — on average — about 72 percent of the tab.

Among the choices for Pennsylvania lawmakers: Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield, GEHA, Geisinger, Keystone Health Plan and SAMBA.

A family opting for a Blue Cross and Blue Shield fee-for-service option — the most popular plan — would pay about $357 a month, with the government paying $764.

What does that get you?

If you’re going to the doctor for a check-up, it means you fork out $20.

If you buy a generic prescription drug, you are hit up for 20 percent of the total cost, with no annual deductible.

If you require outpatient surgery, you pay 15 percent.

”For the average worker, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan would probably look quite attractive,” said Pete Sepp, a spokesman for the National Taxpayers Union, recently told the Los Angeles Times.

It’s easy to see why.

More than eight in 10 companies, the Times noted, offer their employees just one type of health insurance plan.