Insurance (in the US)

[Guest guest]

One mega, huge advantage to working for the federal government (because they

don't have to balance the books!) is health insurance (a menu of options to

choose from just like our senators) and life insurance. I was covered by my

dad's teacher union Blue Cross until the year before I graduated from

college, my senior year I was too old but we were able to pay for my own policy

through Blue Cross because we never had a gap, as others have said, that's the

most important thing. As horrible as the BC/BS paperwork is, I stick with them

because I like the freedom and out of sheer laziness and safety ... like

sticking with AOL and Verizon ...

A couple years ago the Feds had an open season for upping one's life

insurance coverage, and I jumped at the maximum allowed. They very brilliantly

had

it go into effect one year after one signed up for it to keep people with

illnesses from " cheating " , but the year is up so Jani and his guardian are all

set (shh don't tell them.) The payout is 5 times my annual salary! This was

a coup not just because of my dwarfism but also I had cancer 14 years ago

with local recurrence 5 years ago. So I am so relieved.

The federal retirement plan for people hired 1984 and after is not as

wonderful as the old civil service plan, but still, it won't be messed with,

unlike

what company executives can do these days. This isn't to crow, but if you

are looking for employment, there's advantages to working in the federal

sector, not to mention a historic openness to hiring people with disabilities.

[Guest guest]

Hi Ruth,

In New Jersey, the age of dependency for health insurance purposes has just been

increased to 30 years-old.