Whether that glow at the end of the tunnel is daylight, or an oncoming freight train, will be determined when the very different House and Senate plans go to conference where everybody will be looking at a stop-watch. What you are seeing now is almost certainly not what you will get.

While things are looking good now, that could change as the Senate and House, under major pressure from the White House, hurry to come up with something (critics would say anything) that can be signed into law this year.

The bill approved by the House "maintains the integrity of the FEHBP" according to the president of the National Treasury Employees Union. Colleen B. Kelley said the House plan rejected a Senate-proposed excise tax that would have increased costs to feds and retirees. Kelley said she's disappointed that the bill would limit to $2,500 the amount individuals can put into a Flexible Spending Account, but supports the overall bill.

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association is warning members to keep an eye on the various proposals. NARFE said the House plan would permit feds and retirees to keep their current FEHBP coverage. "However, any comprehensive plan that changes" the basics of the nation's health care structure "will have some ramifications on how FEHBP operates in the larger health system."

The fear that some groups representing feds have is that, regardless of what the House and Senate approve on their own, the danger (if any) to the FEHBP will come when a select group of Senate-House conferees go behind closed doors with one eye on the clock and the other on the calendar.

While it isn't expected to happen anytime soon by those who watch and wait on Congress for a living, anything that has previously been proposed, even if was rejected or dropped, can be brought up in conference. That could include proposals to force federal workers and retirees out of the FEHBP into a new system, or open up the federal health program to people who are currently uninsured.

The bottom line is that what you see in the bill approved by the House, and soon-to-be-cleared by the Senate, isn't what you will get. Compromises will have to be made to meet deadlines set down by the Senate and House leadership.

There is certainly no need to push the panic button. But, like the batteries in your smoke detector, make sure it is in working order.

To reach me: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com

Nearly Useless Factoid
by Suzanne Kubota

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Rep. Bob Filner: steps to improve government for veterans
A new Initiative underscores to federal agencies the importance of recruiting and training veterans, aims to increase the employment of veterans within the Executive Branch, and helps recently hired veterans adjust to service in a civilian capacity. Click here to read the full story..

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