As an exclusive benefit to NTEU dues-paying members, members will again have access to Consumers’ Checkbook’s online Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees and Annuitants, beginning the first day of the federal open season, November 12, 2018.

The guide will be available through NTEU’s web site starting November 12, www.nteu.org, in the Benefit section throughout Open Season (November 12, 2018 – December 10, 2018). The guide will not be available before November 12. Please click on the Consumer’s Checkbook icon.

It will remain available throughout 2019 for NTEU members who are new hires or are current enrollees with a qualifying life event change. The online guide was developed by Consumers’ Checkbook, a nonprofit organization that has published an annual paperback version of its guide for more than 30 years.

This online guide is an innovative way to obtain reliable, useful information about the many health plans available under the FEHB and make fast, easy, personalized plan comparisons. It compares and ranks plans based on total costs including account premiums and estimated out-of-pocket costs (e.g., deductibles, co-payments, and prescription drugs); and on the yearly maximum that an enrollee could possibly have to pay out-of-pocket. It also offers comparisons of the FEDVIP dental and vision plans available to federal employees. The site has been praised for its ease of use. Members will be able to compare plan costs, review quality ratings, consider plan features, and gauge plan flexibility on issues like choice of doctors and other factors.

Any member who does not know her/his member number should contact Amer Al-Mudallal, Chapter 280's membership chair, at info@nteu280.org. Amer can look up the number for you.