FEDweek Issue: Wednesday, November 3, 2004 FEDweek is the largest information resource in the federal government with now over one million weekly readers. To Subscribe, Go to http://www.fedweek.com/subscribepopup.htm *********************************************************** Valued Added Service to Our Readers:
Federal Job Search http://www.fedweek.com/Jobs/default.asp Job Bulletin Board: Post Your Federal or Private Sector Job. Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unlimited Internet Access for as low as $10.90 http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294971902/821888/148/0/ Travel Discounts From FEDweek Traveling for the holidays? Check out our low cost travel rates At http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294971902/821888/339/0/ 3.9 cents per minute!--Plus 10000 FREE Minutes Long Distance Minutes http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294971902/821888/37/0/ ************************************************************* 1. FEHB Open Season Starting 2. More Choice for Next Year 3. Closer Look at HSAs, HRAs http://www.fedweek.com/HotFreeNews/default.asp 4. Underserved States Changing 5. Computer Networks Now Offers Unlimited Monthly Internet http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294971902/821888/148/0/ 6. Premium Conversion Reminder 7. Brand New Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide 8. FSA Open Season Starting, Too 9. FSA Re-Enrollment Required 10. Expert Views: How High is Your High-3? http://fedweek.com/experts 11. Some Agencies Get Interim Certification 12. Still Time for TSP Catch-Ups 13. Timetable for NSPS Set 14. The Complete Guide to Writing a Federal Resume Just Published--http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294971902/821888/338/0/ *********************************************************** 1. FEHB Open Season Starting Starting next Monday (November 8) and running through December 13 is the annual "open season" for changing coverage in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program--and for first enrolling, for those eligible persons not already enrolled. Average premiums are going up by 7.9 percent in 2005, although within that average there is substantial variation--some plans are seeing their premiums go up by substantially more, while others have held the line or even decreased their premiums slightly. 2. More Choice for Next Year FEHB enrollees will have a greater range of choice than in recent past years, with 249 plans participating for the calendar 2005 plan year. This will be the second year in a row that the number of plans has increased, following several years of substantial dropouts, mostly among HMOs that either merged or could not achieve substantial penetration into the FEHB market. Eight new HMOs joined the FEHB for 2005, plus 18 plans will be offering high deductible options that feature tax-favored "health savings accounts" or "health reimbursement arrangements"--the former primarily for active employees and the latter primarily for those 65 and older--whose funds will be available to pay the deductible plus certain other qualified medical costs. 3. Closer Look at HSAs, HRAs For a closer look at how HSAs and HRAs work, including rules governing contributions and allowable expenses, go to http://www.fedweek.com/HotFreeNews/default.asp in the hot free info section of our website. 4. Underserved States Changing Also effective for the 2005 plan year is a change in the list of states deemed to be "medically underserved" for purposes of FEHB. In states with that designation, due to a shortage of primary care physicians, fee-for-service plans must cover participants who use any health care provider licensed to provide that service. For 2005, those states will be Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas and Wyoming. Alaska is new to the list for 2005 while Maine, Utah and West Virginia are being removed. 5. Computer Networks Now Offers Unlimited Monthly Internet Service to All of FEDweek Readers Computer Networks, Inc. Is pleased to announce that FEDweek Readers can now get UNLIMITED Internet access for only $10.90 per month or $14.85 for Unlimited Internet with Turbo Accelerator--increasing your internet speed up to Five times the speed! Now, all Our Can Get Broadband DSL-Like Speed Over Your Phone Line at Home http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294971902/821888/148/0/ A Few Important Facts: Over 50% of our readers who have called the toll free information number 1-800 452-9201, signed up for this Internet service, it's that good. On-line Signup is available as well! You can get the fastest and most comprehensive internet accelerator on the market and unparalleled 24/7 customer service for only $14.85 per month--You'd pay more than twice that at AOL, Earthlink or any of the others. Take a Look at Some of these Cost Comparisons: CNW $14.85 AOL $23.90 MSN $21.95 Earthlink $21.95 AND CNW does not charge for Tech Support! It is easy to see, Computer Networks will cost you less every month! CNW has added over 7,000 new V.92 access lines to meet the needs of the FEDweek readers! Chances are that you are now covered by CNW with the latest technology that allows faster data thru-put and well as advanced compression schemes. Plus you'll get Spam controls to help keep your inbox free of junk email IF you're in pursuit of a fast, reliable Internet connection, Computer Networks Inc. has partnered with us to provide Internet Services to our readers at a special low rate as low as $10.90 per month with no long term contracts to sign (like most other internet service providers require). Best Choice: Turbo Accelerator Internet Service is the new CNW Turbo Internet access version 3.1 is the fastest and most comprehensive Internet accelerator available today. CNW offers DSL like speed over 56k dial-up connection and fast downloads of e-mail and Web pages--all for only $14.85 per month! For more information or to sign up today, go to http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294971902/821888/148/0/ or call CNW toll-free at 1-800 452-9201. This is a special offer to all our readers only, just another value added benefit for being a FEDweek readers. 6. Premium Conversion Reminder During the current open season for the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, employees enrolled in the "premium conversion" arrangement in which premiums are paid with pre-tax dollars need not do anything to continue that status. However, open season is the only time during the year in which premium conversion participants can change from family to self-only coverage or can cancel enrollment without having a "qualifying life event" such as a marriage or birth or death of a family member. Those who do not participate in premium conversion--primarily retirees, who are ineligible for that tax break--can make those changes at any time. Also, open season is the only time in which current employees can either join premium conversion or drop out of it. 7. Brand New Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide Just Published New Publication Announcement: The Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294971902/821888/338/0/ Passman & Kaplan announces the October 2004 publication of the SECOND EDITION of the Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide. This comprehensive book, first published by Passman & Kaplan in 1999, has been called the definitive how-to guide for enforcing the rights of federal employees. The second edition of the Guide includes 100 PAGES OF ADDITIONAL NEW MATERIAL (now 616 total pages) and useful advice. New features include information on internet legal research, preparing for and conducting a hearing, sample discovery requests, and up-to-date contact information for federal personnel agencies. The Guide also includes a listing of frequently used civil service acronyms and practical appendices of sample forms, charts illustrating appeal rights, and commonly-needed deadlines. As with the first edition of the Guide, Passman & Kaplan has attempted to move away from the "legalese" which so often complicates an already-bewildering array of regulations and policies. Although the Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide, Second Edition is clearly an invaluable resource for practioners, Passman & Kaplan has maintained its commitment to target the book to the average federal employee. *********************************************************** To place your order for The Federal Employees Legal Survival Guide just go to http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294971902/821888/338/0/ and place your secure order online. The cost of this publication is only $49.95 Plus $6 s&h--Remember, this is a 616 page reference that is chalked full of invaluable information that every federal manager must have! Or you can mail your order with payment of $55.95 to FEDweek, PO Box 5519, Glen Allen, VA 23058. This is a one of a kind book you can't afford to be without! *********************************************************** 8. FSA Open Season Starting, Too Running concurrent with the FEHB open season will be an open season for employees to sign up for flexible spending accounts for calendar year 2005. FSAs allow employees to set aside pre-tax payroll dollars to pay for certain eligible expenses--up to $5,000 for dependent care and up to $3,000 for medical and dental care. As with the FEHB, the FSA plan years run according to the calendar year. Retirees are not eligible for FSAs. 9. FSA Re-Enrollment Required While FEHB enrollment carries over from one year to the next even if the individual makes no new election during an open season--and most enrollees don't--the same is not true of the FSA program. A new enrollment is required during each open season for the following calendar year because elections do not carry over from one year to the next. Thus, even those currently enrolled in FSAs must make a new election in order to continue participating in 2005. 10. Expert Views: How High is Your High-3? Getting the highest high-3 possible is the goal of every long-time federal employee, writes benefits expert Reg Jones. "That�s because your high-3 (plus plenty of years of service) will net you an attractive retirement annuity," he writes. You'll find his column at http://fedweek.com/experts 11. Some Agencies Get Interim Certification Ten agencies have received "provisional" certification that their performance evaluation systems for senior execs meet certain minimum criteria; the certification means that those agencies may--once final rules are issued later this year--pay their top-rated execs up to level II of the Executive Schedule (currently $158,100) and may allow them total compensation, including pay and bonuses, of up to the Vice President�s salary (currently $203,000). To get certification, agencies must submit information to the Office of Personnel Management showing that their evaluation systems meet at least five of nine criteria that OPM set in proposed rules issued in August. The agencies granted provisional certification are Health and Human Services, Interior, Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Federal Trade Commission, Office of National Drug Control Policy, Merit Systems Protection Board, Railroad Retirement Board, and Social Security Administration. Another 15 agencies are in the review stage. Full certification cannot be given to any agency unless it can demonstrate two years of results under the pay differentiation and performance differentiation criteria. 12. Still Time for TSP Catch-Ups Federal employees who are 50 and older, plus those who will turn that age by the end of the calendar year, still have time to make catch-up contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan for calendar year 2004. Catch-up contribution elections need not be made during an open season, but they must be structured so that the amount is taken out in a single calendar year. With relatively few pay periods remaining in the year, investors wishing to make those contributions may need to act promptly. The maximum catch-up contribution is $3,000 this year. That figure will rise to $4,000 next year, but catch-up elections do not carry over from one year to the next. Thus, new elections will have to be made in 2005. Catch-ups are made by filing a form, the TSP-1-C, separate from regular investment elections. 13. Timetable for NSPS Set A recent "requirements document" from the Defense Department states that DoD still plans to issue proposed regulations for its new civilian personnel system--the national security personnel system--by the end of this calendar year. That will be followed by a required period of collaboration with employee unions that will continue through May 2005, with the first operational phase set for July 2005. The first "spirals" as DoD calls them, involving up to 300,000 employees will be completed by December 2006; to go beyond 300,000, DoD must by law certify that it has in place a performance management system meeting certain criteria. This phased roll-out will "permit the system to be put into use and assessed at a relatively small number of organizations, with subsequent deployments that incorporate lessons/system improvements from the previous experiences," the document says. DoD hopes to complete the full implementation of NSPS by January 2009, in time to be able to support legislation that would repeal the sunset date for the labor-management relations portion of the law. NSPS will feature changes in labor relations, appeals rights, job classification, hiring procedures, compensation and other personnel practices. 14. The Complete Guide to Writing a Federal Resume Just Published--Available for Immediate Shipment Order Yours at http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294971902/821888/338/0/ >From the Publishers of FEDweek, the federal government's largest information resource... We are proud to announce the launch of The Complete Guide to Writing a Federal Resume. This book was written specifically for you and is designed to help you meet the requirements for written materials in seeking a new federal job or advancement within the federal government. There is no longer a single, required method of applying for federal employment. In fact, most federal agencies are moving toward the resume (either paper or electronic) as the preferred method of applying for jobs. That's why we've just published The Complete Guide to Writing a Federal Resume and all current federal employees, retirees, military members and private sector professionals who are looking for a federal job need this all-inclusive guide. Note to Military Members: Many of the federal job openings at this time require security clearances. As a military member, a large percentage of you have the security clearance and the qualifications needed to fill these positions. This all-new guide will show you how to compose your resume to accentuate your strengths and experiences. Here's a partial list of the table of contents: Finding a Federal Job Should I Apply Using a Resume or an Application Form? The Federal Resume Preparing to Draft Your Resume What to Cover (and not cover) in a Resume The Designing of Your Federal Resume Your Accomplishments (including a worksheet) What if You Use an OF-612? Knowledges, Skills and Abilities (KSAs) Cover Letters and Thank You Letters Interactive Worksheets The Do's and Don't's for Federal Resume Cover Letters Contains Many Sample Federal Resumes and Cover Letters And Much More! This book is a "must have" for: All federal employees Military personnel interested in civil service careers Federal managers and supervisors Human resources professionals and federal libraries Military retirees beginning their second career with the federal government All private sector workers that wish to apply for federal government positions. Simply put, designing and writing your resume is not an easy task. You must highlight your accomplishments, qualifications, experience, etc. all while keeping it brief and easy to follow. The Complete Guide to Writing a Federal Resume will show you how to do this. It also gives a complete list of "result and action" words to use in your cover letter and resume as well as a list a frequently misspelled or misused words or phrases. "In today's competitive job market, especially the federal job market, this new interactive resume book is a must have and is guaranteed to help you, whether you are writing a new resume from scratch, making minor changes depending on the position you are applying for or just fine tuning and error checking it." Don Mace, Publisher FEDweek *********************************************************** Order it Today and Have it Shipped to You Tomorrow! Go to http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294971902/821888/338/0/ to order online or see below for other ways to order. The Cost of The Complete Guide to Writing a Federal Resume is only $9.95 (plus s&h) and here are the ways to order it: Place Your Secure Order Online With Credit Card http://fedweek.sparklist.com/t/294971902/821888/338/0/ Call or 24/7 toll-free order line (888) 333-9335. We have representatives ready to take your order 24 hours per day. By Mail Send $13.95 ($9.95 plus $4) to FEDweek, PO Box 5519, Glen Allen, VA 23058 *********************************************************** FEDweek Publisher, Don Mace VP of Marketing, Kevin Couch Website: http://www.fedweek.com 11541 Nuckols Rd. Suite D Glen Allen, VA 23059 (804) 288-5321 [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are subscribed to fedweek as [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe, send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
