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Post by Prrple on Aug 10, 2017 19:38:37 GMT -5
What about health insurance? Is there an option that allows you to pick/keep doctors? J Most Feds I know choose BCBS Basic. BCBS Standard has higher premiums, but if you require expensive prescription medication, it may be the better deal. I have seen providers in four different states using BCBS Basic - the only providers I've found who didn't take it were those who didn't accept insurance at all. My family has required a truly insane amount of medical care this year, so I have become intimately familiar with it. You can PM me if you have any specific questions. Even though the F in FEHB stands for Federal, the available policies are not homogenous across the nation. It does vary by duty location. |
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Post by Gaidin on Aug 11, 2017 13:51:35 GMT -5
First, remember keeping your doctor's assumed you stay where you are.
I had lots of options in terms of carriers and plans. More than with my prior state employment.
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Post by judgymcjudgypants on Aug 11, 2017 21:41:56 GMT -5
Staying where you are has more than one definition in the ALJ context, does it not? My GAL is limited to a 3 to 4 hour drive from "home base," against the day I get to transfer home in 2 or 3 years.
It would be inconvenient, to be sure, but worth it. A few credit hours spent on a Monday from time to time in exchange for keeping a doctor I trust is okay by me.
J
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Post by Gaidin on Aug 12, 2017 0:00:45 GMT -5
Staying where you are has more than one definition in the ALJ context, does it not? My GAL is limited to a 3 to 4 hour drive from "home base," against the day I get to transfer home in 2 or 3 years. It would be inconvenient, to be sure, but worth it. A few credit hours spent on a Monday from time to time in exchange for keeping a doctor I trust is okay by me. J I'm not suggesting it isn't worth it. I was just pointing out the reality of moving. Also the fact that OHO had a plethora of options. Are they in the same state? In some states are they in the same region? I'm not actually sure whether you can select an insurer in another location? |
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Post by gary on Aug 12, 2017 7:13:15 GMT -5
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Post by bayou on Aug 12, 2017 7:28:07 GMT -5
When I came from the private sector to the fed sector, I had insurance at the firm at which I worked. My fed health insurance is with the same insurer, has the same co-pay and has the same doctors. Virtually every health care provider will accept the fed insurance and it will look the same as the private insurance you have now, if not better.
As Gaidin points out, not all insurers offer plans for all geographical locations but wherever you go, you will have multiple plans to choose from which will provide good coverage with a very wide list of medical providers in their network from which you can freely choose. You are much more likely to be limited by the availability of medical providers in a rural area than be limited by doctors who will accept the insurance.
EDIT: If you are looking to keep one specific doctor, you can check the plans network before signing up to see if that doctor is listed or even easier, call the doctor's office and ask if they accept the plan.
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Post by judgymcjudgypants on Aug 12, 2017 15:28:47 GMT -5
Yes,along those lines. I don't know why my current home base would not continue to be my primary residence, no matter how I choose to be on time at my duty station. I don't see any difference between commuting every day, hotels, or a rental in that regard. In my experience, insurance turns on residence, not duty location, although crossing state lines would be a new experience. Don't legislators do the same thing? One residence in their home state and another in DC? It's a free country, after all.  J |
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Post by alphathreesix on Aug 16, 2017 15:27:46 GMT -5
What is the schedule like at training? Is there home work/projects?
Is training 40 hours a week of lectures? Are there tests?
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Post by Pixie on Aug 16, 2017 17:15:38 GMT -5
What is the schedule like at training? Is there home work/projects? Is training 40 hours a week of lectures? Are there tests? Used to be about 8:00 to 4:00. It is wise to do some studying at night. And occasionally there will be some assignments given. Pixie |
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Post by alphathreesix on Aug 16, 2017 19:18:02 GMT -5
Thanks Pixie. I have to be able to daydream about getting the call to see the Wizard, and how I'm going to be able to hit the gym thereafter. My daydreams/fantasies at this point are akin to those when my office does a lottery pool. |
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Post by aljnoobie on Aug 17, 2017 9:34:58 GMT -5
Thanks Pixie. I have to be able to daydream about getting the call to see the Wizard, and how I'm going to be able to hit the gym thereafter. My daydreams/fantasies at this point are akin to those when my office does a lottery pool. . I just said the same thing to my wife, lol. Powerball is up to $510 million if you are dreaming big. |
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Post by burtonrw on Aug 28, 2017 7:32:37 GMT -5
I'm finding myself nervous for the first time in this whole process knowing that my phone may ring this week, dramatically altering the course of my life, so I thought I'd ask a stupid question to distract myself.
The annual leave thing - the first page of this section (which I realize is slightly dated) indicates that new ALJs (.gov employee < 3 yrs, anyway) earn 4 hours/pay period. However, the current OPM chart indicates that SES and Senior Level employees earn 8.
The ALJ salary tables are listed under the heading "Executive & Senior Level Employee Pay Tables"... so are ALJs not senior level employees accruing 8 hours of leave per pay?
-Rob
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Post by SPN Lifer on Aug 28, 2017 7:43:21 GMT -5
No, they are not.
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Post by phoenixrisingALJ on Aug 28, 2017 18:00:26 GMT -5
I'm finding myself nervous for the first time in this whole process knowing that my phone may ring this week, dramatically altering the course of my life, so I thought I'd ask a stupid question to distract myself. The annual leave thing - the first page of this section (which I realize is slightly dated) indicates that new ALJs (.gov employee < 3 yrs, anyway) earn 4 hours/pay period. However, the current OPM chart indicates that SES and Senior Level employees earn 8. The ALJ salary tables are listed under the heading "Executive & Senior Level Employee Pay Tables"... so are ALJs not senior level employees accruing 8 hours of leave per pay? -Rob They earn 4 hours of annual leave and 4 hours of sick leave per pp. The 4 hrs of annual jumps to 6 hours in year 3 and 8 hrs per pp in year 15. (sick leave stays at 4 hrs per pp regardless of years of service.) They also are eligible for credit hours. Rules on credit hours varies depending on the hiring agency. |
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Post by unlisted on Aug 28, 2017 18:18:19 GMT -5
I'm finding myself nervous for the first time in this whole process knowing that my phone may ring this week, dramatically altering the course of my life, so I thought I'd ask a stupid question to distract myself. The annual leave thing - the first page of this section (which I realize is slightly dated) indicates that new ALJs (.gov employee < 3 yrs, anyway) earn 4 hours/pay period. However, the current OPM chart indicates that SES and Senior Level employees earn 8. The ALJ salary tables are listed under the heading "Executive & Senior Level Employee Pay Tables"... so are ALJs not senior level employees accruing 8 hours of leave per pay? -Rob They earn 4 hours of annual leave and 4 hours of sick leave per pp. The 4 hrs of annual jumps to 6 hours in year 3 and 8 hrs per pp in year 15. (sick leave stays at 4 hrs per pp regardless of years of service.) They also are eligible for credit hours. Rules on credit hours varies depending on the hiring agency. But if you're already a federal employee, you keep your leave balances, accrual rate, etc., right? Even if you're coming from a different agency? |
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Post by SPN Lifer on Aug 28, 2017 18:22:23 GMT -5
They earn 4 hours of annual leave and 4 hours of sick leave per pp. The 4 hrs of annual jumps to 6 hours in year 3 and 8 hrs per pp in year 15. (sick leave stays at 4 hrs per pp regardless of years of service.) They also are eligible for credit hours. Rules on credit hours varies depending on the hiring agency. But if you're already a federal employee, you keep your leave balances, accrual rate, etc., right? Even if you're coming from a different agency? Yes. |
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Post by phoenixrisingALJ on Aug 29, 2017 9:48:10 GMT -5
They earn 4 hours of annual leave and 4 hours of sick leave per pp. The 4 hrs of annual jumps to 6 hours in year 3 and 8 hrs per pp in year 15. (sick leave stays at 4 hrs per pp regardless of years of service.) They also are eligible for credit hours. Rules on credit hours varies depending on the hiring agency. But if you're already a federal employee, you keep your leave balances, accrual rate, etc., right? Even if you're coming from a different agency? The only thing that changes if you are already a fed - is your pay scale - change to the ALJ pay scale. Plus rules on telework - rules on comp time, credit time, core hours - those will change to be addressed by the hiring agency. Each Government agency has slightly different approach on how they handle these types of subjects. |
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Post by ssa on Aug 29, 2017 11:20:37 GMT -5
But if you're already a federal employee, you keep your leave balances, accrual rate, etc., right? Even if you're coming from a different agency? The only thing that changes if you are already a fed - is your pay scale - change to the ALJ pay scale. Plus rules on telework - rules on comp time, credit time, core hours - those will change to be addressed by the hiring agency. Each Government agency has slightly different approach on how they handle these types of subjects. And each union within an agency has different rules, too. So even if you're currently a fed and get an offer from your current agency, your ability to telework, how many credit hours you can earn per day and when you can work credit, etc, is likely to change. But your years of federal service will still be used to figure out which leave category (4, 6, or 8 hours of annual per pay period) you fall into. |
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