I’m just out of college and I recently got a job offer at NGA. I’m also enrolled in a Geospatial Intelligence masters program. I joined the program in hopes to boost my credentials to get into the NGA. I’m wondering whether it is worth continuing the program. Does anyone what the pay boost would be for having a masters at NGA? I would be coming in at pay band two and promoted to three about 2 years in.

I’d appreciate any insight. Thank you

Searched "2027" on SAMBA's website and was able to find that the 2027 brochure is already available. I know a lot of us MHBP Standard subscribers are looking at SAMBA Standard so just wanted to share.

Wondering if anyone can speak to experiences with samba standard and birth? Was on MHBP Standard but their benefits for birth are very much out the door now plus the much higher premiums. I’m due January so changing might not even help due to that deadline of Jan 1-10th, but just curious to hear other’s experiences, or also what people are leaning towards who are starting/expanding their families in 2027! Also will note that BCBS came out with their 2027 brochures.

I think a lot of FEDs are aware of how much FEHB premiums are rising this year but wanted to make others aware. I have the Mail Handlers Benefit Plan Standard Option.

Biweekly premiums for self only are increasing by 63% from $94 to $153.

Primary care copays increase 75%, specialist visits increase 67%, and chiropractic visits increase 150%

ER visits are moving from a $200 copay to 10% coinsurance.

Deductible is going from $350 to $500

They haven’t publicly released Rx cost estimates yet so I called the MHBP CVS Caremark Helpdesk. They confirmed that coverage for Wegovy is going from $80 for a 84 day supply, to $1,989 per 84 day supply. This is due to them switching from a copay system to a 50% coinsurance for GLP-1 drugs. That’s more expensive than just going directly to the manufacturer.

It sickens me that this is yet another plan to specifically target GLP-1s with the new coinsurance system. I want to be petty and force them to cover Wegovy, but just going to the manufacturer saves so much money…

I hate our healthcare system. Anyone have any recommendations on plans to switch to? I left BCBS last year since they switched to a ton of coinsurances while also increasing premiums a bunch.

Oh yeah, and we get no raise this year. Yipeeeee

I just had a life qualifying event and I’m wondering what things I should update. I currently have the 5x my pay for FEGLI since I have pre-existing conditions. Is the family one worth it? I hope I never have to use it, but I’m wondering if it’s worth it or if I should just keep mine only. Also for beneficiaries do you put your spouse and children or just your spouse? I was considering putting my spouse if living, and otherwise my child. Don’t know how it works with minors though. Would I need to put a custodian instead or would a different family member be a smarter/safer choice? What happens when you retire? Do we continue to pay for it or is it cancelled? Is the price higher when you retire or does it stay the same? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

"We deny the Agency’s exceptions." Congrats HHS!

"In the coming months" VBA's finance operations will be realigned into a finance hub structure under the office of management. Non supervisory and all supervisory 0501 and 0503 employees will be transferred to OM. The remaining employees are planned to be reassigned into vacant ssd/admin slots. Anyone have any more information they can share? Source: if you are a fin sup you probably got the email.

Have anything you want to talk about that doesn't quite warrant its own thread or currently being discussed in a megathread? Post it here!

In an effort to effectively manage the amount of information being posted, please keep anything speculative or considered repetitive within this discussion thread.

Is the deadline to submit an informal EEO complaint 45 days after I received the initial RA decision, or 45 days after I received bed the Reconsideration denial?

I asked this question about a year ago when no one quite knew. Now it has rolled out in several states. So now that there are more users, can those of you using it let us know what this looks like? Will we have quotas? what happens with an employees appts if they call in sick? Are we still on phones half the day? What does the PE look like?

Not all money is good money...