COL raises anyone? (pensions, social security, federal, years)

[forest beekeeper]

How many pensions just went up with a Cost-of-living raise?

I just got a 2.3% increase.

[sweetana3]

Hubby's corporate pension is not COL protected. Mine as Federal employee is. But it really only covers the health insurance rises or part of them.

[Tesaje]

The nasty bite on the cost of living calculations (social security, fed & military pensions and whoever else uses them) is they don't count health care costs. And those keep going up and up at a much higher rate than everything else. So it really is an artificially low number.

[cdelena]

Wow, any COL raise would be nice! I am simply having to adjust my budget after a 23% increase in insurance premiums starting this year.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Tesaje

The nasty bite on the cost of living calculations (social security, fed & military pensions and whoever else uses them) is they don't count health care costs. And those keep going up and up at a much higher rate than everything else. So it really is an artificially low number.

Hmm, we just paid our annual re-enrollment fee for our HMO provider [Martins Point]. Our costs went down.

Our annual re-enrollment fee went from $950 each year, to $600 [and some change I do not recall the exact amount]. That covers myself, my DW and our son.

Our co-pay for each office visit is $20, our scripts cost $3 per 3-month refills.

[norm]

The COL as gauged by the government is a sham. It doesn't include the cost of houses (only rent) or gasoline. "Figures don't lie but liars figure."

[Tesaje]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

Hmm, we just paid our annual re-enrollment fee for our HMO provider [Martins Point]. Our costs went down.

Our annual re-enrollment fee went from $950 each year, to $600 [and some change I do not recall the exact amount]. That covers myself, my DW and our son.

Our co-pay for each office visit is $20, our scripts cost $3 per 3-month refills.

You have an unusually good deal. Every year our portion goes up and they cover less. I haven't seen anything like those prices in 15 years.

But at least I HAVE health insurance.

[sweetana3]

My HMO just dropped again the Federal option. So we had to choose another health care provider. Went with BCBS although I would have preferred a good HMO.

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by forest beekeeper

How many pensions just went up with a Cost-of-living raise?

I just got a 2.3% increase.

Same here.

[forest beekeeper]

Not as good as those two terms when we got 8% every year, but still better than jabbing a fork in your ear.