1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

I am writing as a RETIRED federal employee and FERS annuitant to express my concern about the continued large increases in FEHB health insurance premiums. For 2027, FEHB premiums are expected to increase by approximately 10% on average. At the same time, FERS retirees under age 62 do not receive a cost-of-living adjustment to their pension. I am approaching age 59, which means I am facing several more years of increasing health insurance costs without any COLA to help offset those increases. I fully understand that healthcare costs are rising, but the combination of increasing FEHB premiums and a pension that does not receive COLAs until age 62 creates a significant financial burden for early FERS retirees. Unlike working employees, retirees generally have fewer opportunities to increase their income to absorb these rising costs. I respectfully ask that you support efforts to address this disparity and consider policies that would provide greater financial protection for FERS retirees during the years before COLAs begin. Federal retirees made a commitment to public service with the understanding that their retirement benefits would provide a reasonable measure of financial security. Thank you for your service and for considering the concerns of federal retirees. I would appreciate your response regarding what you believe can be done to address this issue.