How much is lifetime medical worth?

[Sandy]

Maybe that's it. There have been some other stressful things going on as well, including some (good) very high stress work things that required long days and came off very well for me a week after my mother's death, and probably inspired the back-stabbers. I only took two days of bereavement time, though I could probably take more if I asked to do so.

W2R,

First, I am sorry for the loss of your mother.

On employment, I can only add to what others have said. You have a lot going on and need to take care of your self first. Take more time to grieve, using either SL or AL, depending on what your supervisor will allow. You obviously have shown that you are a valuable employee. Paid and leave without pay may both be in order. You should be able to take time and recover without jeopardizing the long term value of health care.

 

[Dawg52]

No, private insurance policyholders pay their way. Government and employer paid policies are subsidized by the employer. There is no way an individual could buy a $250 deductible policy that WTR has for the price she pays.

-- Rita

Yup, I pay more than WTR for a $10k deductible plan.

WTR, I suggest sticking it out 2 more years and take all your vacation in the mean time. That will help a lot.

 

[W2R]

Thanks, everyone.

Now, there's more to the story.

I was surprised this morning to find out that it was the day for my annual performance evaluation. Much to my surprise I was essentially told that I still walk on water, and that I would be getting an award and so on. So, I guess the back-stabbing was ineffective or unnoticed. At the end of the evaluation session, I was told that I did so much for the agency, and I was asked if there is anything further my agency could do to help. So I took the opportunity to ask for Thursday and Friday off for additional bereavement/sick leave. I mentioned not sleeping and getting a little twitchy, and there was no problem with getting it. In fact, he bent over backwards to make sure it got set up properly.

Tomorrow is a long awaited (and expensive) training, and Wednesday is our Employee Appreciation picnic, so actually it is almost like I got the whole week off. This should help!! And getting a great performance evaluation never hurt morale, either.

I think you all have really helped me to identify the problem, that I am getting burned out and that is making the stress seem impossible to deal with. Dawg, you are right - - I need time off! So, I am going to do whatever I can for the next two years to get time off and chill!!! I really do need the lifetime medical, to be able to sleep at night.

I would have asked for next week too, except that I have to fly to a meeting for work and already have made arrangements. Maybe I can get the week after that. And the week after that is my vacation.

I remember with horror the day one of the nicest guys who worked for me killed himself. He was objectively a great employee but he never felt adequate and was always stressed over project status. Unfortunately, none of us realized how stressed out he really was.

(Just wanted to assure you - - not going to happen here!!)

 

[Fireup2020]

Please take your vacation & sick days! As others have stated, with all you have going on you are a powder keg. As a result of being a forum member, I USE my allowed time off - and have not one regret! We all fill important positions, but life will continue with our without us...I prefer it to continue with a happy/healthy/balanced me (and happy/healthy/balanced friends, family, coworkers!!)

 

[ChrisC]

I'm almost in the same boat as W2R, with a regular retirement just 18 months away and an early-retirement option ending 12/31/07. A few things that have helped me tough it out: (1) I shortened my job commuting time; (2) I went on a 4/10 alternative work schedule, which translates into 4 day weekends every other week; (3) I'm enjoying lots of travel when off from work; (4) I'm continuing to maintain my fitness and exercising a lot during lunch break.

If your office permits it, as most federal agencies do, I'd explore going on the 4/5/9 or 4/10 work schedule -- this frees up a lot of time, and most are actually more productive at the job. The time off, means less stress for many. One other possibility is to look at teleworking -- sometimes doing work at home is less stressful.

 

[W2R]

I'm almost in the same boat as W2R, with a regular retirement just 18 months away and an early-retirement option ending 12/31/07. A few things that have helped me tough it out: (1) I shortened my job commuting time; (2) I went on a 4/10 alternative work schedule, which translates into 4 day weekends every other week; (3) I'm enjoying lots of travel when off from work; (4) I'm continuing to maintain my fitness and exercising a lot during lunch break.

If your office permits it, as most federal agencies do, I'd explore going on the 4/5/9 or 4/10 work schedule -- this frees up a lot of time, and most are actually more productive at the job. The time off, means less stress for many. One other possibility is to look at teleworking -- sometimes doing work at home is less stressful.

Thanks for the suggestions. Although all of them that might help are either already in place, or else unavailable to me, I do appreciate that people care!

It looks like I will be getting some time off, though. Take a look at post #28 on the last page.

 

[Getting short]

Glad to hear things are going better W2R.

One more thought about working out and staying in good mental and physical health, does your unit have a wellness program with matching time for things like working out? We are able to take up to a half hour a day as administrative leave (matched by a half hour on our own time) for wellness activities. It has helped me maintain my sanity with all of the agency and personnel changes over the years.

Ditto on all of the comments about taking AL or SL to sort things out. I thought about retiring at the end of this year but realized that if I tried to go without any days off for a whole year I'd go nuts, it just wasn't worth the lump sum payment.

Congrats on the award, hope a promotion comes with it

 

[W2R]

Glad to hear things are going better W2R.

One more thought about working out and staying in good mental and physical health, does your unit have a wellness program with matching time for things like working out? We are able to take up to a half hour a day as administrative leave (matched by a half hour on our own time) for wellness activities. It has helped me maintain my sanity with all of the agency and personnel changes over the years.

Ditto on all of the comments about taking AL or SL to sort things out. I thought about retiring at the end of this year but realized that if I tried to go without any days off for a whole year I'd go nuts, it just wasn't worth the lump sum payment.

Congrats on the award, hope a promotion comes with it

Nope, just got a promotion a few months ago, but the award does involve cash. Should fatten up my nest egg nicely. What a great wellness program you have! We get a little help with our gym fees (which comes to less than half the cost), but no admin leave or other time concessions. Admin leave is scarce at my agency. We didn't even get admin leave to leave early the Friday before Katrina hit.

I just figured out that on my 9/80 schedule, I have enough AL that I could have only 4 day weeks for the next two years. Interesting computation! It would probably be even better to schedule several 1 week vacations, though.

 

[RetireeRobert]

I just figured out that on my 9/80 schedule, I have enough AL that I could have only 4 day weeks for the next two years. Interesting computation! It would probably be even better to schedule several 1 week vacations, though.

Here's an interesting suggestion to help you get through the two measely short little years.

Create a list of days from tomorrow thru RE day--for two years that would be 770 lines (or is it 771 for leap year in 2008?). Every day just before going home, cross off that day on the list. It gives you that little bit of daily pleasure of knowing you are getting a bit closer to RE, and a visual representation of your progress.

And Fridays are more fun, and weeks off even more so. Because then you get to cross of three days or nine days at a time. Forging your RE progress ahead.

I did this five years before my RE date. And some of those five years were rough. But my "cross off" list helped me get through it. Daily reminders I was nearing my goal, and don't give up and shortchange my longterm goal.

I got the idea from another retiree who retired maybe six years before I did. Helped him too.

Regards, and the lifetime medical deal for only 2 more measely years is too good to pass up. Set your goal, focus on it, find ways to deal with any stress along the way, and cross off the days one by one from now to RE day two years from now.

Oh, and when your do RE *keep* that cross off list as a memento of having marched to and reached your RE goal.

 

[W2R]

Here's an interesting suggestion to help you get through the two measely short little years.

Create a list of days from tomorrow thru RE day--for two years that would be 770 lines (or is it 771 for leap year in 2008?). Every day just before going home, cross off that day on the list. It gives you that little bit of daily pleasure of knowing you are getting a bit closer to RE, and a visual representation of your progress.

And Fridays are more fun, and weeks off even more so. Because then you get to cross of three days or nine days at a time. Forging your RE progress ahead.

I did this five years before my RE date. And some of those five years were rough. But my "cross off" list helped me get through it. Daily reminders I was nearing my goal, and don't give up and shortchange my longterm goal.

I got the idea from another retiree who retired maybe six years before I did. Helped him too.

Regards, and the lifetime medical deal for only 2 more measely years is too good to pass up. Set your goal, focus on it, find ways to deal with any stress along the way, and cross off the days one by one from now to RE day two years from now.

Oh, and when your do RE *keep* that cross off list as a memento of having marched to and reached your RE goal.

That's a great idea, and thanks. Actually I've been doing that in Excel since I had 2300 days to go. I have it set up so that I just punch in the number of days left in the month; for example, today I put in "1" in October (and I have it set up to add the months in this year, and the whole years remaining). I have 739 days left as of today. When I joined the ER forum, I had over 1000 days left so I am making progress. Maybe I'll try a paper version, too.

I feel a lot better about waiting the two years. In the back of my mind, I wondered if people on this board would think it was dumb to wait or not. Apparently they think waiting is a good idea. Guess I do too.

Through this thread it occurred to me that I am a little burned out. Well, a lot burned out. I haven't used much annual leave at all for the past year or longer, because I was trying to save it up. Stupid idea! But that can be changed.

 

[sweetana3]

I feel as if the poster knew what was going on here. I have 436 calendar days to go for full retirement and full Federal health insurance. After the yearly health insurance changes at my husband's Fortune 100 company, I figured I needed to provide for myself.

I was thinking what a waste my 500 hours of sick leave was going to be when darn, I fell hard and damaged my knee. Had a week off for the swelling to go down and now am on half time because walking or standing for any time is too hard. Then there may be surgery which will use up more time. Not a good thing for my health but I am grateful for the saved leave.

I hope it does not use up the whole 500 hours because that would mean a lot of painful recovery but nice to be paid while I recover.

 

[W2R]

Sorry to hear about your knee!! I don't think there is any way you would need 500 hours for it, though. I'm glad you have it in case you need it, and I'm sure that is comforting.

Today I wrote down the 738 dates between now and the day when I qualify to retire. With five columns per page, and writing on both sides, I was able to fit them all onto two sheets of paper. I think this will be fun.

I mentioned the concept of getting 1/2 hour administrative leave per day for an exercise program to a co-worker. He said, "That man works for a PROGRESSIVE agency!!" and several of us were ROFL. We sure wish we had that.

I am taking the rest of the week off on bereavement/SL. I'm glad because I think I need it! The rat race was getting me down and I was spending too much of my time off staring at the wall and not sleeping due to work pressure. All this freaking out, and I am someone who got a promotion a few months ago and was told yesterday that I am getting a cash award for excellence (something very uncommon in our unit). Imagine how much pressure people must feel who are not considered to be doing a good job. Yet, I tend to feel beaten down and as as though the best that I can do just isn't good enough and as though people must think I am terrible at my job. Part of the problem is the avalanche of work that crashed down on us after the hurricanes (over half my work is hurricane related these days), combined with agency difficulties in personnel recruitment and retention due to living conditions down here.

Last night, I got 8 hours of sleep (ah, bliss!) and today, I got back to the gym after not going for over a month and a half. Most of my routine is on the weight machines, so I had to back off 5-10 pounds on each machine. But, at least I managed that and I know I will be able to increase the weights later.

 

[RetireeRobert]

Today I wrote down the 738 dates between now and the day when I qualify to retire. With five columns per page, and writing on both sides, I was able to fit them all onto two sheets of paper. I think this will be fun............

........Last night, I got 8 hours of sleep (ah, bliss!) and today, I got back to the gym after not going for over a month and a half. Most of my routine is on the weight machines, so I had to back off 5-10 pounds on each machine. But, at least I managed that and I know I will be able to increase the weights later.

I have been retired 7 years now. I still have my five year countdown sheets. Every once in awhile I glance at them to remind myself of goal setting, dream planning, goals reached, and dreams come true. The completed countdown sheets are visible evidence of the powers of goal setting, perspective, and perserverance.

Glad to hear you are getting back to your exercise routine too. I go three days a week ever since I retired. I dropped 25 pounds and many points off blood presure, trigycerides, cholesterol. Whenever I can't make it, I definitely miss the "good" feeling I get from exercising. It has become an ingrained part of my routine. And it is a great stress buster and perspective restorer.

 

[mickeyd]

So how much is lifetime medical worth to you? How much money would you trade for lifetime medical of this sort?

DW and I are covered under a simular plan as I am retired military (Tricare). Prior to ER and being covered by Tricare I considered retirement pay as my main benefit, but now that I am retired I place a much higher value on the Tricare lifetime benefits than the income as I have other income sources but only one medical source. We pay $230 annually each, receive free meds, no co-pay, no additional fees, excellent care. Very difficult to put a price tag on that kind of coverage, but I value it more than $ in the long-term. At age 65 Tricare will become secondary to Medicare but we will still have access to many military medical benefits.

 

[Buckeye]

W2R-

I had to give up the coffee because it was bothering my stomach but when I stopped drinking it I was very surprised at how much my anxiety level dropped. You might try a little experiment to see if it does the same for you. I never had any trouble sleeping but the stuff that went on at work (which is quite mild but for which I have no tolerance remaining) got to me way worse when I was drinking coffee. I was only drinking decaf but there was still enough caffiene in it to cause the anxiety. Of course, working out will elevate your mood even more.

 

[happy2bretired]

W2R...I'm just now reading this thread. Sorry for your loss. I am glad that you're taking family leave - it's a very worthwhile program. Your mental health is VERY important at this time. Just before I retired, my stress level was also very high. I felt no guilt when I called in sick - my mental health was at stake. You need to do that too over the next several months.

 

[deserat]

W2R - as usual, late to the thread - couple of comments:

1) Your stress-o-meter in terms of external events causing stress in your life is in the consistent red-line - no wonder you are overwhelmed
2) The fact that your evaluation was excellent says more - perhaps your perception and theirs are different and some thinking about that may help re-align yours with theirs
3) You say you only have 2 more years - hmmm, you've gotten the promotion, you've got your retirement date, your house is paid off, you have a plan.....I hope I'm not being crass here - why do you care what they think at work? Can they fire you (I'm suspecting it would be hard as I seem to remember you work for the government)? Perhaps a bit of a throttle back so that you don't have to walk on water is in order...for the next two years. Case in point - I currently have turned down promotions and projects because I believe if I take them my efficiency and credibility will decline - as it is, my workload is at a fairly manageable level and if they don't like it, they'll have to fire me - they can't afford to do that, so I'm in a great position right now. I think you are in the same and if I were you would push back even more. It looks like you did at your evaluation, but perhaps a more long-term push back may be in order.

As usual, the above can be jettisoned into your own electronic round file! Enjoy your well deserved time off.

 

[W2R]

W2R - as usual, late to the thread - couple of comments:

1) Your stress-o-meter in terms of external events causing stress in your life is in the consistent red-line - no wonder you are overwhelmed
2) The fact that your evaluation was excellent says more - perhaps your perception and theirs are different and some thinking about that may help re-align yours with theirs
3) You say you only have 2 more years - hmmm, you've gotten the promotion, you've got your retirement date, your house is paid off, you have a plan.....I hope I'm not being crass here - why do you care what they think at work? Can they fire you (I'm suspecting it would be hard as I seem to remember you work for the government)? Perhaps a bit of a throttle back so that you don't have to walk on water is in order...for the next two years. Case in point - I currently have turned down promotions and projects because I believe if I take them my efficiency and credibility will decline - as it is, my workload is at a fairly manageable level and if they don't like it, they'll have to fire me - they can't afford to do that, so I'm in a great position right now. I think you are in the same and if I were you would push back even more. It looks like you did at your evaluation, but perhaps a more long-term push back may be in order.

As usual, the above can be jettisoned into your own electronic round file! Enjoy your well deserved time off.

Good points. In the past I have always pushed myself and expected more from myself than others have expected from me (which was the only way that I knew to climb over obstacles and meet my goals). Now that I have my promotion and considerable job security, I need to learn to stop doing that and stop projecting my expectations onto others. It's not necessary and I have no desire to advance any further.

In the past week I have suggested discontinuing one long term project as a waste of money, and moving another one over to the back-stabbers who seem to want to wrest it from me. I'd be perfectly happy if they took it and all the concomitant "glory" and high profile. No need for the back-stabbing because quite honestly I don't want it (unfortunately who does it is political and apparently is a management coup/battle, though). Also I am trying to divert another new upcoming project to people in another unit, pointing out that it really doesn't mesh with our unit's little segment of the agency's mission. I put off a review for so long that somebody else did it instead (and only one was needed). Also I did not apply for a position in management that came up recently.

Despite all this backpedaling I am still avalanched. I think that I am in a phase now where I have started backing off on these things, but my work load hasn't actually decreased yet. At least management is "on notice" that I am feeling vastly overworked and overstressed. I am making no secret of the fact that I am on retirement track from here on out.

Happy2beRetired - - thanks. I will think about what you are saying, as well. Maybe some "mental health days" would not be such an inappropriate use of my sick leave. After all, they don't want people to go postal on them! (Not that I would! I plan to use my vacation time too.)

Buckeye - - thanks for the tip on caffeine. I am really hooked but maybe I can cut back. Or maybe not!! At least I could try.

 

[TickTock]

Good points. In the past I have always pushed myself and expected more from myself than others have expected from me (which was the only way that I knew to climb over obstacles and meet my goals). Now that I have my promotion and considerable job security, I need to learn to stop doing that and stop projecting my expectations onto others. It's not necessary and I have no desire to advance any further.

Want2retire,

My theory is that some young, driven, ambitious people want to excel at their jobs, and tear into them when young - idealistic, optimistic, and with the belief that 'hard work (alone) will be recognized and rewarded'. Later, with a cold bucket of reality thrown in their face, they are dissatisfied with the results and effort, but don't really know what else to do - backing off the 60-hour weeks feels like 'slacking'.

IMO, what is needed in this case is a re-focussing of that energy and drive into non-w*rk related activities.

I find myself less interested in knocking myself out for the company. That's not the same thing as slacking or ripping off the company; I believe a fair days w*rk is owed to whomever is paying me. It doesn't mean spending nights and weekends for no money (I'm salaried).

What passion(s) do you have? Follow and put your time/energy into those instead of the few remaining days at your j*b.

(Now, if I would only take my own advice... )

 

[kumquat]

at 65 I could get Medicare Parts B & D instead (if it still exists).

What if it doesn't, or is changed/deleted later?

 

[donheff]

Want2retire,

My theory is that some young, driven, ambitious people want to excel at their jobs, and tear into them when young - idealistic, optimistic, and with the belief that 'hard work (alone) will be recognized and rewarded'. Later, with a cold bucket of reality thrown in their face, they are dissatisfied with the results and effort, but don't really know what else to do - backing off the 60-hour weeks feels like 'slacking'.

That is a good point for a lot of people. As you move up and the pyramid narrows, that next promotion often involves as much luck as hard work. Many people plateau at a mid-level despite their best efforts to "do what it takes." I think many organizations expect them to keep pumping out the 60 hours with nothing in return. But without the other side of the equation in sight, you really only owe them a reasonable day's work, not your life.

 

[LeatherneckPA]

WTR, as one high-stress Fed to another, take the SL, use ALL of your AL, and ease up a little bit. It took me 23 years, 2 stab-you-in-the-back suspensions, and a reduction in grade to realize this, but your agency only cares for you as a warm body to fill their complement. They are going to continue existing long after I retire or die, whichever comes first. And I doubt that any of them would mourn me beyond their appearance at my funeral.

I have come to the conclusion it is sufficient to give them 100% while on duty, rather than my old 150%. I do my job, to the utmost of my ability, but I am no longer looking to become the "poster boy".

In fact, I am seriously considering going to the Warden and telling him NOT to promote me to an available GS-11 post because it would intefere with my coasting for the next 10-13 months. (10 to eligibility, 13 if I stay to the end of the calendar year.) The only question I still have to answer is whether I use my 500 hours of sick leave before I turn 50 or after it.

 

[Getting short]

"I mentioned the concept of getting 1/2 hour administrative leave per day for an exercise program to a co-worker. He said, "That man works for a PROGRESSIVE agency!!" and several of us were ROFL. We sure wish we had that."

Funny, I never considered my agency "progressive", but I guess when it comes to exercise it is! I think this is due to the fact that historically, many of the jobs require good to excellent physical condition, and some even have daily physical training as a part of the job description.

 

[LeatherneckPA]

historically, many of the jobs require good to excellent physical condition, and some even have daily physical training as a part of the job description.

WOW!! What agency is that!?

 

[Zoocat]

Want2Retire,
I want to point out another issue about RE and health insurance. The kind of insurance you might be able to get if you RE without the FED policy may cause you a lot of stress.

I went though a very difficult process getting individual insurance and ended up with a $280/month policy with a $2700 deductible and a few exclusions. One of them, skin cancer screening and treatments, I have to pay out of pocket. This year about $600. Another exclusion includes anything to do with my spine. This because of a minor injury eight years ago that has never bothered me again.

If any of my excluded conditions get much worse I'm going to have a lot of expenses! Being in this uncertainty does prey on my mind and affects the choices I make. For example, no motorcycle riding for me! Just kidding. But seriously, I had to decline participation in the HOA community volunteer landscaping last week because I was afraid it might hurt my back even though there's really not much wrong with my back at present and I do a lot of exercise in the gym.

So it's the stress of uncertainty that can sometimes make life uncomfortable. Take your vacations and stick it out two more years; also, cut out caffeine and start meditating and/or yoga!