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Veterans' hospitals and clinics are beefing up staff and seeing more patients, but the number of appointments not completed within 30 days continues to grow, Department of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald said Friday. Speaking at the National Press Club in advance of Veterans Day, McDonald described a VA that is doing much to address problems that investigators say caused chronic delays for veterans seeking care. (Freking, 11/6)

So some folks were startled to learn that the new “self plus one” option in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program can be more expensive than family coverage, depending on the company. This option allows enrolled federal workers and retirees to purchase health insurance for themselves and one eligible family member. Open season, when health plans can be chosen, begins Monday and runs through Dec. 14. With health insurance costs for FEHB participants rising by an average of 7.4 percent next year, the most since 2011, enrollees are looking for any break they can get. Unfortunately for older people, health-care expenses rise with age and they are more likely to want self-plus-one policies. (Davidson, 11/8)