The document further makes the administration’s argument for cutting back on the subsidy paid for FEHB premiums for those who retire with fewer than 10 years of consecutive coverage in the program before retirement. It says the proposal would “provide greater equity to long-term employees. At present, the government pays approximately 72 percent of the cost of health care premiums for all employees regardless of their length of service and for annuitants who worked for the federal government at least five years immediately prior to their retirement. The proposal would prorate the government contribution for those employees who retire with less than 10 years of service by decreasing the amount of the government share to: 90 percent of the government share for employees with nine or more but less than ten years of service; 80 percent for those with eight or more but less than nine years of service and so on.” It says the proposal would affect only about 500 to 600 retirees a year. It also says that allowing the largest FEHB carrier, Blue Cross-Blue Shield, to offer a third option—presumably a high-deductible plan with a health savings account feature—would “provide greater incentives to both FEHB enrollees and health plans to reduce costs and improve quality.”