FEHB Health Premiums up

[James48843]

Some success by Medicaid Fraud Investigators:

Troy Couple Plead Guilty In $13.4M Medicare Fraud « CBS Detroit

Troy Couple Plead Guilty In $13.4M Medicare Fraud

<snip>
According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Raymond Arias admitted to paying physicians to refer patients with Medicare benefits to Elite Wellness, and to purchasing Medicare beneficiary identifications for the purpose of submitting fraudulent claims to Medicare for expensive infusion therapy services that were not rendered as claimed by Carefirst.


Court documents show that Emelitza Arias participated with her husband in the scheme to defraud Medicare by submitting claims for expensive infusion therapy services that were not rendered by Carefirst, of which she was also an owner. In an attempt to create an appearance that Carefirst was a legitimate business, Emelitza Arias allegedly injected patients with vitamins.


The government says the couple submitted about $13.4 million in bogus claims in 2009-2011, and Medicare paid about $5.9 million — $2.6 million of which Raymond Arias had wired to offshore bank accounts in Panama and Mexico.

Sad. At least the U.S. Government (maybe somebody here on this board?) was able to arrest them.

 

[ILoveTDs]

Some success by Medicaid Fraud Investigators:

Troy Couple Plead Guilty In $13.4M Medicare Fraud « CBS Detroit

Sad. At least the U.S. Government (maybe somebody here on this board?) was able to arrest them.

I so wish we still tar and feather folks when I see headlines like this.

 

[weatherweenie]

Roughly a 10% increase in premium, with no pay raise.

FEHB Health Plan premiums for 2013 were announced by OPM today.

OPM says the average plan went up by just over 3%.

My plan went up more. How about yours?

Here is the link:
Premium Rates

then click on 2013 rates for either HMO's or Fee for Service plans to get to yours.

OPEN SEASON begins in early November.

 

[Boghie]

I am getting an early return on ObamaCare. Saving a little over $1 every pay period.

Of course, the fee jumped 10% in 2010 after bumping 10% in 2009 after years of little or no increase. Those increases ended up being a bit higher than the $1. Something closer to $40. But there is hope - in 40 years I can get to even:nuts:

 

[Miner]

Wish I could say that I'm saving. My premiums look like they'll go up exactly 10% from 2012 to 2013. Which is interesting because the insurance company just sent a sizeable refund back to the government because their Medical Loss Ratio didn't meet the 80/20 rule. Of course, I didn't see any of that money either because "OPM will use the rebate to adjust premium rates for future federal health plans. This ensures the rebate will be shared between health plan enrollees and the Federal agencies that pay for FEHBP".

 

[Frixxxx]

My premiums will jump 50% moving to the east coast.....apparently, the government can't negotiate very well over there.

 

[PessOptimist]

My premiums will jump 50% moving to the east coast.....apparently, the government can't negotiate very well over there.

So, are you saying living in PRK wasn't all bad?:notrust:

PO

 

[ILoveTDs]

Just want to weight in on HMO's here and the rationed coverage as FWM put it, and my experience with it.

Eight years ago I took my first job with the federal government straight out of college, and as a result got health insurance for the first time. I picked an HMO called "Group Health" that serviced the north west and noticed the "rationed coverage" within the first year, but I was young and didn't pay it no mind. The next year my wife got pregnant, the whole pregnancy they refused to do any test's above and beyond what was mandated, and refused to see my wife unless it was a schedule checkup. On several occasions I had to call and explain to the scheduler if they weren't going to see my wife I was going to take her to the emergency room.

At one point they had to IV my wife because she was dehydrated from puking during morning sickness, Group Health (HMO) had told her to eat some ginger over the phone for five days before I finally took her to the emergency room. Long story short she miscarried, called them up and they said they would see her and talk about at her next annual. I drop the Group Health (HMO) for an IPO the next open season and have never looked back. And have never had a miscarriage since.

IMO when the doctors work directly for the insurance company health care is diminished, and I'll never join an HMO again if I can avoid it. Just my two cents, but I'll tell everyone I can.

Child would be 6 and in the 1st grade today, never found out the gender.

 

[PessOptimist]

How does all this fit in with The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act now Public Law 111-148?

Now I could be mistaken on the actual title and law. It has all been very confusing.

FWM, since you are such a strong supporter of affordable health aka obamacare, explain the cost increases incurred by moving and what the law will do in the future to reduce those costs.

 

[Bullitt]

Some good points being made here. TD's... sorry for your loss.

Many of my peers would rather skimp on health insurance and take the cheapest plan so they have that extra $20 to spend on 'stuff'. One problem with cheaper plans is the maximum coverage ceiling. I saw one plan that would save almost 50% but the max coverage was only like $3,000 in one shot. Good luck with that.

 

[Boghie]

Have to say...

ObamaCare and our current CrappyCare both suck. Especially if you just purchase on cost. I have always weighed cost and service, but I know that 20-somethings often do not. They are invincible. The best thing about FEHB is that everything is in writing and everything is in one place. That might be a plus for ObamaCare; I think that plans would be presented to customers in a menu like we get.

I hate insurance and I don't trust future politicians...

 

[James48843]

OK FOLKS_ the 2017 Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan enrollment information and new 2017 PREMIUM RATES are now posted over on the OPM's website.

You can look at all the plan brochures and premiums here:
https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/premiums/


Open Season will begin November 14 this year.

Go take a look, compare plans, and see what is in store. My personal HMO jumped about $30 for 2017.

 

[clester]

OK FOLKS_ the 2017 Federal Employee Health Benefit Plan enrollment information and new 2017 PREMIUM RATES are now posted over on the OPM's website.

You can look at all the plan brochures and premiums here:
https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/premiums/


Open Season will begin November 14 this year.

Go take a look, compare plans, and see what is in store. My personal HMO jumped about $30 for 2017.

Blue cross basic plus one up $8 a month. Not bad. A lot of past years it has gone up a lot more.

 

[Cactus]

GEHA standard option self + one up only 4%. Not bad. It's usually up 6% - 7% a year.

 

[jonfresno]

Carefirst standard family plan up 52 bucks a month to about 475. I know I'm getting old, but I felt that I was only paying 340 or so a month not too long ago. When I first switched from MDIPA, I was paying 281 a month.

Maybe disown the kid so we can get onto Self Plus One?

I know, B!t@& and Moan, B!t@& and Moan...

Thanks for posting this James, much appreciated.

 

[Stoplight]

BC/BS basic "self" up $6/month (~4%)...no complaints.

Quick and dirty purely economic cut shows it STILL makes more sense to carry my own FEHB “self” plan ($154.32) + the Wife’s County Board of Ed “self” plan ($74.11 ; also administered through BC/BS) for a total of $228.43, vs my "self + 1" plan, for $356.72 !!! Saves us $128/month...no-brainer !!!

Of course, that’s grossly over-simplified...County could ditch the retiree health care benefit in a heartbeat ! ...And I need to compare her benefits vs mine...so far, it hasn’t been an issue. My co-pays went up this year, but she got a premium “holiday” based on good system performance...saved 1 month of her premium since they didn’t deduct it from her retirement check. Also, she becomes Medicare-eligible in 2017...the County drops her premium, and it becomes secondary.

OTOH, as a Fed, do the premiums change when you become eligible for Medicare ? Not that I can see !!!


Stoplight...

 

[evilanne]

Mine (402) only increased 2% but if I changed from Family to Self+1 it would only be a 1% increase. I'm glad I changed before I retired as it's still way lower than BCBS Standard.

 

[evilanne]

OTOH, as a Fed, do the premiums change when you become eligible for Medicare ? Not that I can see !!!

Medicare becomes your primary and if you keep FEHB it will be supplemental. Rates are the same for retiree & federal employee, which tend to increase annually. What agency do you currently work for?

 

[Scout333]

OTOH, as a Fed, do the premiums change when you become eligible for Medicare ? Not that I can see !!!
Stoplight...

I am soon to be Medicare eligible. No change in premium but you do get a reduction in deductibles and copays if you elect Medicare Part B (there is a premium for Part B). I'm still trying to figure out the best combination of plans. Spouse is not Medicare- Eligible yet.

 

[Stoplight]

Medicare becomes your primary and if you keep FEHB it will be supplemental. Rates are the same for retiree & federal employee, which tend to increase annually. What agency do you currently work for?

Evil,

Fortunately, I retired in 2012 !!!

I am soon to be Medicare eligible. No change in premium but you do get a reduction in deductibles and copays if you elect Medicare Part B (there is a premium for Part B). I'm still trying to figure out the best combination of plans. Spouse is not Medicare- Eligible yet.

Scout,

That's a nugget I did not realize !!! Can you steer me to someplace with info on how that works, in the FEHB health plans ? What happens if you DON'T select Part B ???

I think the Part B premium is somewhere ~ $125/month or so. I won't be Medicare eligible for a few years yet, but sounds like you're right...I'll have to do some more number-crunching, to see what makes sense !


Thanks for the responses !!!


Stoplight...