FEHB Health Premiums up

[Warrenlm]

"What happens if you DON'T select Part B ??? "

If you don't elect to join Part B at 65, your FEHB plan continues as primary insurance, but provider compensation is lowered to the Medicare level. That shouldn't affect the patient.

Also, if you change your mind some years later, there is a permanent premium increase of 10% penalty for each year of delay. Also, watch the income thresholds because the increased premium for Part B due to income surprises some people.

 

[evilanne]

Each FEHB plan should address medicare; FEHB = Medicare Part B + Part D (Prescriptions)
https://www.medicare.gov/what-medicare-covers/index.html

 

[Scout333]

Stop I got my information from Blue Cross. They mailed me a brochure that explained what happens when you merge Medicare and federal BCBS. I assume without Part B you keep your regular deductibles and copays. I'm still researching. If I get other info I'll pass it on.







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...[/QUOTE]

 

[James48843]

OK- the NEW FEDERAL EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT RATES FOR 2020 ARE NOW PUBLISHED!!!


You can go to the OPM website, and see what the premiums are going to be for 2020, as well as see plan changes and new plans available.
Here is the link:

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/premiums/


Enjoy! !

 

[nasa1974]

OK- the NEW FEDERAL EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT RATES FOR 2020 ARE NOW PUBLISHED!!!


You can go to the OPM website, and see what the premiums are going to be for 2020, as well as see plan changes and new plans available.
Here is the link:

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/premiums/

Enjoy! !

Thanks for the information James

 

[weatherweenie]

Looks like about a 15% increase in my premiums, with no expected pay raise for 2020. Thanks for nothin'!

OK- the NEW FEDERAL EMPLOYEE HEALTH BENEFIT RATES FOR 2020 ARE NOW PUBLISHED!!!


You can go to the OPM website, and see what the premiums are going to be for 2020, as well as see plan changes and new plans available.
Here is the link:

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/premiums/


Enjoy! !

 

[sniper]

Premiums keep going up, benefits keep going down. The same health plan I had for years had a pretty nice cost increase, meanwhile, it now only covers 1 dental cleaning per year (used to be 2)

I need to take a deeper look at the comparisons over the years of how much crappier the coverage has gotten to see how hard we're getting screwed

 

[Bullitt]

Yeah I got hit the past year with a ~$150 dental bill to cover an x-ray. Dentist didn't realize that benefit had been removed for 2020 and neither did I.

It's only going to get worse. Think of all those people who are wasting time getting (free) COVID tests "just to be safe". Someone has to pay for that.

 

[nasa1974]

I guess my Social Security check will help cover my FEHB insurance increase.

 

[rangerray]

Premiums go up; benefits go down. That's been my story for the whole of my government career.

 

[Kajunboywonder]

Yeah I got hit the past year with a ~$150 dental bill to cover an x-ray. Dentist didn't realize that benefit had been removed for 2020 and neither did I.

It's only going to get worse. Think of all those people who are wasting time getting (free) COVID tests "just to be safe". Someone has to pay for that.

- “Just to be safe and responsible”. Making sure they don’t potentially kill people because they are continuing to go through life like a person that doesn’t harbor an infectious virus that kills people.

 

[James48843]

Federal Employees Will Pay 8.7% More Toward Health Care Premiums Next Year

Federal Employees Will Pay 8.7% More Toward Health Care Premiums Next Year

The Office of Personnel Management said increased use of health care services as the COVID-19 pandemic has waned has led to the sharpest uptick in health insurance premiums in more than a decade.

ERICH WAGNER | 1 HOURS AGO

Federal employees and retirees will spend an average of 8.7% more on their health insurance premiums in 2023, a figure that marks the highest cost increase in more than a decade.

The government’s share of Federal Employees Health Benefits Program premiums will increase by an average of 6.6%, bringing the overall increase to 7.2%, according to an OPM document obtained by Government Executive. That overall premium increase is the highest the nation’s largest health insurance program has seen since costs increased 9% in 2011.

On average, federal employees enrolled in “self-only” plans will pay an additional $8.11 per bi-weekly pay period, while feds in “self plus one” insurance plans will pay $20.34 more per pay period. Federal workers enrolled in family coverage will pay an average of $20.87 more per pay period in 2023.

For the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program, the average premium for dental plans will increase by 0.21%, while the overall average premium for vision coverage will decrease by 0.41%.

More: https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefit...toward-health-care-premiums-next-year/377915/

 

[nnuut]

Re: Federal Employees Will Pay 8.7% More Toward Health Care Premiums Next Year

DAMMIT!

 

[Bullitt]

Re: Federal Employees Will Pay 8.7% More Toward Health Care Premiums Next Year

I'm up around 10%. Hopefully everybody else's is less.

 

[SteelSaving]

Re: Federal Employees Will Pay 8.7% More Toward Health Care Premiums Next Year

[FONT=&quot]OPM also cited an increase in usage of health care services, following a period earlier in the pandemic when enrollees used fewer medical services.[/FONT]

Funny, I don't recall seeing my premiums go down when we were using fewer medical services.

[FONT=&quot]Insurers are also required to provide “adequate coverage” of anti-obesity medications.[/FONT]

Can't we just ban forks?

 

[SteelSaving]

Re: Federal Employees Will Pay 8.7% More Toward Health Care Premiums Next Year

I'm up around 10%. Hopefully everybody else's is less.

Mine's up 2%. You should shop.

 

[James48843]

So I just finally found the OPM pages.

My Blue Cross Basic, self plus one, is rising from :

$424 per month in 2022
To
$472 per month in 2023.


I’m curious- I’m not yet 65. I CAN get TrI-care select ( I’m retired Guard) but I have to pay a small amount.

Anybody know- can you cover your spouse under Tricare select (from age 60 to 65 it is select, at 65 it turns into Tricare for life) ?

What does Tricare Select not cover than Blue Cross basic does?

I’ve been spoiled the last ten years and not paying enough attention to insurances . Been always covered for everything under combined Blue Cross basic and VA coverage. I don’t want to drop everything except VA, because I think that might lead to issues of $$$ outflow .

Thoughts?

Healthcare-
VA , or VA plus Tricare, or VA plus Blue Cross Basic For myself.

Wife is a veteran but doesn’t get any VA. So I have to EITHER bolster VA with Blue Cross Basic; or with TriCare select.




Sent from my iPhone using TSP Talk Forums

 

[Bullitt]

Re: Federal Employees Will Pay 8.7% More Toward Health Care Premiums Next Year

Mine's up 2%. You should shop.

State makes a huge difference. Previous plan actually going down slightly for 2023, but it's still almost twice the price I pay now. All things considered it's still better than any other option I have to choose from for my family.

And no, I wouldn't ever consider purchasing the cheapest option either.

 

[James48843]

Cost of FEHB is going up. Blue Cross Standard up around 15% starting in January. Others rise too. More:

https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefit...iums/400133/?oref=ge-featured-river-secondary




Sent from my iPhone using TSP Talk Forums

 

[James48843]

Sent from my iPhone using TSP Talk Forums