FEHBP 2009 Open Season

You should really look at the Humana HMO. I live in Chicago and 90% of the doctors appear to be part of the plan. It is one of the cheapest plans, no deductable and small co pays.
 
We had that sticker shock too. Wife's birth control was ~$60, but it was absorbed by the health fund. We've never been wasteful with our insurance benefits, but it does have the secondary effect of seeing how much things actually cost outside the BCBS walled garden. Regardless, it was still the right move to make.

We went with the CDHP instead of the HSA. So our experience is a bit different than yours Lady. While I understand the goodness of an HSA, Im not to comfortable with the risk position it would put us in (even both being <30 and healthy).

Scott

XL-entLady said:
Just wanted to report back on my switch from BCBS to Aetna. I found out the hard way this morning that I had no clue what prescription meds cost in today's world.

Aetna is a high deductible plan ($1500) with a health savings account (HSA). My insurance premium is $5 a month after an automatic deposit is rebated to my HSA each month. I can pay the deductible with the savings from my insurance premium. I pay full price for medications until my deductible is reached. .... And that is what has kept me busy this morning!

I got new prescriptions for all my maintenance meds a couple of weeks ago and sent them in to the aetna mail order pharmacy along with my debit card number. Today the payments started hitting my bank account and OMG!! :worried: I've already met my deductible!! :blink:
Click to expand...
 
Grrr... Found out this morning that my TSP transaction didn't "take" on their website. Which means my increased contributions won't start for another 3 weeks. :mad:

ChemEng said:
So I finally got everything resubmitted and reelected.

This change actually got me back up to the TSP contribution limits (again) since lowering our contribution amounts to have our son. The combination of the reduced premiums and reduced HCFSA needs (plus January's COLA increase) got me back to where I was a year ago this time.

Just hoping there isnt too strong a bounce by the time my contributions kick in!
Click to expand...
 
Just wanted to report back on my switch from BCBS to Aetna. I found out the hard way this morning that I had no clue what prescription meds cost in today's world.

Aetna is a high deductible plan ($1500) with a health savings account (HSA). My insurance premium is $5 a month after an automatic deposit is rebated to my HSA each month. I can pay the deductible with the savings from my insurance premium. I pay full price for medications until my deductible is reached. .... And that is what has kept me busy this morning!

I got new prescriptions for all my maintenance meds a couple of weeks ago and sent them in to the aetna mail order pharmacy along with my debit card number. Today the payments started hitting my bank account and OMG!! :worried: I've already met my deductible!! :blink:

So I've been scrambling to put more money into my checking account before my mortgage auto-payment hits in a couple of days.

FYI, just in case anyone else switched to Aetna and needs medication.

Lady
 
Heres the number if you want to call the Aetna pharmacy to see if your meds are covered.1-866-782-2779
 
XL-entLady said:
KD, I'm happy to hear that you're satisfied with Aetna. Do you have any trouble with getting approval for meds? Among my many meds, I take Lyrica and a monthly injection. It appears from reading Aetna's literature that both of these will require special approval. What has your experience been, if any, with this type of situation?

(And CountryBoy, my friend, glad to help! :))

TIA,
Lady
Click to expand...

I haven't had any problems with meds. The Enbrel is delivered by UPS express from the Aetna Specialty Pharmacy with a $25 co-pay. I get all my other meds at Kroger.
 
KevinD said:
I'm with Aetna and they have been very very good to me.

Rheumatologist, Enbrel, Methotrexate, Prednisone, Naproxen, Folic Acid. Yes, I have my issues too. :rolleyes: :D
Click to expand...
KD, I'm happy to hear that you're satisfied with Aetna. Do you have any trouble with getting approval for meds? Among my many meds, I take Lyrica and a monthly injection. It appears from reading Aetna's literature that both of these will require special approval. What has your experience been, if any, with this type of situation?

(And CountryBoy, my friend, glad to help! :))

TIA,
Lady
 
Gumby said:
That Benicar is expensive. I take that one also.
I am thinking about changing from BCBS standard to the basic option. The prescriptions will be more expensive but there is no deductible for the rest of the insurance. Our doctors are all on the preferred provider list.
Is anyone else satisfied with the basic option?
Click to expand...

We have the standard BCBS and are happy with it. We ran the numbers again and standard was just a little better, it was kind of a trade off. In our area we only have GEHA as an alternative, so not much of a choice. The perscriptions was what made the difference, between the standard and basic.

Us oldsters have more meds including benicar also and all the doctors in this area are preferred, so the ER thing wasn't to big of a worry, but I want to thank Lady for posting that link to Gov Exec., any good news always eases the mind. :D

CB
 
felixthecat said:
I did some serious research and I'm leaning toward Blue Cross Basic family coverage. However...the only fly in the ointment is that two medications will eat up about $1000 dollars in family plan cost savings between Basic and Standard. Still, I come out 600 dollars ahead on the plan cost, and pay no deductible with Basic. All of our Preferred Providers needs are met. Still, I somehow filled robbed that benefits are decreasing and costs are increasing. Pharmacy drugs can tilt the scales. :(

The two drugs that are costly are Asmanex and Benicar. Level II and Level III drugs.
Click to expand...

That Benicar is expensive. I take that one also.
I am thinking about changing from BCBS standard to the basic option. The prescriptions will be more expensive but there is no deductible for the rest of the insurance. Our doctors are all on the preferred provider list.
Is anyone else satisfied with the basic option?
 
ChemEng said:
So I finally got everything resubmitted and reelected.

This change actually got me back up to the TSP contribution limits (again) since lowering our contribution amounts to have our son. The combination of the reduced premiums and reduced HCFSA needs (plus January's COLA increase) got me back to where I was a year ago this time.
Click to expand...
ChemEng, congratulations on doing your homework and choosing the health coverage that is best for you. And then using the savings to increase your TSP contribution! Excellent move that will literally pay dividends for years. :cool:

Lady
 
So I finally got everything resubmitted and reelected.

This change actually got me back up to the TSP contribution limits (again) since lowering our contribution amounts to have our son. The combination of the reduced premiums and reduced HCFSA needs (plus January's COLA increase) got me back to where I was a year ago this time.

Just hoping there isnt too strong a bounce by the time my contributions kick in!
 
HappyGoLucky said:
ChemEng - FSA Open Season is still on - so you should be able to change. It corresponds directly to the extension given for FEHB. I am looking into AETNA now. Thinking I will change....fed up with BC/BS!!
Click to expand...
For me the choice was rather easy. With Aetna, I get $2500 for the family in a health fund + $600 dental. For 2008, I have spent $1400 in combined health and dental costs (to include the costs of having a newborn). Combined with premiums that are nearly 50% off, its a no-brainer.

I was actually worried that I had missed something in my analysis because it is rare to have a situation where one scenario completely dominates another without having to make any tradeoffs. I showed it to another GS officemate and he verified that its a no brainer.
 
ChemEng - FSA Open Season is still on - so you should be able to change. It corresponds directly to the extension given for FEHB. I am looking into AETNA now. Thinking I will change....fed up with BC/BS!!
 
ChemEng said:
I think Im moving to Aetna.

Now I just have to figure out how to do it.

Thanks for the help (and prodding) everyone!
Click to expand...
I wonder if its past the open season for FSAFEDS. I based my contribution on this year's BCBS costs. With Aetna, my out of pocket costs are going to be totally different (read: MUCH lower).

I probably should have made this change a year or two ago.
 
I think Im moving to Aetna.

Now I just have to figure out how to do it.

Thanks for the help (and prodding) everyone!
 
roskopfm said:
you really should concern Humana HMO, the cost savings are more than 50%, why not put some of that cash in your pocket for a change. I have had it four years and have had no problems. I have a large choice of doctors and can go to any pharmacy I want. No Deductable and $20 co pay, the per paycheck amount is less than 50% compared to Blue Cross.
Click to expand...
But can they match BCBS vision and dental coverage? ;)
 
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