FEHBP 2009 Open Season

[XL-entLady]

I have had BCBS Standard for my entire 7 year career and it has served me well. It is getting expensive, but I am very high maintenance. BCBS has never gave me grief about anything and I make sure to call in before a procedure.

I also have maxed out my FSA 5 years in a row. Like I said, high maintenance and two kid with braces. I ran out of FSA money in June.

Yeah, Show-me. I know what you mean. That's one intangible thing I'm really weighing in my calculations. In my last MRI series I was in the tube for almost 4 hours and the medical bill was a real stomach twister. BCBS paid all but pennies and didn't even blink.

Lady

 

[Show-me]

I have had BCBS Standard for my entire 7 year career and it has served me well. It is getting expensive, but I am very high maintenance. BCBS has never gave me grief about anything and I make sure to call in before a procedure.

I also have maxed out my FSA 5 years in a row. Like I said, high maintenance and two kid with braces. I ran out of FSA money in June.

 

[CountryBoy]

The 2008 Federal Benefits Open Season for Health (FEHBP), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAFEDS), Dental and Vision (FEDVIP) Open Season will be conducted from November 10, 2008 through December 8, 2008.

http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp​

My current plan, Blue Cross-Blue Shield Standard Option, will be raising its premium costs by 17.4%. In addition, I take several medications (lots and lots ), none of which have generic options, and next year my prescription copay will almost double.

So I am going to need to spend a lot of time analyzing data and weighing my health insurance choices this open season. (I have to see doctors in very specialized fields, and it's hard to find one who is a Preferred Provider.) I will also be reviewing my FEDVIP choices from last year to see if it makes economic sense for me to continue those coverages, to switch companies, or to drop the coverage completely.

So, long story short, I thought I'd open this thread and share what I'm finding as I sort through my options. And I'd like to ask you all to do the same, recognizing that we all have different circumstances and live in different areas. As you are developing your own analysis and conclusions about your health care insurance options during the next seven weeks, will you take a moment and share them with us here? Thanks!

Lady

Lady,

If you can find someone that has the Nov 2008 NARFE Magazine it has a lot of review info on all the various plans offered during this open season.

CB

 

[clester]

I have had BC for 16 years and have liked it so far. A couple of years ago they changed from High and standard options to standard and basic options. I stayed with standard because I was leery of the new option. One difference that I am aware of is that if you do not go to a preferred provider they pay nothing, but if you do they pay more or all I think.

 

[CountryBoy]

Anyone have BC/BS basic? if so, how do you like it etc.?

I've had it for 23 years and have liked it. I know that the cost and co-pays are going up this year, but my wife does 99% of the dealing with these folks and she knows how to dicker with them to get them to accept certain payments and not to charge us for certain payments. I guess she knows how to work their system to our advantage, plus with an existing medical condition the last 4 years, you get a little leery switching plans. Also if I go out in 2013, I'm already inside the 5 year membership requirement.

So there is a lot to take into account and sometimes you take a little bad for the devil you know.

CB

 

[alevin]

Anyone have BC/BS basic? if so, how do you like it etc.?

I've had basic for nearly 20 years. No paperwork, no hassles, other than every now and then, they do weird things, like sometimes they send reimbursement check to me, sometimes they send it to the doctor- same doctor, different visits, same year. Sometimes because I've already paid the doctor (one of my doctors requires upfront full payment), the doctor ends up getting paid twice and I have to either carry it as a credit towards the next office visit or else request the doctor cut ME a check. It's only happened with dental and dermatologist, other bills it doesn't happen. No idea the reason.

I really really like Flex Savings accounts! :laugh:

 

[mick504]

I like BC/BS...as it seems everybody DR's accept them. It depends maybe where you live if there is a better policy. I live or at least have residency in Seattle, WA. They BC/BS works good for me and my wife...kids are all grown up and live far away.

 

[mick504]

Thanks for the tip for BC/BS...as I have them. I knew the premium went up but hadn't checked the co-pay on prescriptions my wife and I need. I'll check it out in the 2009 brochure. I have thought of mailhandlers also but not sure they cover you if you're outside the US and I am currently in Asia and am covered by BC/BS. I have to pay first and then submit bills to the US. Thanks!

 

[Guest2]

Anyone have BC/BS basic? if so, how do you like it etc.?

Clester, I had BCBS for several years until 2008. Prescription by mail looked
to be a great deal for quite some time. $35 per 90 day suppply. But I did
a evaluation of out of pocket expense (everyones different) and found that
Aetna (per year) would end up less expensive. I would suggest you look
at how many times you do a regular visit to your Primary Care Physician
and how many Prescriptions you will order for the year. By comparing each
one, you might be surprised of what you'll find. BCBS sends you a
Explanation of Benefits sheet each time you are billed. But only in a
perfect world. I've recieved Eof B's 8 months after a procedure and got
blind-sided because of the Specialists Billing Department. Getting a $800
bill (unexpectedly) 8 months after you paid a large bill already left a nasty
taste in my mouth. After a surgical procedure, I came to find out that in
New Jersey, an assistant anesthesiologist gets paid seperately and they
couldn't even justify the need for a assistant during a simple procedure.
I ended up paying it to keep up with my obligations as dictated by the
"Just Debts" policy. Hope this helps !

 

[clester]

Anyone have BC/BS basic? if so, how do you like it etc.?

 

[Guest2]

One other error noticed. They list some very strange 2008 Biweekly amounts in their new 2009 .Pdf files. They can't get anything right!

 

[XL-entLady]

Here's a caution. Don't use the comparison tool on the OPM website yet. It still has the 2008 information. A lot of the website information has not yet been updated, and a note on the site says that it will be available beginning November 3.

Lady

 

[XL-entLady]

I'm considering switching from BCBS to Mailhandlers and save about $850 a year! Still studing the handouts!:notrust:

Last year I almost switched too. But the spreadsheets said that the drug costs didn't quite make sense. Now this year, a specialist I have to see is not in the Mailhandlers provider directory.

So I, too, will study, study. And I'll mutter to myself. :laugh:

Lady

 

[XL-entLady]

Also remember to sign up for Flexible Spending accounts for Health Care and/or Dependent Care if you are eligible. Not using them is turning away free money. In short, they let you pay with pretax dollars, posttax expenses. If anyone has questions about how they work, feel free to ask here or drop me a PM.

As I'm sure you know, ChemEng, annuitants can't participate in flexible spending accounts (FSAFEDS). But when I was on the active payroll, my tax savings was hundreds of dollars, just from being enrolled in the program. I'll add my nudge to yours.

Folks, it takes just a minute to figure out your expected health costs for the year and then enroll. The savings can be substantial. It pays you a great "dollars per hour" in tax savings!

Lady

 

[nnuut]

I know makes the decision harder, still haven't made up my mind! Study study:suspicious:

 

[ChemEng]

I'm considering switching from BCBS to Mailhandlers and save about $850 a year! Still studing the handouts!:notrust:

Just a general comment--If you are looking at the HDHP's, make sure to study the plan in detail. They operate very differently from standard HMO/FFS plans. Not saying they are bad choice, just that they pass a certain amount of risk onto the customer that other plans do not while also having certain perks as well.

 

[nnuut]

I'm considering switching from BCBS to Mailhandlers and save about $850 a year! Still studing the handouts!:notrust:

 

[ChemEng]

Also remember to sign up for Flexible Spending accounts for Health Care and/or Dependent Care if you are eligible. Not using them is turning away free money. In short, they let you pay with pretax dollars, posttax expenses. If anyone has questions about how they work, feel free to ask here or drop me a PM.

 

[XL-entLady]

The 2008 Federal Benefits Open Season for Health (FEHBP), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAFEDS), Dental and Vision (FEDVIP) Open Season will be conducted from November 10, 2008 through December 8, 2008.

http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp​

My current plan, Blue Cross-Blue Shield Standard Option, will be raising its premium costs by 17.4%. In addition, I take several medications (lots and lots ), none of which have generic options, and next year my prescription copay will almost double.

So I am going to need to spend a lot of time analyzing data and weighing my health insurance choices this open season. (I have to see doctors in very specialized fields, and it's hard to find one who is a Preferred Provider.) I will also be reviewing my FEDVIP choices from last year to see if it makes economic sense for me to continue those coverages, to switch companies, or to drop the coverage completely.

So, long story short, I thought I'd open this thread and share what I'm finding as I sort through my options. And I'd like to ask you all to do the same, recognizing that we all have different circumstances and live in different areas. As you are developing your own analysis and conclusions about your health care insurance options during the next seven weeks, will you take a moment and share them with us here? Thanks!

Lady