BCBS Federal questions- Basic v. Federal and online site?

[Anonymous]

We pay for BCBS Federal- Standard (family) instead of Basic. This is around $240 more per month for the monthly premium. Basic is $568.96/month, and Standard is $803.14/month. Basic has no deductible. Standard has a deductible of $700 for the family.

BCBS pays us around $65 for each of DD's bi-monthly counseling visits (for which we pay $200 per visit). They also pay a similar portion (I believe) for her psychiatrist visits (for which we pay around $225 per visit. 3-4 times/year). They also pay around that much for my counselling visits (once a month, for which I pay $225/visit).

My questions:

1. Do you think BCBS Standard is worth it? Seems like a wash for me, or I am probably losing money. My gut says to just keep Standard until DD graduates b/c of intertia and for my peace of mind. We have another kid who does not have complex health needs. Kids are ages 15 and 13 so you never know what high school will bring.

2. Also, I know the claims have to be submitted BY MAIL, and I do that. Is creating an online MyBlue account worth it? Can you see all the final EOBs on there before they get mailed to your house? I don't want to create a MyBlue account to get teleheath/access to general health advice.

[Anonymous]

Switch to Basic.

[Anonymous]

Is the provider out of network? I thought that was more or less the only big reason to use Standard. Otherwise you will have to sit and do the math on what you would have paid the last two years with Standard vs Basic. When I looked into BCBS I was shocked that "Basic," being cheaper, was a better deal than standard.

I don't know about MyBlue.

[Anonymous]

For mental health, GEHA standard is the way to go.

This calculation is different for everyone, but my family's health needs are consistently in the mental health arena (anxiety, depression, my son is ASD/Bipolar), and GEHA reimburses FAR more than BCBS for mental health therapy. Something like 66% of $240 (my son's therapist charges $250/session, so we pay ~33% of the "allowed charge" plus the balance of $10 above the allowed charge).

GEHA standard is $186.35/pay period which works out to about $403.75 a month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the provider out of network? I thought that was more or less the only big reason to use Standard. Otherwise you will have to sit and do the math on what you would have paid the last two years with Standard vs Basic. When I looked into BCBS I was shocked that "Basic," being cheaper, was a better deal than standard.

I don't know about MyBlue.

Yes, you are paying for the freedom to go out of network.

In retirement, you would be crazy to have standard (since basic has so many perks for being secondary to Medicare)

[Anonymous]

I am the OP. Yes, all the mental health providers we see are out of network.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am the OP. Yes, all the mental health providers we see are out of network.

GEHA reimburses at higher rates than BCBS for out of network therapists. I suggest looking into switching at next open season.