Federal Employee Health Insurance Open Enrollment

[Anonymous]

I've been a career-long BCBS Basic Federal Employee Plan participant. This year the family deductible is going up to $303/pp (biweekly pay periods), which has me contemplating a HDHP. We are a family of 3--DH and I are mid-40's and DS is 9. We don't have any foreseeable medical needs in our future; I'm not trying to get pregnant and none of us have any other medical issues other than high blood pressure that's treated by medicine.

I'm nervous about the out of pocket expenses for the GEHA or MHBP high deductible health plans, but if we don't have any health issues it seems like a really good deal. Anyone on either of these plans have any insights??

[Anonymous]

We're in the same boat but we're just about 40 with 3 kids. I think we're going to make the move. I just can't justify the premiums and we have savings to cover the max out of pocket if something unexpected arises.

[Anonymous]

We’ve had GEHA standard for 10 years. Which is $91 cheaper/pp than BCBS. I had BCBS prior to GEHA. I had a baby under each plan. I have found pretty much zero difference in the plans. So consider that if you aren’t sold on a HDHP. The difference is $13 between GEHA’s standard and HDHP.

[Anonymous]

I just changed to GEHA standard after a decade on bcbs basic for self plus one (one kid). Bcbs is just out of control w the fees.

[Anonymous]

I’m moving from BCBS Basic to GEHA HDHP for next year due to cost. I figured I’ll give it a year and if it’s awful I’ll switch back next year.

[Anonymous]

I switched my family from BCBS Basic to GEHA HDHP in 2023. I'm very happy with the results. I wish I had started with GEHA HDHP earlier, but I was fearful.

I recommend maxing out your own HSA contributions directly to a Fidelity HSA, and also periodically rolling over GEHA's HSA contribution ("premium pass through") from HSABank to the same Fidelity HSA.

[Anonymous]

You could also look at the MHBP ppo. I was considering it but I have an expensive prescription.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been a career-long BCBS Basic Federal Employee Plan participant. This year the family deductible is going up to $303/pp (biweekly pay periods), which has me contemplating a HDHP. We are a family of 3--DH and I are mid-40's and DS is 9. We don't have any foreseeable medical needs in our future; I'm not trying to get pregnant and none of us have any other medical issues other than high blood pressure that's treated by medicine.

I'm nervous about the out of pocket expenses for the GEHA or MHBP high deductible health plans, but if we don't have any health issues it seems like a really good deal. Anyone on either of these plans have any insights??

Why are you worried about out of pocket expense? The deductible is $3300 and GEHA contributes $2000 for you, so it is only $1300. The premium difference between BCBS basic and GEHA HDP is way more than that. So really, you come out ahead under any scenario.

[Anonymous]

i think much of it comes down to med cost. if two family members are on ozempic, for example, and GEHA makes you pay $650/mo each and BCBS standard makes you pay $120/quarter each, then that $90/pp "savings" to switch plans gets curb-stomped by the $1140/mo more you are spending on ozempic.

if you don't take any expensive medications and don't usually need doctors then switching to a HDHP and contributing to an HSA is a great financial move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i think much of it comes down to med cost. if two family members are on ozempic, for example, and GEHA makes you pay $650/mo each and BCBS standard makes you pay $120/quarter each, then that $90/pp "savings" to switch plans gets curb-stomped by the $1140/mo more you are spending on ozempic.

if you don't take any expensive medications and don't usually need doctors then switching to a HDHP and contributing to an HSA is a great financial move.

I know you didn't say these were actual rx costs, but fyi for next year the differential is lopsided in the other direction. GEHA has a specialty rx max of $250, whereas for BCBS I think Wegovy etc are going to be $600 or 700+ a month.

[Anonymous]

Foreign Service Benefit Plan is way better (and cheaper) than BCBS. Only certain agencies are allowed to enroll however.

[Anonymous]

We switched from BCBS to Aetna years ago and have never looked back.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’ve had GEHA standard for 10 years. Which is $91 cheaper/pp than BCBS. I had BCBS prior to GEHA. I had a baby under each plan. I have found pretty much zero difference in the plans. So consider that if you aren’t sold on a HDHP. The difference is $13 between GEHA’s standard and HDHP.

I was going to suggest GEHA standard as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i think much of it comes down to med cost. if two family members are on ozempic, for example, and GEHA makes you pay $650/mo each and BCBS standard makes you pay $120/quarter each, then that $90/pp "savings" to switch plans gets curb-stomped by the $1140/mo more you are spending on ozempic.

if you don't take any expensive medications and don't usually need doctors then switching to a HDHP and contributing to an HSA is a great financial move.

You also need to see which insurance companies cover the meds you take. The expensive medication I take is covered by GEHA but not by BCBS. As in, it’s not covered at all by BCBS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i think much of it comes down to med cost. if two family members are on ozempic, for example, and GEHA makes you pay $650/mo each and BCBS standard makes you pay $120/quarter each, then that $90/pp "savings" to switch plans gets curb-stomped by the $1140/mo more you are spending on ozempic.

if you don't take any expensive medications and don't usually need doctors then switching to a HDHP and contributing to an HSA is a great financial move.

I know you didn't say these were actual rx costs, but fyi for next year the differential is lopsided in the other direction. GEHA has a specialty rx max of $250, whereas for BCBS I think Wegovy etc are going to be $600 or 700+ a month.

the cost calculators says $665 for 3 months for GEHA vs $40 for BCBS Standard for the 8mg ozempic. i know wegovy has changed classes. anyway, my point is, you need to check the formularies and cost calculators carefully