Change in insurance copay - notification?

[Anonymous]

I found out at the pharmacy tonight that my previously no-copay health plan is now charging copays. I received no advance communication about this, I double checked my email and there was nothing in the mail either. Are they supposed to notify of a change like this, or is it it on the consumer to check during open enrollment?

Now I see that my plan (federal Carefirst Blue Choice) is charging more for everything. I've been happy with Carefirst for decades, so this is a shock. Maybe I messed up by not comparison shopping during OE, but I've been happy with them for so long. Dang it!

[Anonymous]

It’s yo to you to review each year. Each year the contracts are negotiated and the terms don’t necessarily remain the same from year to year.

[Anonymous]

Yes there was a lot online and in your online portal about the changes to Fed Blue Choice. Lots of people changed to other plans after decades on it because of the changes. I never got an email but I looked at the comparisons when it was open season and noticed a lot of cost increases to my Basic plan which I have had since the 1990s.

[Anonymous]

This is on you. You should have looked at this during Open Enrollment. They can't notify you of every change. Not sticking up for insurance companies (they absolutely suck) but this is your responsibility.

[Anonymous]

What's the Choice plan? I thought the plans were called Focus, Basic, and Standard (fepblue.org).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes there was a lot online and in your online portal about the changes to Fed Blue Choice. Lots of people changed to other plans after decades on it because of the changes. I never got an email but I looked at the comparisons when it was open season and noticed a lot of cost increases to my Basic plan which I have had since the 1990s.

I guess I picked the wrong time to ease up on my DCUM addiction! I'm mad at myself. Thank you for catching me up.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, all. Lesson learned! Why must everything be so hard? What a way to start the new year.

[Anonymous]

Yes - you definitely need to comparison shop each year.

FEHB requires each health plan to develop a plan brochure each year that has to be in a standard format. The best starting place is to look at the one for your current plan and review the section on “Changes for the next year” - here is the CareFirst Blue Choice brochure with the changes from 2024 to 2025 starting on page 17:


https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/plans/pdf/2025/brochures/73-718.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes there was a lot online and in your online portal about the changes to Fed Blue Choice. Lots of people changed to other plans after decades on it because of the changes. I never got an email but I looked at the comparisons when it was open season and noticed a lot of cost increases to my Basic plan which I have had since the 1990s.

I guess I picked the wrong time to ease up on my DCUM addiction! I'm mad at myself. Thank you for catching me up.

I just want to salute your for the rarest of DCUM reactions, a humble one. Hats off!

Sorry about the insurance changes, though.