Federal Employee Health Insurance Open Enrollment

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

You also need to check to make sure you are looking at the calculator and formulary for 2025....which shows something very different than the above.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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

You also need to check to make sure you are looking at the calculator and formulary for 2025....which shows something very different than the above.

er. i am. maybe they are giving out inconsistent answers?

https://www.fepblue.org/pilot/rx-cost-tool/results?med=169477212&defaultUY=false&isChosenUY=true&benefitYear=2025&drug_name=OZEMPIC&dist=5&zip=20001&pharmId=0905200&pharmName=CVS%20PHARMACY%2010685&isPostal=false&drugStrength=8MG%2F3ML&drugForm=INJ

[Anonymous]

Re: BCBS - they just tried to cap anesthesia coverage in NY, CT, and MO. They walked it back quickly, but that’s terrifying. It’s in the NYT.