NALC/CIGNA leaving FEHB

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have Kaiser prosper and my family premiums will go up by 8 dollars a biweekly pay period to $146. I don’t understand how people are willing to pay so much more to have PPOs. We’ve had Kaiser for years, it is fine.

We are in a state that does not have Kaiser, and I wish it did. I would sign up immediately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:when is open enrollment for feds?

Nov 11 to Dec 9

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand how people are willing to pay so much more to have PPOs.

You don't understand that some people have family members with serious, chronic health conditions requiring many specialists and don't want to have to get pre-authorization for each one or go through a specific set of doctors? Kaiser is great for healthy people with minor issues or people who don't want to choose their doctors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I don’t understand how people are willing to pay so much more to have PPOs.

You don't understand that some people have family members with serious, chronic health conditions requiring many specialists and don't want to have to get pre-authorization for each one or go through a specific set of doctors? Kaiser is great for healthy people with minor issues or people who don't want to choose their doctors.

Kaiser's also great for really ill people seeking "standard" treatment. If you already have documented cancer or a hernia or whatever and the treatments have not evolved much in the last 10 years, Kaiser is actually your best bet.

But Kaiser is bad for any kind of new or optional treatment or medication, including things that have been typical in non-Kaiser practices for years, such as many of the prenatal screenings (other than NT), breast MRIs, Wegovy for obesity, etc. It's also bad for anything unexplained, or anything masquerading as a more common illness. I had Kaiser almost my whole life and thought it was great until I ran into issues like these.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:FSBP is awesome, I just switched to it last year after being with SAMBA for 12+ years. I don’t work for one of the listed agencies on the FSPB site and they still added me during last year’s open season. I think they low-key want members and have relaxed the agency requirements without any announcement. I work for an independent fin-reg agency.

Which fin-reg agency? Did you call to verify eligibility or just signed up during open season? What was the process to add you during open season? TIA

In my case, I changed it via EPP during open season. I entered the code for the plan I wanted (FSBP single person). I didn’t even bother calling FSPB. They processed it in January and got all my cards in the mail that month. I figured that if there was an issue, my HR would call me, tell me it didn’t go thru, and I’d still keep my SAMBA.

In reality, I don’t think there’s anyone around to block you from signing up. Especially in the current environment. It’s too much work for other people to prevent you from joining.