Federal employee health insurance open season - is there something better than BCBS?

[Anonymous]

I've worked for the federal government for 15 years and have had BCBS standard the whole time. We have a number of out-of-network healthcare providers that we need to keep using, in particular DS's psychiatrist and psychologist. So we spend thousands per year in health care expenses. Is there a better federal health plan that I should consider? I know open season is coming, and every year I try to figure this out, but I find the choices really overwhelming and so I wind up sticking with the same insurance.

[Anonymous]

We have APWU (American Postal Worker's Union). Don't be confused, it's open to any feds. It's a high-option Cigna plan. Love it.

[Anonymous]

Hang in there. I find now that I need to review what insurances our doctors take every year and align myself accordingly. We switched from Aetna to BCBS because it was the most widely accepted, and now most places we go don't even take it anymore. Many psychiatrists and psychologists don't take any insurance. Are you using FSAFEDs? That could help.

[Anonymous]

We have GEHA. I would not recommend, mainly because it's a pain to figure out what to use and what not to use. Example - you can have your doctor's office process lab tests (example - rapid strep tests, for example), and you'll have to pay extra for it. Or, you can take yourself (and your sick kid) to an 'approved' lab and have the test done for free. Um, no. This works ok for planned and scheduled blood work, but not for more immediate needs.

[Anonymous]

Is Aetna a new option for the gov't? Just googled it to find the fed plan and am I reading it right -- $500/month for the open access HMO for ONE person?? I have the BCBS Standard PPO (or PPO-ish at least) plan now and I pay something like $75/paycheck so $150 a month. Is Aetna THAT much better? I had Aetna at my last job and really liked it, but I'm not sure that $350/month extra is worth it?

[Anonymous]

I also have high-option Cigna plan thru APWU and love it.

[Anonymous]

Do you out of network doctors take any insurance? If so, I would look to switch to that.

I have had Aetna, APWU (Cigna) and BCBS Basic. I am on BCBS Basic now, but all our doctor's are in network. It does not cover out of network at all.

[Anonymous]

Always had insurance through my husband - not a fed, but a teacher - and I always thought BCBS was the best we've ever had. Unfortunately he's with DCPS now and they don't have it - we have Aetna and it's expensive in terms of monthly payments and also in terms of copays, though otherwise it's fine and has other perks (like it covers lactation consultants, for e.g.).

[Anonymous]

My understanding was that ALL plans had to cover lactation services.

[Anonymous]

Lactation coverage is not a perk.

Another Cigna fan here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have APWU (American Postal Worker's Union). Don't be confused, it's open to any feds. It's a high-option Cigna plan. Love it.

Do you have specific health needs that it's useful for? What are the premiums? (I'm a self +1) I had BCBS for a few years but it was so expensive, and we barely use it for anything other than primary care. So we switched to GEHA and I can't stand it.

[Anonymous]

I don't know if my plan is the same as the one the PPs have mentioned, but I have NALC through the National Association of Letter Carriers and I love it. It's a Cigna PPO. The coverage is as good as BCBS and it is significantly cheaper. We have a lot of doctor visits and also mental health visits (therapist and psychiatrist visits). They have very good out of of network coverage. Filing the claims is very easy on-line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We have APWU (American Postal Worker's Union). Don't be confused, it's open to any feds. It's a high-option Cigna plan. Love it.

Do you have specific health needs that it's useful for? What are the premiums? (I'm a self +1) I had BCBS for a few years but it was so expensive, and we barely use it for anything other than primary care. So we switched to GEHA and I can't stand it.

[Anonymous]

I've had GEHA for years and have been happy with it. I don't have any specific health problems except some skin issues. Rx and lab coverage have been good. I did see a therapist a few times but paid out of pocket. I also put money in an FSA. GEHA is cheaper than BCBS but I think coverage is less for certain things. For example, a fed friend of mine had an accident and needed physical therapy. She switched from GEHA to BCBS because it pays more and requires significantly less pre-authorizations and paperwork.

[Anonymous]

There's a new one called Innovation Health if you're in Virginia. Its an Aetna HMO but you can use all INOVA stuff. it's been great for me and not as much as BCBS.