Best federal employee health insurance option for families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bump, we have carefirst but it is going up significantly in 2019.

If you like carefirst, go with their HDHP. HDHP's sound scary, but most of the FEHB HDHP's effective deductible has decreased since last year. The carefirst one actually has the same effective deductible (deductible minus the amount they just hand to you each year) as their standard plan. Plus, you get the triple tax advantage. I have GEHA's HDHP and really like it (100% preventative dental!).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have tried many over the years and I have found Blue Cross Blue Shield Standard to be the best value for us because out doctors are on the plan. What we are giving up is the flexibility to outside the network. We never do, but we never have had a major health crisis either.

Of course, I have not yet seen the rates for open season.

Some of the plans for the postal workers are pretty good, I have used those in the past.

I love BCBS PPO - can go out of plan if needed, but most doctors are in plan, including psychologists. Prescription plan is good, and when we've had major surgeries, both emergency and otherwise, it was easy to get coverage without hoops or anything else. Just like Apple used to be - it just worked. The premiums also didn't go up this year (bonus).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bump, we have carefirst but it is going up significantly in 2019.

If you like carefirst, go with their HDHP. HDHP's sound scary, but most of the FEHB HDHP's effective deductible has decreased since last year. The carefirst one actually has the same effective deductible (deductible minus the amount they just hand to you each year) as their standard plan. Plus, you get the triple tax advantage. I have GEHA's HDHP and really like it (100% preventative dental!).

Happy to hear you like GEHA HDHP.

I've had GEHA Standard + GEHA Dental for a few years and like it but did the math and figured out that the HDHP would be at worst equivalant and at best would allow us to start saving under the HSA so I'm planning to switch (family of three with a 1-year-old).

[Anonymous]

For the people with the GEHA plans, what’s the fitness benefit and which gyms or yoga studios in DC participate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We use GEHA high. Expensive, but excellent out of network coverage. But we have two kids with ADHD doing some form of theapry, plus a psychiatristfor med management. Plus an adult getting significant mental healthcare (therapy and medication management). In this area, all of our providers are excellent— but all are out of network. We are easily paying $2000 a month in just mental heatcare. It is covered at 75% by GEHA high. We have to pay out of pocket, then submit the receipts. And once we have $5000 in network or $7000 out of network costs, which usually happens in August, we hit our catastrophic max, and even out of network is covered at 100%. So right now, all the therapy visits, all the out of network psychiatry, all of the medication— no out of pocket costs.

We have never had GEHA require precentification for mental health, and never had a claim questioned. Never had to have a therapist fill out a treatment plan. And we had a kid who was doing therapy twice a week for a while. They still didn't balk. They reimburse quickly (I usually get a check within two weeks of mailing in receipts).

In most case GEHA high is not worth it. But if you have high out of network expenses, like mental health care, it is a really great choice.

This is good to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the people with the GEHA plans, what’s the fitness benefit and which gyms or yoga studios in DC participate?

$25 a month. Depends on exactly where you are in the dc area: gyms within DC are Gold's, Planet's, and LA Fitness. Outside of DC also includes Snap, Anytime, and Curves.

Their gym program used to be different. Wasn't a set fee, but instead depended on which gym.

[Anonymous]

My kids have a lot of mental health issues. I have Aetna at the moment, but not happy with the coverage. I know most mental health doctors do not take insurance. Would BCBS standard be a better option for us? Single mom with two teenagers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have tried many over the years and I have found Blue Cross Blue Shield Standard to be the best value for us because out doctors are on the plan. What we are giving up is the flexibility to outside the network. We never do, but we never have had a major health crisis either.

Of course, I have not yet seen the rates for open season.

Some of the plans for the postal workers are pretty good, I have used those in the past.

I love BCBS PPO - can go out of plan if needed, but most doctors are in plan, including psychologists. Prescription plan is good, and when we've had major surgeries, both emergency and otherwise, it was easy to get coverage without hoops or anything else. Just like Apple used to be - it just worked. The premiums also didn't go up this year (bonus).

The thing that makes me nervous about BCBS standard is that for emergency room visits and surgeries it says 15% whereas with carefirst it is $200 (for in network). Seems less predictable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bump, we have carefirst but it is going up significantly in 2019.

If you like carefirst, go with their HDHP. HDHP's sound scary, but most of the FEHB HDHP's effective deductible has decreased since last year. The carefirst one actually has the same effective deductible (deductible minus the amount they just hand to you each year) as their standard plan. Plus, you get the triple tax advantage. I have GEHA's HDHP and really like it (100% preventative dental!).

Thanks for this tip! I hadn't even looked at that option and it is much cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have BCBS basic and it seems to work well. I looked into the difference between Standard and Basic at one point but I forget the difference in the plans now. I think Standard is a little more expensive.

it is different in how much and what is covered: basic covers a certain dollar amount/co-pay, e.g. $15 or $20, while standard covers 15% or 20% of allowed charges. And since our health services never provide a price list before treating patients, it is really hard to understand how much does standard cover in dollar amount.

https://www.fepblue.org/benefit-plans/compare-plans-2018

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much is BCBS standard going up this year?

My quote went up $30 a month for self+family.

You sure about that? 2018 Chart says $271 biweekly for self + family with Standard. 2019 chart says $268 biweekly.

Am I reading it wrong?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bump, we have carefirst but it is going up significantly in 2019.

We noticed that too and we're thinking of switching. Are there no caps on how high FEHB premiums can rise year-to-year?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For the people with the GEHA plans, what’s the fitness benefit and which gyms or yoga studios in DC participate?

$25 a month. Depends on exactly where you are in the dc area: gyms within DC are Gold's, Planet's, and LA Fitness. Outside of DC also includes Snap, Anytime, and Curves.

Their gym program used to be different. Wasn't a set fee, but instead depended on which gym.

Thx! No yoga studios?

[Anonymous]

United healthcare is denying my kid's mental health claims. Open season is next week, who should we switch to?

[Anonymous]

Have been pleased with GEHA, high deductable plan