Best federal employee health insurance option for families?

[Anonymous]

Any opinions? Most comprehensive at most reasonable rate?

[Anonymous]

In my opinion Kaiser Permanente.

[Anonymous]

It really depends on whether you want to pick your own doctors. If you are o.k. with any doctors, usually Kaiser is a very good value for the dollar and comprehensive. But, again, if you don't think you'll need a lot of coverage, then you might be better off in a health savings account. There are too many personal preferences for anyone to give you a rock solid answer.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I've been incredibly happy with Carefirst. It's an HMO, but on the BCBS network. I've yet to have a Doctor who doesn't take it. It's no good if you need medical care out of the tri-state area, though.

[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.

Second this. Most doctors around here who take insurance participate in the BCBS standard plan. If you have medical needs that require seeing providers who don't take insurance (therapies, OT, psych), I'd look for another plan because the BCBS standard does not reimburse out of network.

[Anonymous]

The HDHPs (e.g. Aetna's) seem like a significantly better value than the non-HDHP plans.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

If you have any thorny medical issues (i.e., kids with special needs, adults with cancer), I would do BCBS. BCBS DOES reimburse, but you have to send in the invoices. They reimburse a portion of the negotiated rate. As an example, my DD's psych is not in the network and doesn't take insurance, but I send in his invoice for a $200 appointment and get about $60 from BCBS.

If you don't have any issues, I think Kaiser is the best. They focus on prevention and have good urgent care options. They do everything, including glasses. A lot of stuff doesn't require co-pays because they want you to do it.

[Anonymous]

Kaiser Permanent is the cheapest (it's what we have). BCBS is the most common.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you have any thorny medical issues (i.e., kids with special needs, adults with cancer), I would do BCBS. BCBS DOES reimburse, but you have to send in the invoices. They reimburse a portion of the negotiated rate. As an example, my DD's psych is not in the network and doesn't take insurance, but I send in his invoice for a $200 appointment and get about $60 from BCBS.

If you don't have any issues, I think Kaiser is the best. They focus on prevention and have good urgent care options. They do everything, including glasses. A lot of stuff doesn't require co-pays because they want you to do it.

Blue Cross STANDARD reimburses.
Blue Cross Basic does not. There is no out-of-network coverage. Which is not an issue the vast majority of the time because the network is large (except for psych). It's mainly an issue with doctors who are cash-only. You can't submit to get anything back like you can with the Standard plan.

[Anonymous]

Love Aetna Open Access. Low cost and every one of our existing providers takes it. Big network of specialists too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Kaiser Permanent is the cheapest (it's what we have). BCBS is the most common.

Exactly this. I had BCBS for a couple years and it wasn't worth the money for me personally, but it was very flexible. Kaiser is a great value but you have be the flexible one. I've been very happy with Kaiser, but there are certain things Kaiser doesn't do well (DCUM has many threads on this).

[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.

Second this. Most doctors around here who take insurance participate in the BCBS standard plan. If you have medical needs that require seeing providers who don't take insurance (therapies, OT, psych), I'd look for another plan because the BCBS standard does not reimburse out of network.

Incorrect. BCBS standard will reimburse for out of network. BCBS Basic will not.

[Anonymous]

We had Kaiser and did not like it one bit for the quality of care. The convenience is however great if you live near a Kaiser center. We are now happy with BCBS basic.