Anonymous wrote:The premium increase in BCBS Basic is enough for me to consider switching to GEHA HDHP with an HSA. Interested in experiences from people who have gone that route. We are generally healthy and could cover the deductible in a rough year, but hope that we could take a few years to build up the HSA balance and not worry about it.

We've been on GEHA HDHP for several years now. We went over our deductible a couple years ago and I expected we would do it the next too, so I ran the numbers and it still came out better than the traditional plans once you account for the HSA tax savings (we max it and have a pretty high marginal rate) and GEHA's contribution to the HSA. We never actually take money out of the HSA and use it as an extra retirement account.

Anonymous wrote:The premium increase in BCBS Basic is enough for me to consider switching to GEHA HDHP with an HSA. Interested in experiences from people who have gone that route. We are generally healthy and could cover the deductible in a rough year, but hope that we could take a few years to build up the HSA balance and not worry about it.

I had BCBS Standard and switched to GEHA HDHP a few years ago. GEHA's HDHP plan is amazing if the finances work for your family. Knock on wood but we are healthy and mostly only need preventive care which is covered 100%. I have never met my deductible to be honest because so much of our routine care (including dental!) is covered in this plan. I do budget to cover my deductible each year though just in case. I max out my HSA contributions, never touch any of it, and invest it all to take advantage of the tax benefits of an HSA. I save all receipts just in case so that I can withdraw funds if needed.

If you can cash flow your medical care up to the higher deductible, then it's a fantastic plan. That won't work for everyone though depending on finances and how that balances out with medical needs.

Only $12.74 increase for GEHA HDHP. Highly recommend it.

Anonymous wrote:The premium increase in BCBS Basic is enough for me to consider switching to GEHA HDHP with an HSA. Interested in experiences from people who have gone that route. We are generally healthy and could cover the deductible in a rough year, but hope that we could take a few years to build up the HSA balance and not worry about it.

Me too. I’ve been BCBS Basic for a long time and am going to switch.

The premium increase in BCBS Basic is enough for me to consider switching to GEHA HDHP with an HSA. Interested in experiences from people who have gone that route. We are generally healthy and could cover the deductible in a rough year, but hope that we could take a few years to build up the HSA balance and not worry about it.

I just love padding health care corporations’ pockets!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/premiums/2025/fehb/2025-fehb-ffs-premium-rates.xlsx

Nearly $90 a month increase for BCBS Basic family coverage FML

Great. :/ DS’s preschool tuition just went up $1,500 for the year and this premium increase is about $1k/year. Can’t wait for my 2% raise to not even cover these extra expenses. I’ll be effectively making less.

But you’ll get a huge raise when your kid goes to K

Anonymous wrote:https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/premiums/2025/fehb/2025-fehb-ffs-premium-rates.xlsx

Nearly $90 a month increase for BCBS Basic family coverage FML

Great. :/ DS’s preschool tuition just went up $1,500 for the year and this premium increase is about $1k/year. Can’t wait for my 2% raise to not even cover these extra expenses. I’ll be effectively making less.

Anonymous wrote:When you start mandating that the plans cover IVF, sex-change operations, and expensive obesity drugs, costs have to go up substantially:

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/benefits/2024/09/fehb-enrollees-will-see-more-choices-for-comprehensive-ivf-coverage-in-2025/?readmore=1

Plus kids who are adults

When you start mandating that the plans cover IVF, sex-change operations, and expensive obesity drugs, costs have to go up substantially:

https://federalnewsnetwork.com/benefits/2024/09/fehb-enrollees-will-see-more-choices-for-comprehensive-ivf-coverage-in-2025/?readmore=1

In 20.years the entire economy is going to be health care.

HMO rates

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/premiums/2025/fehb/2025-fehb-hmo-premium-rates.xlsx

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/premiums/2025/fehb/2025-fehb-ffs-premium-rates.xlsx

Nearly $90 a month increase for BCBS Basic family coverage FML

$100 increase for my plan. So basically the entire paltry federal raise will barely or not even cover most people’s increased premiums.

oh wait that’s $100 biweekly. fml indeed.

Anonymous wrote:https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/premiums/2025/fehb/2025-fehb-ffs-premium-rates.xlsx

Nearly $90 a month increase for BCBS Basic family coverage FML

$100 increase for my plan. So basically the entire paltry federal raise will barely or not even cover most people’s increased premiums.

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/premiums/2025/fehb/2025-fehb-ffs-premium-rates.xlsx

Nearly $90 a month increase for BCBS Basic family coverage FML