Anonymous
Post 04/10/2015 12:20     Subject: Federal BCBS- basic vs standard
I have a chronic illness and have basic. I've never encountered any doctor that doesn't take basic.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2015 12:08     Subject: Federal BCBS- basic vs standard
We have Standard because we travel frequently to see family and friends and want some out-of-network coverage. When our daughter got sick over the holidays and was diagnosed with pneumonia, we were glad to have it.

I'd also check with your specialists to make sure they are all in-network. If not, I'd for sure go with Standard.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2015 07:41     Subject: Federal BCBS- basic vs standard
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:We have the Basic FEP and have had no problem with people accepting it -- I've never found anyone who doesn't. I'd suggest making sure all your current specialists are in-network first, just in case. Basic saves us a lot of money. I'm a fan.


PS - actually, the one specialty I've had no success with is mental health. Very few mental health therapists take insurance anymore (which I think is disgraceful but that's another story), so we've been stuck with some hefty fees and no coverage in that area. Not sure how much better Standard would be for that.


It helps, but it's not great. You get back a percentage of what they say is the cost of each therapy session. But their allowance is much lower than what therapy actually costs in this area. We haven't processed our first claim this year yet but in the past it's worked out to something like $60 a session that you get paid back. If you have someone who regularly sees a therapist it is a savings.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2015 07:03     Subject: Federal BCBS- basic vs standard
Anonymous wrote:My take on this is that I have health insurance primarily for catastrophic illnesses. It's great if it also minimizes my routine out of pocket costs, but what I really want it for is if a family member or I develop some serious (and expensive) condition. And in that circumstance, the best care for the condition might be out of network. So I have always had Standard. It's good coverage for routine care and if my family ever needs out of network care it is available, although at reduced coverage.

I recognize that my view on this has cost me hundreds or thousands of dollars over the years and I am okay with that.



+1 peace of mind for me, too. (Plus the mail order prescriptions.)

Anonymous
Post 04/10/2015 06:23     Subject: Federal BCBS- basic vs standard
My take on this is that I have health insurance primarily for catastrophic illnesses. It's great if it also minimizes my routine out of pocket costs, but what I really want it for is if a family member or I develop some serious (and expensive) condition. And in that circumstance, the best care for the condition might be out of network. So I have always had Standard. It's good coverage for routine care and if my family ever needs out of network care it is available, although at reduced coverage.

I recognize that my view on this has cost me hundreds or thousands of dollars over the years and I am okay with that.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2015 19:57     Subject: Federal BCBS- basic vs standard
Basic is best unless you routinely go to doctors who don't take insurance. With standard you can get back a portion of their fees, with basic you can't send in the claims at all.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2015 19:17     Subject: Federal BCBS- basic vs standard
Anonymous wrote:We have the Basic FEP and have had no problem with people accepting it -- I've never found anyone who doesn't. I'd suggest making sure all your current specialists are in-network first, just in case. Basic saves us a lot of money. I'm a fan.


PS - actually, the one specialty I've had no success with is mental health. Very few mental health therapists take insurance anymore (which I think is disgraceful but that's another story), so we've been stuck with some hefty fees and no coverage in that area. Not sure how much better Standard would be for that.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2015 19:15     Subject: Federal BCBS- basic vs standard
We have the Basic FEP and have had no problem with people accepting it -- I've never found anyone who doesn't. I'd suggest making sure all your current specialists are in-network first, just in case. Basic saves us a lot of money. I'm a fan.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2015 19:08     Subject: Federal BCBS- basic vs standard
We switched to Basic a couple years ago, and have no complaints. Because Basic actually has dental coverage, we've saved several hundred dollars a year. We don't have any obscure conditions, but have seen plenty of specialists (rheumatologist, dermatologist, pediatric orthopedist) and have had no problem with our desired providers not being covered.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2015 18:50     Subject: Federal BCBS- basic vs standard
We have standard - we use out of network often
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2015 17:25     Subject: Re:Federal BCBS- basic vs standard
Anonymous wrote:We currently have a nonfederal BCBS PPO so i'm guessing it should not be a difference for the doctors / specialists we already have.

Did anyone do the exact breakdown for comparing BCBS to carefirst?


No an expert, but a PPO indicates they will pay for out of network, just at a lower amount. I think if you have basic they do not pay for out of network providers. So I wouldn't assume that because your current BCBS PPO covers your specialists federal BCBS basic will.

I use GEHA high option.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2015 15:26     Subject: Re:Federal BCBS- basic vs standard
We currently have a nonfederal BCBS PPO so i'm guessing it should not be a difference for the doctors / specialists we already have.

Did anyone do the exact breakdown for comparing BCBS to carefirst?
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2015 14:34     Subject: Federal BCBS- basic vs standard
We were Standard and then I went to one of those Health Fairs and the BCBS guy recommended I switch to Basic. I checked that our main docs were in-network (pediatrician and OBGYN basically) and they were, so I switched and have never had any issues. It saves a fair amount of money to do Basic for the family and I never would have considered it (mostly out of a vague fear but nothing substantiated) but very glad I did. Has been great for us.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2015 14:26     Subject: Re:Federal BCBS- basic vs standard
If you have chronic illnesses and are picky about your specialists, you'd be crazy to get basic where you have to go in network for everything. I have a colleague with basic, and it has become clear he has an autoimmune condition. His in network provider has not really dx'ed it but has prescribed pretty heavy duty medication for him to take. He now is going out of network for a second opinion and I doubt he'll go back in network. For sure he is changing his insurance plan at next open season.
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2015 14:17     Subject: Federal BCBS- basic vs standard
We are looking to sign up with a federal plan. Any recommendations for a family of 4 for BCBS basic vs standard? We do see a number of adult specialists for chronic illness so will have multiple specialists visits per year if that matters. Any other recommendations for other health plans would be great!