2026 FEHB Insurance Plans

[blarg]

I was trying to find out about this. So, it takes the entire year for the plan-contributed HSA money to reach it's max ($1200 single/$2400 family), right?

With the FSA, the designated contribution is available for payment reimbursement on Jan 1, then payroll deductions pay it off over the whole year.

I just found out that one can do a health plan with an HSA, contribute up to the allowable maximum (if desired) AND get a special "Limited Expense FSA". The Limited Expense FSA is strictly for eligible dental and vision expenses. So for 2026, we can put $3400 pre-tax into a Limited FSA, and another $4400 single/$8750 family into the HSA.

The FSA is allowing $680 to carry over to the next year so you have to spend enough on dental or vision or calculate a lower contribution. As others have explained, unspent HSA money stays with you. Most people won't have that much dental or vision, but if you want braces or Lasik or something that could be a good plan for a given year, allowing you to save the HSA money from being spent.

I'm looking in to this also after having BCBS basic my whole career. They've been great, but the premiums are just getting out of control.

I think the HSA money does accumulate over the year, but even if you incur costs before you build up money in the HSA, you can still just wait and use the money in the HSA later on as long as you keep receipts for anything that you paid for after the HSA was created in case you get audited. So do whatever you want, save receipts, then add HSA money for it after the fact, and withdraw later, unless I'm misunderstanding.

For you MHBP people, in the provider directory, we would use the "MHBP - Aetna Choice® POS II Network" plan option, right? This directory kinda sucks, at least for me. I have to put a really large radius, then change to map option, then zoom back out and focus on my location to easily see providers in my area. Even then most of them don't show up unless I type in a specific name and it can find them in network. If I put my zip code and a 10 mile radius it shows zero providers even though there are lots of them.

Using this: Aetna

 

[Cpt_munky]

For you MHBP people, in the provider directory, we would use the "MHBP - Aetna Choice® POS II Network" plan option, right? This directory kinda sucks, at least for me. I have to put a really large radius, then change to map option, then zoom back out and focus on my location to easily see providers in my area. Even then most of them don't show up unless I type in a specific name and it can find them in network. If I put my zip code and a 10 mile radius it shows zero providers even though there are lots of them.

Using this: Aetna

That is correct on the network. The provider search tool is a little shitty on mobile. You may have better luck on a desktop. I use it on mobile but I'm in a major metro so I just see all the hospital networks near me are in network and I just check the have of whomever they schedule me with. They've all been in network so far.

 

[Motodog]

I'm looking in to this also after having BCBS basic my whole career. They've been great, but the premiums are just getting out of control.

I think the HSA money does accumulate over the year, but even if you incur costs before you build up money in the HSA, you can still just wait and use the money in the HSA later on as long as you keep receipts for anything that you paid for after the HSA was created in case you get audited. So do whatever you want, save receipts, then add HSA money for it after the fact, and withdraw later, unless I'm misunderstanding.

Can’t imagine you’d need receipts,as long as they can see $ went to copays, doc visits, prescriptions, any eligible med expenses

 

[Termine]

Seems a moot point if you hit the fica cap though.

Moot for the Social Security tax, true, but Medicare tax never goes away.

Is it a savings allotment?

It's a special allotment in EE. "Health Savings Allotment." Separate from a discretionary allotment or financial allotment.

Can’t imagine you’d need receipts

Some banks do want you to upload receipts but you don't ever actually NEED them by law. Until you get audited by the IRS and then you do.

 

[Geeare27]

The money contributed to your HSA by the FAA rolls over. It’s not like an FSA that must be spent every year. Every month $200 gets dropped into the Inspira HSA ($100 if you’re single). Inside the Inspira HSA there are several different mutual funds you can invest in, and I just invest in a fund that mimics the SP500.

Jesus Christ just based on the numbers this seems unbelievably good compared to BCBS.

First of all, you save $100 a paycheck (Self plus One) which is $2400 a year. Then they also give you $2400 a year to your HSA. That's immediately $4800 a year saved. On top of that, once you hit the deductible virtually all of the copays are less and the out of pocket max is less too.

So even if you actually use your insurance up to and beyond your deductible ($4k), you're still up $800 for the year and at that point everything is as cheap or cheaper than BCBS. And if you don't use your insurance, you're up $4800 in a tax advantaged savings account

Again, unless there's something glaring I'm missing it seems like a fucking no brainer

 

[32andBelow]

Jesus Christ just based on the numbers this seems unbelievably good compared to BCBS.

First of all, you save $100 a paycheck (Self plus One) which is $2400 a year. Then they also give you $2400 a year to your HSA. That's immediately $4800 a year saved. On top of that, once you hit the deductible virtually all of the copays are less and the out of pocket max is less too.

So even if you actually use your insurance up to and beyond your deductible ($4k), you're still up $800 for the year and at that point everything is as cheap or cheaper than BCBS. And if you don't use your insurance, you're up $4800 in a tax advantaged savings account

Again, unless there's something glaring I'm missing it seems like a fucking no brainer

Blue cross has been fake news for a couple years now

 

[Motodog]

Moot for the Social Security tax, true, but Medicare tax never goes away.


It's a special allotment in EE. "Health Savings Allotment." Separate from a discretionary allotment or financial allotment.


Some banks do want you to upload receipts but you don't ever actually NEED them by law. Until you get audited by the IRS and then you do.

Banks couldn’t care less. I got audited 3 years ago. Agent saw expenditures went to medical providers, that was the end of that, could vary by IRS rep I suppose

 

[Sassyquatch]

I'm also on BCBS basic and wanted to make the switch last year but I was about to have a baby and didn't want to change everything last minute. Looking through both plans, it almost seems as if MHBP standard option is cheaper when I'm looking at just deductibles and copays? But if MHBP consumer option is better, why? Is it all about percentage copayments vs straight dollar amounts?

I'd say the only major medical expense that we'll be anticipating is maternity care, not necessarily next year but in the future.

 

[Geeare27]

I'm also on BCBS basic and wanted to make the switch last year but I was about to have a baby and didn't want to change everything last minute. Looking through both plans, it almost seems as if MHBP standard option is cheaper when I'm looking at just deductibles and copays? But if MHBP consumer option is better, why? Is it all about percentage copayments vs straight dollar amounts?

I'd say the only major medical expense that we'll be anticipating is maternity care, not necessarily next year but in the future.

I glanced at it and iirc standard has no HSA right? I think it also has coinsurance instead of copays and I dont trust that at all. Read up on it a bit and pay close attention to coinsurance vs copays

 

[ClearedDirectDestination]

Edit to add. MHBP contributes $2400/year into an inspira HSA that you can move to Fidelity or wherever. You can keep it in inspira as well. Do what you want with it.

Apologies in advance if this is a dumb question, but I’ve also only been with BCBS and now looking to switch over to MHBP… Never had an HSA, so just trying to figure out how it all works. Thank you for all of the info!

When rolling over into Fidelity, is there a specific account type you’d be looking for? Wouldn’t you get some kind of capital gains when you start taking money out, or are you setting up a non-taxable account with Fidelity?

 

[Cpt_munky]

Apologies in advance if this is a dumb question, but I’ve also only been with BCBS and now looking to switch over to MHBP… Never had an HSA, so just trying to figure out how it all works. Thank you for all of the info!

When rolling over into Fidelity, is there a specific account type you’d be looking for? Wouldn’t you get some kind of capital gains when you start taking money out, or are you setting up a non-taxable account with Fidelity?

You put it into a Fidelity HSA

 

[axman]

Who has done the comparison to MHBP vs GEHA hdhp?

 

[AnyTrafficPleaseAdvise]

Who has done the comparison to MHBP vs GEHA hdhp?

Healthcare : Compare 2026 Plans - OPM.gov

Welcome to opm.gov

www.opm.gov

 

[Cpt_munky]

If you really think you'll use absolutely nothing for insurance next year and want an HSA the geha HDHP is solid. Geha uses United and has % based coinsurance so it can really wreck your finances with moderate use. Lower OOP Max than MHBP. $400 less contributed to your HSA and $962 less in total yearly premiums. (Self plus 1)

If you use your insurance it could really do some damage.

 

[Flashy Vectors]

If you really think you'll use absolutely nothing for insurance next year and want an HSA the geha HDHP is solid. Geha uses United and has % based coinsurance so it can really wreck your finances with moderate use. Lower OOP Max than MHBP. $400 less contributed to your HSA and $962 less in total yearly premiums. (Self plus 1)

If you use your insurance it could really do some damage.

Its 5%, that’s significantly lower than any other plan and it’s United’s negotiated rates. I would say the 5% will be lower than most typical copays on MHBP. The HDHP have significantly better coverage after deductibles than BCBS

 

[GroundClutter]

5% coinsurance is extremely low.

 

[Cpt_munky]

5% coinsurance is extremely low.

Depends on use case. I've seen plenty of bills this year that we're over $600. $15 cost wins there.

You have to dig deep into the plan and consider yourself and your family. % based copay is a non starter for me and mine. Might be ideal for others.

MHBP vs GEHA it's a $500 difference and I don't have to use United network. That's money well spent in my eyes.

That said, I made the comment because it looks attractive and if I were single and 25 it would be a no brainer, I'd use GEHA HDHP.

 

[Geeare27]

Reminder that out of all the evil Healthcare companies in this country, United is so uniquely evil that their CEO got murdered in the street and the whole country collectively shrugged and agreed that the murderer seems pretty chill

 

[Shikaka]

Reminder that out of all the evil Healthcare companies in this country, United is so uniquely evil that their CEO got murdered in the street and the whole country collectively shrugged and agreed that the murderer seems pretty chill

#FreeLuigi