Open Season for Health Insurance

[FlightOfTheShortGuy]

Where do I find everything there is to know about proving and coverage now that it’s open season. Front desk lady at work was no help this year when she normally is. Any help or info would be greatly appreciated!

 

[32andBelow]

Lots of threads on the fednews subreddit. I’m looking to switch off BCBS. A lot of folks are switching to MHBP

 

[ClearanceClarence]

Lots of threads on the fednews subreddit. I’m looking to switch off BCBS. A lot of folks are switching to MHBP

I read somewhere you have to pay some type of union due (not NATCA) to be eligible for MHBP. Anyone know if that’s true/how to do it?

 

[32andBelow]

I read somewhere you have to pay some type of union due (not NATCA) to be eligible for MHBP. Anyone know if that’s true/how to do it?

I have not heard that. I heard there was another plan where you had to pay a yearly membership fee.

Edit I think it’s a 52 dollar yearly membership fee for MHBP but it’s like 150-200 less a month than BCBS now…

 

[Sassyquatch]

I have not heard that. I heard there was another plan where you had to pay a yearly membership fee.

Edit I think it’s a 52 dollar yearly membership fee for MHBP but it’s like 150-200 less a month than BCBS now…

Does it have similar coverage to BCBS?

 

[32andBelow]

Does it have similar coverage to BCBS?

You can look at it all on the OPM site. But all FEB plays have certain things they need to cover. Someone of the plans including MHBP and GEHA you can set up a phone call and ask your questions.

 

[GulfCharlie]

Lots of threads on the fednews subreddit. I’m looking to switch off BCBS. A lot of folks are switching to MHBP

Second this. Only reason I am keeping it is because I just switched to a Tier 4/5 drug.

 

[TwaddleCopter]

Not sure if it available everywhere but APWU (postal workers union) health plan is great. It is like an HSA you do not have to manage. They put a certain amount in your account every year and it rolls over year over year. I think the HSA is probably best, but at this point I don't want to waste any time managing it. APWU has been great for me. You do pay a "union fee" but I think it is only $35 a year.

 

[James]

I was with MHBP for years. I was thinking my associate member dues were 69 per year but they might have been less. They send you a bill in the mail. I only switched because I needed to come off the High deductible plan to a full service plan for continued prescriptions and decided to use BCBS because everyone else did. I've hated it and found it to be confusing and not that great. I'd love to and may switch back.

 

[AS88]

Does it have similar coverage to BCBS?

You can go to the OPM website and compare plans side-by-side. It's a useful tool if you know which aspects of a health plan is important to you. Go to the "FEHB Plan Comparison Tool" on the left side of the page and you can pick 3 plans at a time to compare.

Federal Employees : Guide Me - OPM.gov

Welcome to opm.gov

www.opm.gov

 

[Phillytroll69]

You can look at it all on the OPM site. But all FEB plays have certain things they need to cover. Someone of the plans including MHBP and GEHA you can set up a phone call and ask your questions.

Why u switching

 

[32andBelow]

Why u switching

Cus blue cross is going up a lot and they keep raising the fees on the co pays. Most of the regular appointments are covered under any plan without a deductible anyways

 

[Phillytroll69]

Cus blue cross is going up a lot and they keep raising the fees on the co pays. Most of the regular appointments are covered under any plan without a deductible anyways

Yeah it is jumping huge

 

[AS88]

Yeah it is jumping huge

I started with BCBS but like others have said every year it goes up and it just got to be too much. It's a solid plan and has a huge network, no referrals needed, etc. It's an easy plan to stick with, but for $520/month for a family plan I can do better.

 

[ClearanceClarence]

Yeah I’ve been BCBS basic forever and thinking of switching. Premiums jumping up pretty significantly when co-pays are also going up AND less coverage (i.e. lab work) is not appealing at all. Also their customer service has gone down quite a bit recently, at least where I live. I’ve had to fight with them over the majority of claims for me and my family last year. Most were pretty straightforward but they would refuse to pay over silly technicalities (all with preferred providers). I’m over it.

 

[corn4ahead]

I’m surprised on the lack of GEHA users on here so far.

 

[32andBelow]

https://www.reddit.com/r/fednews/s/PINo7gbfLZ

I’m 90% gonna switch to MHBP

 

[Whiskey Charlie]

I’m surprised on the lack of GEHA users on here so far.

I’m GEHA currently. I’ll be exploring other options as the costs are going up for everything but haven’t had a bad experience with GEHA yet.

 

[32andBelow]

I’m GEHA currently. I’ll be exploring other options as the costs are going up for everything but haven’t had a bad experience with GEHA yet.

I liked BCBS for pregnancy we switched in the middle of it and it was much better. I only did GEHA for 1 year.

 

[the inquirer]

I’m surprised on the lack of GEHA users on here so far.

I’ve been geha standard the whole time. Best plan available. I’ve had two kids in two different states and didn’t pay anything. The deductible is also relatively low when using out of network providers. Now I’m on the HDHP geha since I don’t see us going to the doctors much. Building up that HSA balance and it’s great. The net difference in deductible is only like $500 and after that, the HDHP actually covers a higher percentage than the standard.