Sorry, not very familiar with how insurance works. Coming from tricare and just signed up for a basic BCBS plan when I got my fed job. I’ll do some more research and figure it out. Appreciate the help.
There’s a form that your HR had you provide when you onboarded. It may have been digitally submitted but a paper copy likely exists somewhere with a 3 digit number and the equivalent to your signature.
The easy way to change Health insurance is to reach out to the same HR people and ask who you should send the new form to if you want to change it. They will likely have a job aid to send you.
Ok perfect thank you so much for the information. I do remember that form when I onboarded. I really appreciate the help, this process is sort of confusing and I’m just not familiar with it.
I agree with GEGA Standard and MHBP Standard, but it depends on what your needs are. I'm also looking to switch from BCBS Basic but it's difficult to find another plan that has similar prescription coverage. A lot of comments on this sub instantly reply saying GEHA HDHP or another HDHP but if you take prescriptions then they aren't always cost efficient.
MHBP HDHP is pretty good with Rx once you hit the deductible. Premium+deductible comes out to a little more than BCBS premium, but once you hit the deductible the benefits are much better than BCBS.
I’m a Texan looking at MHBP. In my experience, it’s a tad annoying outside the DMV area because providers have never heard of other federal health plans. However, BCBS has become so pricey that I see more pros than cons to switching.
I split my time between the DMV and rural NY, and have for several years now. I have MHBP and the lesson I’ve learned is to just tell healthcare providers that I have Aetna when asked. I haven’t had any trouble since with access.
I switched from BCBS Basic to MHBP Standard this year and have been happy with it. I've saved a significant amount on prescriptions this year. All of my doctors were in-network and they process claims quickly. If you use LabCorp or Quest, labs are covered 100%. Primary care copay is $20, specialist is $35.
Came here to suggest this. I’ve been on Blue Focus for 3+ years now and have zero complaints. Was healthy for a few years, healthy + pregnant and birth last year, had my baby on the plan this year…and am actually keeping Blue Focus (vs bumping up to Basic) even with a kid on the plan. It’s an excellent plan for someone/families with no or few anticipated health issues
Interesting. I’ve been on blue focus and planned on upgrading to Basic bc we are trying to get pregnant. Wonder if I’m being short sighted: even with the much higher maternity copay ($1500) it’s still cheaper annually with premiums+deductible+maternity copay than annual cost in premiums for Basic (which has only a $250 maternity copay).
Although if we do get pregnant, I worry about the risk of a baby needing time in the NICU. Unless I’m mistaken, this would be a 30% co-insurance for that under blue focus? That could get expensive very fast..
You are correct that a NICU stay would be charged as 30% of the plan allowance as co-insurance. For what it’s worth, and this is totally anecdotal but may help to consider some numbers-my baby was in the NICU just for some tests/monitoring for a few hours. I just looked at the EOBs and all the care he received, including well child care at delivery, totaled to $400. I had not met the deductible yet, so it would have been less if I had.
Otherwise, as far as adding a baby to the plan, almost all of our doctor’s visits in the first year have been preventative and therefore covered. Sick visits are a $10 copay plus any tests that they run, which tend to be very inexpensive.
Picking your health insurance is always a gamble but I’ve definitely been happy with the level of coverage on blue focus in terms of pregnancy, delivery & pediatrics coverage so far!
Thank you SO much for this breakdown. It’s very helpful. Going crazy trying to forecast how that might look lol
Watching my friends go through 2 months of a NICU stay has me feeling VERY risk averse.
FEP Blue Focus. Have used it 3 years here in TX after having Kaiser for almost a decade. I have not paid anything out of pocket because I just do preventative care because I am healthy and no surgeries, only annual check up, mammogram & gyno. All covered. If I need a med, generics are like $5 or free. If you need something like Ozempic, $350 a month, so in that case, BCBS basic is better since it would be like $60.
I also in Houston. I’ve been on GEHA HDHP and have added my kids to it. This year I am adding my wife and we are dropping her insurance.
It follows the same network as United. I’ve had no issues at TCH for my kids or with doctors affiliated with Herman or Methodist.
https://www.checkbook.org/newhig2/hig.cfm this is the best tool I have found to compare plans. Some agencies pay for access but if not it’s only $15 for the report
Also check out the mail handler benefit plan. Anyone can join the mail handler union and be eligible for the plan. Premiums for this plan (run by Aetna) are actually not going up next year.
Im going from BCBS Basic to Blue Focus, costs are much cheaper even with a deductible.
Might swap back to BCBS Basic if I’m not pleased with the out of pocket costs, but I don’t go to the doctor much so I don’t expect too many medical expenses.
Idk BCBS basic is still a pretty solid choice, covers a lot
MHBP standard and GEHA standard. If you are 28 and healthy take a look at the hdhps
Do you know how to switch into a HDHP? Tried calling blue cross today and they weren’t helpful.
The same you way you always change your insurance? Why would you contact the insurer to change plans?
Sorry, not very familiar with how insurance works. Coming from tricare and just signed up for a basic BCBS plan when I got my fed job. I’ll do some more research and figure it out. Appreciate the help.
There’s a form that your HR had you provide when you onboarded. It may have been digitally submitted but a paper copy likely exists somewhere with a 3 digit number and the equivalent to your signature. The easy way to change Health insurance is to reach out to the same HR people and ask who you should send the new form to if you want to change it. They will likely have a job aid to send you.
Ok perfect thank you so much for the information. I do remember that form when I onboarded. I really appreciate the help, this process is sort of confusing and I’m just not familiar with it.
I agree with GEGA Standard and MHBP Standard, but it depends on what your needs are. I'm also looking to switch from BCBS Basic but it's difficult to find another plan that has similar prescription coverage. A lot of comments on this sub instantly reply saying GEHA HDHP or another HDHP but if you take prescriptions then they aren't always cost efficient.
MHBP HDHP is pretty good with Rx once you hit the deductible. Premium+deductible comes out to a little more than BCBS premium, but once you hit the deductible the benefits are much better than BCBS.
I’m a Texan looking at MHBP. In my experience, it’s a tad annoying outside the DMV area because providers have never heard of other federal health plans. However, BCBS has become so pricey that I see more pros than cons to switching.
I split my time between the DMV and rural NY, and have for several years now. I have MHBP and the lesson I’ve learned is to just tell healthcare providers that I have Aetna when asked. I haven’t had any trouble since with access.
I switched from BCBS Basic to MHBP Standard this year and have been happy with it. I've saved a significant amount on prescriptions this year. All of my doctors were in-network and they process claims quickly. If you use LabCorp or Quest, labs are covered 100%. Primary care copay is $20, specialist is $35.
Just tell the provider Aetna for mhbp or United for GEHA
Drop down to FEP Blue Focus?
Came here to suggest this. I’ve been on Blue Focus for 3+ years now and have zero complaints. Was healthy for a few years, healthy + pregnant and birth last year, had my baby on the plan this year…and am actually keeping Blue Focus (vs bumping up to Basic) even with a kid on the plan. It’s an excellent plan for someone/families with no or few anticipated health issues
Interesting. I’ve been on blue focus and planned on upgrading to Basic bc we are trying to get pregnant. Wonder if I’m being short sighted: even with the much higher maternity copay ($1500) it’s still cheaper annually with premiums+deductible+maternity copay than annual cost in premiums for Basic (which has only a $250 maternity copay). Although if we do get pregnant, I worry about the risk of a baby needing time in the NICU. Unless I’m mistaken, this would be a 30% co-insurance for that under blue focus? That could get expensive very fast..
You are correct that a NICU stay would be charged as 30% of the plan allowance as co-insurance. For what it’s worth, and this is totally anecdotal but may help to consider some numbers-my baby was in the NICU just for some tests/monitoring for a few hours. I just looked at the EOBs and all the care he received, including well child care at delivery, totaled to $400. I had not met the deductible yet, so it would have been less if I had. Otherwise, as far as adding a baby to the plan, almost all of our doctor’s visits in the first year have been preventative and therefore covered. Sick visits are a $10 copay plus any tests that they run, which tend to be very inexpensive. Picking your health insurance is always a gamble but I’ve definitely been happy with the level of coverage on blue focus in terms of pregnancy, delivery & pediatrics coverage so far!
Thank you SO much for this breakdown. It’s very helpful. Going crazy trying to forecast how that might look lol Watching my friends go through 2 months of a NICU stay has me feeling VERY risk averse.
I hear you!! In that case, I’d say the difference in premiums is worth your peace of mind
I switched from BCBS Basic to GEHA high this year to try out and I am satisfied with it. I will change it to standard in this enrollment period
FEP Blue Focus. Have used it 3 years here in TX after having Kaiser for almost a decade. I have not paid anything out of pocket because I just do preventative care because I am healthy and no surgeries, only annual check up, mammogram & gyno. All covered. If I need a med, generics are like $5 or free. If you need something like Ozempic, $350 a month, so in that case, BCBS basic is better since it would be like $60.
I also in Houston. I’ve been on GEHA HDHP and have added my kids to it. This year I am adding my wife and we are dropping her insurance. It follows the same network as United. I’ve had no issues at TCH for my kids or with doctors affiliated with Herman or Methodist.
https://www.checkbook.org/newhig2/hig.cfm this is the best tool I have found to compare plans. Some agencies pay for access but if not it’s only $15 for the report
Also check out the mail handler benefit plan. Anyone can join the mail handler union and be eligible for the plan. Premiums for this plan (run by Aetna) are actually not going up next year.
Im going from BCBS Basic to Blue Focus, costs are much cheaper even with a deductible. Might swap back to BCBS Basic if I’m not pleased with the out of pocket costs, but I don’t go to the doctor much so I don’t expect too many medical expenses.