Re: Health Care Premiums

Well, the cost of doing nothing is obviously not acceptable, so why are you opposed to Health Care Reform?

No reform (ie, the Republicans, the party of "NO") want the status quo, so that your premiums go up 10%+ every year, and you sit and whine about the increased costs, yet say "Health Care Reform will cost even more!" without knowing ANY of the facts behind it

With nothing but a pen and paper, I can say that a public option will reduce insurance premiums overall. Whenever similar for-profit organizations come up against non-profit, the non-profits cost much less

For those of you who say Obamacare will be a bunch of bureaucrats getting between you and your Dr., I know first hand from a claims person for an ins. co what a true bureaucracy is. She said their job #1 was to make $, and any iffy or large claims were almost always denied to save costs. The patient would need to resubmit to try and fix things.

So Republicans, you want increased premiums, you got 'em!

Re: Health Care Premiums

We ALREADY Have an Alternative.

I've had the APWU plan aka the "Consumer Driven Option" since it came out, which I believe was 2003. I love it! MHBP (Mail Handlers) also has a CDO now. I used to have the old MHBP but they kept raising the deductible on Chiropractic (and other "non-MD Doctor visits), so I switched to APWU CDO because it covers up to 12 Chiropractic visits each year. Also up to $800 each year can be used for eye & dental!

APWU CDO for family is $87.40 per pay period and each January 1 they put $2400 into your Account and this is YOUR money & used to pay for covered medical expenses. It functions like a medical savings account, EXCEPT if you don't spend all $2400 each year the rest is rolled over next year! No deductibles or co-pays except if you exceed $2400 the first year there is a $1200 back loaded deductible. 1-1-2009 I had $3800 unspent from previous years, if you roll over $1200+ it covers the deductible. Cost peaked at $92 in 2007 & at $87.40 since!!

Re: Health Care Premiums

To manager DOI,
The consumer options are good if you do not use doctors that much. Mostly, it is good for the young and healthy. However, if you must use the plan more due to injury or serious illnesses, then the consumer option will cost you more than the regular option.
I cannot say generally which is better. It depends on your situation. I will pay aout $2600 more than you next year, but have better security.
Although fairly healthy and pretty active, I am probably much older than you.

Re: OPM

I believe that better negotiations needs to be done. OPM has gone from paying 72 to 68% for FY2010. Why can't FEHB catagorize plans like the Benefids plans: Self, Self + 1 or Self + family. Makes sense to me.

Re: Health Insurance

So why don't you switch to a lower cost plan???? There are plenty of plans which have lower premiums than BCBS Standard.

Re: Health Insurance

CAN'T DO IT.

It's called pre-existing conditions. A lot of people are stuck with what they have.

Re: Health Insurance

Govt plans do not have Pre existing conditions.....you can go from plan to plan with no worries about that.....read your books.
It is on page 126 2008 blue cross book
As far as I know this is for most or all of the FEHB plans.

Re: Health Insurance

As far as pre-existing conditions go: they don't exist for anyone under certain conditions. If a person has had health coverage for the past 18 months and no more than 63 days go by without insurance coverage, you have no "pre-existing exclusion" period which means that all conditions will be covered. If I'm not mistaken, this is something that Clinton put into place during his administration. Here are a couple websites that help to explain it (or you can simply Google "pre-existing condition exclusion". Hope this helps those of you who are concerned about pre-existing conditions.

http://healthinsurance.about.com/od/faqs/f/preex.htm
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_considered_a_preexisting_condition

Re: Health Insurance Plans

I agree. I can get self + 1 with vision and dental, why not with health insurance? If there's a qualifying life event such as the birth of a child the employee will have the ability to change the coverage (and pay the higher premium). I don't have kids, never will have kids, and shouldn't be charged insurance premiums as if I do.

Re: Health Insurance Plans

I'm surprised how many people misunderstand the cost basis for our healthcare plans. The premiums paid, whether or not one is single, married, with or without children, male or female, is all based upon actuarial assumptions for the many, many health conditions of young, old, married, unmarried, children, no children, and the amounts and types of services required by the collective many. None of us could afford insurance tailored to our specific needs if it was offered in such a fashion, especially retirees who have significantly more health and pharmaceutical needs than younger FEHBP enrollees. I'm thankful for the young healthy families who bring the cost of my health insurance down to manageable levels.

Re: Federal Health Benefits

Many feds do have access to plans with HSA's. As long as you are eligible most of the HDHP's come with a HSA.

Re: Federal Health Benefits

You need to check out the High Deductable Healthcare Plans (HDHP) plans from various insurance co. They offer higher decutables, but bring with it a medical savings account (medical 401K) and no co-pays. We've had for 3 yrs, and have cut our medical cost in half... check it out.

Re: Health insurance costs

I have been asking myself the same question.....and now that we have Medicare, FEHP is secondary and only paying the co-pays....so why is my premium for 2 people going up to almost $400 per month????? I agree...something is fishy!!

Re: Health insurance costs

we are all 1 team, so it makes sense that premiums be fair across the board. I'm only too glad to help out my fellow CS that's why we work for the federal government since we would have a hard time surviving in the private sector

Re: Health insurance costs

Sounds like the Obama way of thinking....spread the wealth; or someone with children currently on their policy. If we are going to be fair across the board, why is it fair that a husband and wife should pay the same premium as those with 3, 4, or more children. You see, some of us are retired on a fixed income with no cola this year making it quite difficult to, as you suggest, "help out my fellow CS".....those who are currently working full time!!!!

Re: Health insurance costs

Why does a husband and wife (only) have to pay for family coverage? This question should be answer by OPM. This is not going on in the private sector. There are a various types of coverage such as, spouse and 1 or 2 children coverage, husband and wife which all have lower premiums then family coverage