2018 Federal Employee Health Benefit

[shadogree]

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/premiums/

2018 Federal Employee Health Benefit - rates only

[summer]

Thanks.

[mhayes]

Thanks! Looks like mine will increase a little over $5.

[gclapper]

My BC/BS Standard/Family is going up 4.487% (Gov & Employee contribution) from 2017 but here is the kicker. The employee contribution went up 6.967% while the employer percentage went up only 3.238%. So slowly we are taking more of the cost on as the employee. Very grateful to have good health insurance because I have been down that road with three little kids and no insurance before..sucked. But still very expensive, especially with a daughter that is a Type 1 Diabetic. Hit the family max two out of the last three years.

I remember when we had our first child 17 years ago and my wife had BC/BS when she was a front desk clerk/auditor at a local hotel (low pay job). It cost us just $20 for the first visit to the OB/baby doc and then every visit after, hospital stay, tests, and birth cost us nothing else out of pocket. Now I spend $150-$200 a month out of pocket just for prescriptions for my daughter, and prescriptions do not count toward the family or individual catastrophic caps.

I know it is a complex issue and there are many factors that influence prices. But what things changed from then to now?

[cb14]

As well I'm enrolled in BC/BS Standard/Family (wife & two kids).

With the increase, this is the first year I've contemplated other FEHB plans -- not sure any other comparable plans would provide savings.

Almost need a step increase to offset the yearly FEHB employee contribution increases.

[JoeMurphy]

Take a look at FSBP code 402.

[evilanne]

I switched from BC/BS before retiring. Foreign Service Benefit plan is good if you work for any of the specified agencies (includes DoD) and you have to be currently employed to enroll.

[RubberNeck]

The new proposals will be a real game changer if passed.

[maui21ice]

Currently paying $71.22, and my next year rate seems to go up to $73ish. Not bad. I guess a few things from the divorce came out in my favor of only paying a single rate health insurance now haha.

[RubberNeck]

That's about half of my premium.

[HiltonHead]

Me too. I put in about $157 a pp.

[maui21ice]

Me too. I put in about $157 a pp.

I was on the family plan while I was married and it was about $168 a pay for Blue Cross Blue Shield Basic. Huge difference. I have to admit it did good when I needed it though and co-pays were low. Didn't have any major surgeries or emergencies or such so never got full use of it, haha but I guess that's a good thing.

I definitely know there's never gonna be a year when the premiums go down...

[HiltonHead]

Considering the outside world's plans, we got it real good.

[UberTrish]

Agree. But for how long. The sharks have detected blood in the water.

[cswift01]

I just switched to GEHA HDHP. I think my 30 years that I need to go before retirement make this a better use of money.

Anyone else with an HDHP?

I plan to switch to a normal plan before retirement.

Best

Me