Blue Cross/Blue Shield Christmas Gift to Federal Employees: Surprise, We’re Cutting Your Benefits!

November 30, 2008 by
Filed under: fehb, press releases 

Talk about being a Grinch! On January 1st, more than 4 million federal employees — half of the government workforce — are having their benefits cut by Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS).

That’s right, BCBS has drastically altered a plan that millions of federal employees and their families rely upon for their healthcare coverage — and hasn’t bothered to notify anyone. Federal employees have only until December 8th to either switch their insurance plan or face the consequences.

These changes affect all Federal Blue Cross Blue Shield Standard Option plan holders nationwide.

For those affected by these changes, in addition to a 13% increase in premiums, out-of-network benefits for federal employees will be severely curtailed, affecting both emergency and surgical services. The policy change increases a patient’s out-of-pocket cost up to $7,500.00 for each procedure or surgery when using an out-of-network provider, and it imposes up to a $350.00 out-of-pocket cost for care provided by an out-of-network emergency room doctor.

Can you imagine patients trying to find out if their ER doctor or consulting surgical specialist is in-network or out-of-network when they’re having a broken leg set? Patients have the alternative of switching to an in-network doctor and keeping their previous benefits, but then their PPO with higher premiums is really just an HMO in disguise.

On top of that, the Office of Personnel Management describes the changes on page 10 of a 137-page document — burying the bad newsDespite OPM’s assurances that this benefit cut is actually good news, real patients, doctors and health care providers are upset with Blue Cross Blue Shield and want to take action.

To speak with an affected patient or doctor, please contact: Jason Miller at jmiller@dezenhall.com, or (202) 296-0263 x 136; or contact Gary Meltz at gmeltz@dezenhall.com, or (202) 296-0263 x 166

SOURCE DC Patients, Doctors and Healthcare Providers

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Comments

No Comments on Blue Cross/Blue Shield Christmas Gift to Federal Employees: Surprise, We’re Cutting Your Benefits!

  1. jackpot on Sun, 30th Nov 2008 12:47 pm

    2. Time for a new insurance carrier!

  2. Asher on Sun, 30th Nov 2008 12:56 pm

    3. What till we get to have the Big O Health Plan that Obama is gonna come up with.

  3. nc mail handler on Sun, 30th Nov 2008 1:10 pm

    4. we are getting screwed, big time, there is no other nation wide coverage than blue cross and they dang well know it.

  4. Me on Sun, 30th Nov 2008 4:04 pm

    5. Me me me me me

  5. Outraged on Mon, 1st Dec 2008 5:25 am

    6. And just what are those of us probably facing surgery in a hospital in Germany, as well as other overseas locations supposed to do about the ridiculous new figure of $7500 out-of-pocket before the plan even kicks in?

  6. Samson Johnson on Mon, 1st Dec 2008 5:59 am

    7. Switch over to NALC much,much better coverage and much lower premium. Folks this is a PPO not an HMO.I am a retiree not a union official.

  7. overdog on Mon, 1st Dec 2008 6:36 am

    8. If this article isn’t enough to wake everyone up and take advantage of open season,then they deserve to support the rest of us by paying these unconscionable out-of-pocket deductibles and co-pays.

  8. MHBP is my choice on Mon, 1st Dec 2008 6:56 am

    9. There are many other insurance carriers who are nation-wide, including the MHBP (mail hanlders benefit plan) and GEHA (Government Employees Hospital Association). Do your homework and compare–In my humble opinion–MHBP standard vs BCBS standard vs GEHA high. MHBP value vs BCBS basic vs GEHA standard. There are other nationwide plans, but these stick out to me.

  9. Capt. Dunsel on Mon, 1st Dec 2008 4:05 pm

    10. I was dumping these a$$holes anyway.

  10. joe b. on Tue, 2nd Dec 2008 1:20 pm

    11. Switch to APWU Consumer Driven Plan. Very cheap premiums with huge PPO network. Also, rollover of unused PCA funds.

  11. Baddboyy on Wed, 3rd Dec 2008 6:07 pm

    12. as far as I know GEHA has nationwide coverage

  12. tom on Fri, 5th Dec 2008 12:40 pm

    13. switch to the Basic policy of BCBS

  13. no sweat on Sun, 7th Dec 2008 5:56 pm

    14. I like GEHA standard, but NALC is also good and only requires $3/mo surcharge to the union as I understand. Both plans have 100′s of 1000′s of providers in their networks. Shop around.

  14. no sweat on Sun, 7th Dec 2008 5:58 pm

    15. BCBS basic pays NOTHING for all non PPO treatment.

  15. G Miller on Sun, 7th Dec 2008 7:09 pm

    16. With the Cigna network, NALC looks to be a good choice. Just depends on your area and what doctors and hospitals are included. Definitely worth looking into.

  16. Wallhopper1 on Mon, 8th Dec 2008 8:13 am

    17. I AM BLEEDING TO DEATH HERE WITH A RUPTURED AORTIC ANEURISM !!! CAN ANYONE PLEASE TELL ME IF DR. ANTON VERDUN IS IN THE NETWORK? …. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY THE $7500….PLEASE HURRY!
    ….it is truly amazing how many financial roadblocks insurance companies find today to keep them from paying. This would be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic.

  17. city carrier/louisvile ky on Mon, 8th Dec 2008 5:25 pm

    18. My son is a diabetic and none of his supplies come in generics… mailorder copays going from 35.00 to 65.00!!! Thats CRAZY and on top of that premiums increase 60.00 monthly!! I had no choice but to change….NALC was my choice. BCBS kiss my #$$!!!!

  18. postal guy east on Tue, 9th Dec 2008 4:31 pm

    19. Our Employer decides what coverage it is going to pay for….ie. USPS pays the premium:!!!!So who do you think cut the coverage>>>Wake up Postal people, stop blaming everyone else but the folks WE WORK FOR AND WITH. READ IT AGAIN…
    THE POSTAL SERVICE PAYS THE PREMIUM AND GETS TO CHOOSE THE COVERAGE.

  19. postal guy northeast on Wed, 10th Dec 2008 5:53 am

    20. Standard
    Option
    Self Only
    104 $155.66 $70.18 $337.26 $152.06 $179.45 $46.39
    Standard
    Option
    Self and
    Family
    105 $352.56 $164.58 $763.88 $356.59 $406.42 $110.72
    BCBS still the best way if you plan to retire within the next five years as it works hand in hand with Medicare coverage before 65. Do not be fooled by dropping good universal coverage. The fine print states you must have BCBS coverage at least 5 years before you retire; so do not lose it as the cost is going to be greater at the end of the road when you need it the most.

  20. postal guy northeast on Wed, 10th Dec 2008 6:02 am

    21. Regardless of medical coverage, if you stop DRINKING ALCOHOL, SMOKING Cancer Sticks,give up the stripper sex,try regularly brushing your teeth and eating less junk and fast food and losing that postal fat your health would greatly improve and bottom line you would not be unhealthy enough to get sick. But who am i to tell you how to live, even if I have to share the cost so you can continue to live a fat morbid non excersing beer, pizza, pasta, red velvet cake, pies, cookies, candy, soda pop, diet pop, kool aid,butter pop corn, carmel pop corn, salt life.

  21. clerk on Fri, 12th Dec 2008 5:20 am

    22. as much as it pains me, but once again the mail handlers have the best plan. First they get are jobs and now we have to take there health plan if we want a great plan at an affordable rate. Maybe We should just all become mail handlers, because in my office they have the best stewards also.