FEHB Health Premiums Soar in 2009

[James48843]

I don't know how I missed this one- but it was announced last week that Federal Employee Health Benefit plans will increase significantly next year.

OPM says it only "averages" a 7% raise- but in reality - Blue Cross, the largest plan, will increase their family rates by 13% for 2009.

Source: http://www.govexec.com/story_page_pf.cfm?articleid=41054&printerfriendlyvers=1

Federal health premiums to rise 7 percent in 2009

By Brittany R. Ballenstedt
bballenstedt@govexec.com (bballenstedt@govexec.com)
September 25, 2008



Premiums for the federal employee health plan will rise by an average of 7 percent in 2009, a sizable increase from the previous year.

The government's portion of the overall premium for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program will rise 6.5 percent while the increase for employees will average 7.9 percent. On average, that translates to an extra $4.83 every two weeks for employees with individual plans, while those with family plans will pay an additional $11.12. Premium hikes will vary, depending on which health plan an employee has enrolled in.

Enrollees in the Blue Cross Blue Shield standard option, the most popular FEHB plan, will see their premiums increase 12.9 percent for self-only coverage and 13.4 percent for family coverage. Nearly 60 percent of FEHB enrollees are in Blue Cross Blue Shield.

(more at: http://www.govexec.com/story_page_pf.cfm?articleid=41054&printerfriendlyvers=1 )



And here is the link to the OPM tables for Health Care premiums for 2009:
http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/09rates/index.asp

[XL-entLady]

I don't know how I missed this one- but it was announced last week that Federal Employee Health Benefit plans will increase significantly next year.

OPM says it only "averages" a 7% raise- but in reality - Blue Cross, the largest plan, will increase their family rates by 13% for 2009.

Yeah, just another thing to cheer us, huh! Squale, my favorite bear, warned us about this last week. I'm just reminding myself that without my Blue Cross my thousands of dollars in medical bills each year would be tens of thousands instead.

Lady

[Silverbird]

Yeah, just another thing to cheer us, huh! Squale, my favorite bear, warned us about this last week. I'm just reminding myself that without my Blue Cross my thousands of dollars in medical bills each year would be tens of thousands instead.

LadyOr, you'd be stuck trying to find Dr's you like on a short list.:( Our life in BCBS silver handcuffland.

[Scout333]

I don't know how I missed this one- but it was announced last week that Federal Employee Health Benefit plans will increase significantly next year.

OPM says it only "averages" a 7% raise- but in reality - Blue Cross, the largest plan, will increase their family rates by 13% for 2009.

Source: http://www.govexec.com/story_page_pf.cfm?articleid=41054&printerfriendlyvers=1

Federal health premiums to rise 7 percent in 2009

By Brittany R. Ballenstedt
bballenstedt@govexec.com (bballenstedt@govexec.com)
September 25, 2008



Premiums for the federal employee health plan will rise by an average of 7 percent in 2009, a sizable increase from the previous year.

The government's portion of the overall premium for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program will rise 6.5 percent while the increase for employees will average 7.9 percent. On average, that translates to an extra $4.83 every two weeks for employees with individual plans, while those with family plans will pay an additional $11.12. Premium hikes will vary, depending on which health plan an employee has enrolled in.

Enrollees in the Blue Cross Blue Shield standard option, the most popular FEHB plan, will see their premiums increase 12.9 percent for self-only coverage and 13.4 percent for family coverage. Nearly 60 percent of FEHB enrollees are in Blue Cross Blue Shield.

(more at: http://www.govexec.com/story_page_pf.cfm?articleid=41054&printerfriendlyvers=1 )



And here is the link to the OPM tables for Health Care premiums for 2009:
http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/09rates/index.asp

Just think of one thing. Uncle pitches in 72% of the cost so total cost of this great BCBS coverage is over $ 15,000 a year. Seems with the large numbers covered we should be able to get a better deal. My wife and I are covered as "family". Cost will be over $ 7,500 each next year. Coverages are adequate but cost seems pretty steep to us. :(

[XL-entLady]

Just think of one thing. Uncle pitches in 72% of the cost so total cost of this great BCBS coverage is over $ 15,000 a year. Seems with the large numbers covered we should be able to get a better deal. My wife and I are covered as "family". Cost will be over $ 7,500 each next year. Coverages are adequate but cost seems pretty steep to us. :(
At least my husband and I are both retired annuitants, so we can buy two "self only" BCBS policies, which is less expensive for two people than the "family" option. Seems silly to me not to have a "self and one other" option like some of the vision and dental policies do. :suspicious: JMHO.

Lady

[Skooby]

So how much you think the 'BCBS basic self plan' is going to cost?

[Guest2]

http://www.tsptalk.com/mb/showpost.php?p=183049&postcount=1652

[XL-entLady]

So how much you think the 'BCBS basic self plan' is going to cost?
Last week Squalebear, who is SO on top of these things, posted a link you can follow through to this page:

http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/09rates/nonpostalffs2009.pdf

The link contains the non-postal FFS (as opposed to HMO) rates for 2009.

It shows that the BCBS self only plan for 2009 will cost $152.06 a month, which is a 17.4% increase. OUCH!

The only thing worse than insurance at that price is - - NO insurance. NO insurance is the stuff of nightmares. So my husband and I will pay our $304.16 a month in insurance premiums! :(

Lady

[Guest2]

2009 FEHB HMO PREMIUMS;

http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/09rates/nonpostalhmo2009.pdf

OPM WEBSITE;

http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/09rates/