Thank you for trusting blue cross and blue shield of illinois bcbsil for your health care coverage. The federal employees heath blog feh blog by ermer. Checkbooks guide to health plans for federal employees gives you vital shopping information that you cannot get from any other source. Implemented on july 1, 1960, the federal employees health benefits fehb program is the largest employersponsored group health insurance program in the world. Benefit plans brochures and forms blue cross and blue shields. Fehb plan during open season or they will be enrolled in the standard option of the geha benefit plan the lowestcost nationwide plan option for 2018 as determined by opm. There are now two options to select from, tricare prime and select. Any federal annuitant 65 and older enrolled in a feeforservice ffs plan such as blue cross blue shield bcbs, geha, or mail handlers should seriously consider enrolling in medicare part b. It tells you how much money you can save by changingor by staying inyour health insurance plan. To obtain the reimbursement you must provide proof that you paid medicare premiums in 2018 by submitting copies of your social security. I would like to put my spouse on my insurance as self plus one.
Through fehb, federal employees can get comprehensive health insurance coverage. Federal employees can elect to waive premium conversionparticipation during open season. Failure to make necessary changes during open season will result in your automatic enrollment in blue cross and blue shield service benefit plan fep blue focus, which is the lowestcost nationwide plan option for 2019, as determined by opm. The 2019 open season is from november 11, 2019 through december 09, 2019. Your federal insurance benefits 2017 for annuitants and retiring employees duration. Federal employee health benefits fehb kaiser permanente. Compare benefit options for 2020 blue cross and blue shields. Fehb plan during open season or they will be enrolled in the blue cross and blue. You may also contact your local blue cross and blue shield company for information about the service benefit plan.
For information on the insurance plans available to you, please click on the. Fehb health insurance fehb rates federal employee health. Please refer to the letter you received from your plan for more information. Fehb plan during open season or they will be enrolled in the blue cross and blue shield service benefit plan fep blue focus the lowestcost nationwide plan option for 2019 as determined by opm. Enrollment blue cross and blue shields federal employee. The effective date of the enrollment change will be january 1, of the. Any federal retirees 65 and older enrolled in a feeforservice ffs plan such as blue cross blue shield bcbs, geha or mail handlers should seriously consider enrolling in medicare part b. Federal employees health benefits fehb program open. These accounts are available to only participants who are simultaneously enrolled in medicare parts a and b. Shield service benefit plan fep blue focus the lowestcost nationwide plan option for 2019 as. State plan name 2017 enrollment code general location. Evaluate and compare fehb plans, premiums, and options. Opm negotiated this change to address situations where enrollees could.
Posted by david ermer categorized in congress, federal employment benefits, uncategorized february 10, 2020. I saw a post on the federal soup forum where someone wrote that bcbs std had a generous rx plan, but i didnt know how to. The federal benefits open season for the federal employees dental and vision insurance program fedvip and the federal flexible spending account. If you need medical services before the effective date of your open season enrollment, you should contact your old plan. At kaiser permanente, federal employees and retirees get more than just a health plan. Tricare initiated its first open season this year allowing participants to select among two plans.
The federal employees health benefits fehb program is a system of managed competition through which employee health benefits are provided to civilian government employees and annuitants of the united states government. Calling fep bluedental at 1855504blue 2583, dial 711 for tty relay services. Blue cross and blue shields federal employee program. Medicare is the primary payer and fehb is the secondary payer if you are not employed in the federal service. Announced during last years open season, effective january 2018, bcbs introduced their mra program for participants who are enrolled in the bcbs basic fehb plan. The office of personnel management opm has issued the official 2018 federal employees health benefits fehb program plan information online. Blue cross and blue shield service benefit plan fep blue focus. Keeping your federal employee health benefits fehb in retirement is possible, but you have to meet certain criteria to be eligible. Federal regulations require an annual open season to be held each year from the monday of the second full workweek in november through the monday of the second full workweek in december. Open season for participants in the federal employee health benefits program fehbp runs nov. If you are already enrolled, you can stay in your current plan. The third position indicates the enrollment category self only, self and family, or basicstandard self one plus and, if applicable, the option high or low.
Blue cross and blue shield federal employee program fep. Fehb is the federal employees health benefits program. Yes, if open season has not ended you may select another plan in which you are eligible to enroll. Washington today the blue cross and blue shield bcbs governmentwide service benefit plan, also known as the federal employee program fep, announced 2018 benefits for federal workers and retirees in the federal employees health benefits fehb program. Wed like to tell you more about this change and help you stay covered in 2019. Opm is the united states office of personnel management. Washington today the blue cross and blue shield bcbs governmentwide service benefit plan, also known as the federal employee program fep, introduced fep blue focussm, a new coverage option for the federal workforce and retirees in the federal employees health benefits fehb program. Federal employees, retirees and their survivors enjoy the widest selection of health plans in the country. It might be classified as a cadillac health plan by obamacare in 2018. You can do that during the next fehb open season, which will begin november 2018. We give you the top doctors, personalized care, and services you need in a way that fits you and your lifestyle. Also this year, some uniformed service members and their dependents are eligible to enroll in fep. Blue cross and blue shield federal employee program fep keeps medical premiums stable while expanding plan offerings for 2019 press release pr.
Plan name 2018 enrollment code general location arizona health net of arizona, inc. Unlike many private sector health benefit plans, fehb provides coverage without physical. As open season begins, heres what feds need to know. Illinois blue cross and blue shield of illinois a21, a23, a22 chicago illinois area new mexico q11, q, q12 new mexico.
To help us personalize your experience, tell us if youre currently a member of the blue cross and blue shield service benefit plan. Open season 2018 began on monday, november and runs for four weeks until monday, december 11. The federal employees health benefits program fehb can help you and your family meet your health care needs. The requirements are specific and strict, so a slight deviation from the norm can mean that you could lose your eligibility for this valuable retirement resource. Managed by the office of personnel management opm, the program is governed under 5 code of federal regulations 5 cfr, part 890, offering eligible employees a choice of plans and. The 2018 fehb open season will run from november 11 through december 10, 2018. The open season runs concurrent with the fehb open season, november 11 through december 9 of 2019. Medicare part b and fehb update part 4 i checked the blue cross site however their 2018 brochures werent available on the date i posted this article. Thanks for a great open season open season online will be available for the next open season early november. Fep blue focus premiums will be almost 30 percent lower than other fep health plans. The federal employees health benefits fehb program is designed to help protect federal employees and eligible family members from the expenses of illness and accident. Each year open season runs from the monday of the second full workweek in november through the monday of the second full workweek in december.
Today the blue cross and blue shield bcbs governmentwide service benefit plan, also known as the federal employee program fep, announced 2016 benefits for federal workers and retirees in the federal employees health benefits fehb program. Participants in the federal employee health benefits program should take note that monday, nov. This year the 2019 open season runs from november 11th through december 9th. Visit the tricare site for additional information and you can enroll online.
Recently, youve received a legallyrequired letter saying your health plan wont be offered on the health insurance marketplace for 2019. Medicare part b enrollment and ones ffs plan may combine to provide almost complete coverage for all medical expenses. This years fehb open season runs from monday, november through monday, december 11, with an effective date of january 1, 2018. During that open season i used opms plan comparison tool and narrowed it down to bcbs basic or standard. Important changes coming for some fehb plans in 2019. After finding and reading your blog post titled blue cross blue shield to geha plan. The information helps federal employees and annuitants with making choices in the upcoming 2017 fehb open season, which is november th through december 11, 2017. This column is the second of eight columns discussing choices that employees and annuitants have to make during the upcoming benefits open season which runs from nov. In 2018, fep will continue to offer comprehensive benefitsincluding medical, dental and visionwhile. Federal employees health benefits program wikipedia. How can checkbooks guide to health plans for federal. If your 2018 health insurance carrier is leaving the fehb program, you must. If you have blue cross and blue shield visit their brochures and forms page to obtain a copy of their 2018 brochure.
The government contributes 72% of the weighted average premium of all plans, not to exceed 75% of the premium for any one plan calculated. Keeping federal employee health benefits in retirement. Contact your local social security administration office for assistance if you have any questions concerning whether your fehb plan or medicare is the primary payer of your, or a covered family members health benefits expenses. Feeforservice ffs plans and their preferred provider organizations ppo, or health maintenance. If open season has ended, you may request a change to a managed feeforservice or to an hmo plan that services your area by calling our tollfree number on 18887676738. Blue cross blue shield basic to geha standard fehb plan comparison. Your new plan is not responsible for providing coverage until the effective date of your enrollment change which for most employees is the first day of the first full pay period in january. But if you do get sick, our care teams work even harder to help you get well.
For more information, call the national information center at 1800411blue 2583 weekdays from 8 a. You may also want to read your plans 2019 brochure by following the opm link here. This is a summary of the features of the blue cross and blue shield service benefit plan. The carrier proposals are due on sunday may 31, 2020.
The first two positions of the code indicate the health plan afge, blue cross blue shield, etc. Office of personnel management opm released its call letter for 2021 fehbp benefit and rate proposals today. While only about 6 percent of fehb participants make any changes to their health plans during open season and tend to be younger, healthier employees looking to find the coverage they need at the lowest price as. Pdf icon english pdf icon espanol view interactive brochure. Open season runs from november through december 11 of this year however some providers already have their 2018 plan brochures available.
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