Health Plan Mysteries Solved

Senior Correspondent Mike Causey is using his use-or-lose leave. While he’s gone, FederalNewsRadio presents the Six Most Popular Federal Reports of the Year. Think of it as the Six Days of Causey. We continue today with the fifth most popular which originally appeared on November 26th, the day before Thanksgiving, with a few, very minor edits. sk

No matter how much turkey, ham or nut cutlets (for readers in California) you consume tomorrow, it won’t solve the problem of which health plan you pick to cover you next year. The deadline is January 30, 2009.

For many feds there are two basic problems:

1. There are so many plans (and options within plans) to choose from. Which one is best for you and yours?
2. Blue Cross-Blue Shield’s standard option (which covers about 40 percent of the workforce) is going up 13 percent next year. Should you stick with it, or go elsewhere? If so, where? Hint: Think Blue Cross basic option!

There are a lot of other questions ranging from which plans have the best maternity/well-baby care benefits to whether feds who are 65 and older need to buy Medicare? Then are a few feds who use their private sector spouses health plan instead of the FEHBP. They may be saving money, but are they playing with fire? What happens if the spouse gets laid off, dies or divorced?

This year for the first time several plans that were once limited to federal agents, CIA personnel and Foreign Service types have opened their doors. Plans like SAMBA, Association and Foreign Service have put out the welcome mat to people who previously couldn’t join them. Are they a good deal?

How about a married federal couple without kids? Should they get a family plan or each buy single coverage which will save them a few bucks in premiums. The answer – which is generally “No” – may surprise you.

You can look up recent columns about singles, families, retirees and coverage for older (as in 55) plus feds and retirees. Here are the archived columns:

• Family Coverage
• Older Feds & Retirees
• Singles
• Catastrophic Coverage

Each column probably has some information you can use to make your decision. And, according to Francis, save up to $2000 next year in premiums and out-of-pocket costs.

Audio Answers

For more on the above items, and answers to the most-asked questions, listen to our two archived Your Turn with Mike Causey radio shows featuring insurance expert Walton Francis. Click here to go to the archives

Nearly Useless Factoid

Think mashed potatoes are a Thanksgiving tradition? Think again. According to AmusingFacts, “Pilgrims did not eat potatoes for Thanksgiving as they thought they were poisonous.” Happy eating!

To reach me: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com

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