Return to Article: OPM renegotiates out-of-network health benefits
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79957
You guys forget that there is no law that says the Federal government or any other private company has to provide health insurance coverage to workers. It's just a little icing on the cake toward employee benefits. If they all decided to drop health care tomorrow, you'd all be up a creek and there wouldn't be a thing you could do about it. As much as you complain, think what it would be like no insurance!!!
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71969
In a guise to say they were saving us money each month for the new Connecticare policy, there's now a $500.00 per person deductible. There goes that money we're supposedly saving. Not too mention all the procedures that are no longer covered. Policy holder beware, call to make sure that any procedure you may need is covered, something as simple as a routine blood test may not be covered and you'll be unpleasantly surprised when you receive a statement from Connecticare indicating that the monies are owed by you and have been applied towards your deductible and there's nothing you can do about it. Thanks OPM for negotiating the worst insurance policy a retired government worker could have.
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65027
I agree with alot that is being said. I just switched to NALC from BS/BC basic. How can premiums go up plus the cost of copays when with NALC (Cigna) co pays go down and price stays the same.
i had PT and just found out that since it was at a clinic for a hospital copay is 40 bucks instead of the 20. That is even going up to 50 next year.
Let us have three or four plans to choose from nationally and get the cose down. Let us have the same benefits as the postal service and the government pick up the same cost.
People say we have it good in the federal government, however when the state and local governemnt employees pay less for their share it makes you say hmmm.
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64872
There is a simple solution to the complex issue of choosing a plan - reduce the number of plans from which to choose. Drop it down to one or two companies that would vie heavily for the opportunity to service a group as large as the federal workforce. The whole benefit of group insurance is lost when the group is fragmented as badly as we are. I've always wanted the government to give me one good plan that meets my major health care needs and protects my family from catastrophic events, allowing me to pay for the little stuff with what I save from paying premiums on a plan with more fluff.
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64738
The taxpayer does not owe it to us to purchase our health insurance. Let's keep things in perspective.
While I have no problem with bargaining for greater health benefits, we still need to remember that these benefits are bought and paid for by "Joe the Taxpayer."
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64711
OPM - please learn to meaning of negotiate. We switch to my wife's coverage with Montgomery County BCBS and RX coverage. OPM's negotiated 14% increase in premiums and $65 co-pay for RX's is beyond disgraceful. Hope our new administration can change the way OPM does business - to for the people.
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64676
OPM should make all carriers accountable. It seems rather odd that OPM would all Blue Cross to raise premiums approximately 13% while increasing out of pocket expenses for medications and co-insurance coverage and yet stick it to the federal employee by setting a $7500 co pay for out of network surgery... Its that suppose to be the benifit of an HMO. Maybe Blue Cross should be reclassified to something other than an HMO.
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64661
OH, thank goodness... Y'all are just talking about the fact that the government NEVER gets the best deal (like that is news or something).
The title had me a bit worried. Last time the GovExec talked about the government trying to change our health benefits, they were trying to give us all piss tests; and making us pay for it like we asked to. Shoot, I thought it might be golden showers this time...
Thanks for keeping me straight, OPM. NOT!!
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64660
Good luck with NALC guys. I signed up for that when I first became a federal employee. The cost savings was not worth the headache dealing with getting claims approved. They were an absolute nightmare and I will never go back there.
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64657
OPM health insurance negotiations and it's IG's oversight thereof is a repetitive scam and fraud. The IG stringently limits the scope of boilerplate financial compliance audits conducted by his auditors of FEHBP insurance contractors. Then the IG predictably allows OPM to arbitrarily dispense with one third or more of his own auditors dollar findings of fraud by insurance contractor who routinely overcharge the govt. Unethical, incompetent, duplicitous, and illegal conduct has permeated activities of OPM and it's IG for over eighteen years. These organizations have thus far proven to be immune to accountability. Such conduct always redounds to the financial benefit of insurance contractors over the interests of govt. employees.
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64653
It appears that certain employees at OPM whom are specifically responsible for negotiating contracts require a lot more independent oversight, to prevent the practice of receiving bonuses and special discounts from the many Health Organizations.
Send BC/BS a strong message and get out during the delayed period.
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64649
Check out the NALC Plan underwritten by CIGNA. It's like what BC/BS (emphasis on the "BS") used to be like. Use OPM's comparison tool to see how NALC beats BC/BS (again, emphasis on the "BS") in every category, especially prescription drugs! BC/BS (emphasis...okay, you got the hang of it!) imposed an 85% increase on drug costs while increasing premiums 14%! I'm not endorsing NALC or any other plan, but take a look at it. I think this is the first year NALC-high-option is being offered nation-wide. I already made the switch!
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64635
How could OPM condone a 13.4% rate increase by BCBS coupled with a huge cut in benefits? BCBS is losing more and more doctors and dentists out of their PPO plans, even in areas with a high concentrtion of federal employees. The doctors complain that they can't make a decent living on the BCBS allowance. It's almost like an HMO anymore.
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64634
OPM does a terrible job negotiating benefits for federal workers. When the new dental plans were offered, the interest in the plans was more then triple what OPM had expected. But the following year did the cost for those benefits go down. More personnel should equal a lower cost for all. Additionally, in California anyone can get a generic prescription filled at Ralphs or Walmart for $4, but our negotiated rate through OPM is $10! Go figure they sure did a good job negotiating cost for the federal employees.
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64629
IF the insurance companies decide to change their coverage that's up to them and its a reflection of the private sector competition. Its too bad that the gov't employees don't have to compete every year for their jobs if they did we would have a whole different workforce. It would be driven by taking care of the taxpayers and doing their jobs what a world that would be!!! I'm just amazed that CS know how every other entity should work but they are incapable of doing their minimal tasks. Try focusing on your job for a change and start earning you pay and benefits
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64628
We need national health care for all Americans. Nothing for "undocumented" workers.
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64626
I wholeheartedly agree with Mike, it is ridiculous to try and sit down and make these side-by-side so-called medical coverage comparisons in the voluminous amount of information. You need to hire a medical expert-consultant (attorney?) to review this stuff for you and help you decide what is best for you, honestly they all stink, pick the best of the worst. Very confusing like everything else in the government.
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64624
So where are all the congratulatory emails to OPM and the President now from all those that blamed them?
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64614
What we really need is a much better way to compare plans. No one has time to read the various 200-page plans.
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64606
I was not aware of this new deductable for out-of-network, non-emergency surgery. I need to have a procedure done and I found out my orthopedic group is no longer in the Blue Cross Network. They have joined the list with my internist and dermatologist. I will look at the benefit info again.
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64605
It is absolutely unconscionable for OPM to negotiate this. It is blatant posturing by the insurance industry to minimize coverage before a mandatory national health insurance is enacted. Then they will rush to offer the old coverage at additional, premium prices. This is the FEP's sub-prime equivalent. Shame on OPM!
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64601
BCBS Standard Option has been the traditional plan for families who did not want to stoop to the HMO or High-Deductible/Low-premium/low-benefit plans pushed by Corporate Insurance Execs. If this change is allowed, there will be no alternative plan left other than HMO's and HMO-burdened plans.
The profit-driven insurance industry lobby will have won out over the traditional American vision of hardworking families complete choice of doctors. This does not serve BCBS customers well.
The trend, we will find is that the only way to defeat this industry influence is for the United States to join the 21st century and begin providing health care for all citizens and taking out the profit motive from health care. Families and patients should not be treated as units/widgets or business opportunities.
Isn't Healthcare the one field that Americans should insist NOT be driven by corporate profits.
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64596
I'm glad that SOMEONE noticed ONE of the 1,000 problems with the 2009 BC/BS (big emphasis on the "BS") plan. What about the 999 other built-in rip-offs between the out-going anti-Federal employee, pro-dirt-bag health care/pharaceutical industries? I love how Medicare/Medicaid, which is supposedly in "CRISIS" has a 0% increase in premiums for 2009 and more money than was expected in its trust funds, but the biggest health care provider to Federal employees has a 14% increase in premiums--nearly 100% more than the average private health care plan in the FEHB! Bigger group = bigger costs? Huh? This is an indictment of both the private health insurance industry and the Administration! Any loser out there (especially in the Federal Govt.) who defends this crap should rot (and I hope it hurts!).
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64593
Looks like the little guy finally got a small victory. I sent OPM @ 20 emails last week and posted to sites like this. Looks like somebody was listening.
Now what? I just changed to NALC on 12/5/08. Do I reevaluate? What changes are happeneing with BCBS and others?
I have not received any notification from my Agency; I must rely on GovExec and other similar newsletters to find out about this change!
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64587
Just more evidence of deteriotating benefits at the urging of OPM. In Connecticut the Feds have the MOST expensive and LEAST coverage compared to State and City/Town workers.
Our benefits are SO BAD that the Connecticare rep informs Medicare covered Feds to DROP FEHB altogether and elect a Connecticare Medicare Supplement instead which covers more at less cost. Conn State Employees and their federal spouses only make $10 copays on their drugs!
Shows you what happens when you enslave federal workers by not allowing collective bargaining for pay, pensions and health benefits! AFGE and NTEU always has excuses for this.
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