Federal employee insurance!! Which is the best?!?!

[creed2474 0]

I'm about to go back to my federal job..... and want to find the best coverage and the easiest way to get my surgery. (I would rather not do the diet plan for whatever amount of months). Can you tell me from your experience...which is the best?

I live in Austin, Texas.

<TABLE class=plancolAlterData id=ResultTable style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=3 summary="This table gives information on health benefit plans based on the areacode given" border=2><TBODY><TR><TH class=plancolAlterData id=check scope=col width="4%" rowSpan=2> </TH><TH class=topinfo id=links style="WIDTH: 34%; COLOR: red" scope=col rowSpan=2>Plans </TH><TH class=topinfo id=genPlanInfo scope=col colSpan=4>General Plan Information</TH><TH class=topinfo id=Enroll scope=col colSpan=2>Enrollment Codes</TH></TR><TR><TH class=tanHeader id=planType style="WIDTH: 5%" scope=col headers=genPlanInfo>Plan Type</TH><TH class=tanHeader id=telephone style="WIDTH: 12%" scope=col headers=genPlanInfo>Telephone</TH><TH class=tanHeader id=state style="WIDTH: 12%" scope=col headers=genPlanInfo>State</TH><TH class=tanHeader id=homepage style="WIDTH: 10%" scope=col headers=genPlanInfo>Plan Homepage</TH><TH class=tanHeader id=self style="WIDTH: 8%" scope=col headers=enroll>Self</TH><TH class=tanHeader id=selfFamily style="WIDTH: 8%" scope=col headers=enroll>Self & Family</TH></TR><TR class=plancolAlterData><TD class=plancolAlterData headers=check><INPUT id=p221 type=checkbox value=221TXCDPC name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p221>Aetna HealthFund -CDHP- Most of Texas </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="planType genPlanInfo">CDP </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">877-459-6604 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="state genPlanInfo">TX </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="self enroll">221 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="selfFamily enroll">222 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolData><TD class=plancolData headers=check><INPUT id=p224 type=checkbox value=224TXHDPD name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p224>Aetna HealthFund -HDHP- Most of Texas </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolData headers="planType genPlanInfo">HDP </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">877-459-6604 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="state genPlanInfo">TX </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="self enroll">224 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="selfFamily enroll">225 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolAlterData><TD class=plancolAlterData headers=check><INPUT id=pP11 type=checkbox value=P11TXHMOH name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=pP11>Aetna Open Access -high- Austin and San Antonio Areas </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="planType genPlanInfo">HMO </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">877-459-6604 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="state genPlanInfo">TX </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="self enroll">P11 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="selfFamily enroll">P12 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolData><TD class=plancolData headers=check><INPUT id=p474 type=checkbox value=474AAFFSC name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p474>APWU Health Plan -CDHP- Nationwide </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">866-833-3463 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="state genPlanInfo">Nationwide </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="self enroll">474 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="selfFamily enroll">475 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolAlterData><TD class=plancolAlterData headers=check><INPUT id=p471 type=checkbox value=471AAFFSH name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p471>APWU Health Plan -high- Nationwide </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">800-222-2798 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="state genPlanInfo">Nationwide </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="self enroll">471 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="selfFamily enroll">472 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolData><TD class=plancolData headers=check><INPUT id=p421 type=checkbox value=421AAFFSH name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p421>Association Benefit Plan -high- Specific Areas </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">800-634-0069 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="state genPlanInfo">Specific Groups </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="self enroll">421 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="selfFamily enroll">422 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolAlterData><TD class=plancolAlterData headers=check><INPUT id=p111 type=checkbox value=111AAFFSB name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p111>Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan -basic- Nationwide </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">Local phone # </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="state genPlanInfo">Nationwide </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="self enroll">111 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="selfFamily enroll">112 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolData><TD class=plancolData headers=check><INPUT id=p104 type=checkbox value=104AAFFSS name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p104>Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan -std- Nationwide </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">Local phone # </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="state genPlanInfo">Nationwide </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="self enroll">104 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="selfFamily enroll">105 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolAlterData><TD class=plancolAlterData headers=check><INPUT id=p401 type=checkbox value=401AAFFSH name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p401>Foreign Service Benefit Plan -high- Specific Areas </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">202-833-4910 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="state genPlanInfo">Specific Groups </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="self enroll">401 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="selfFamily enroll">402 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolData><TD class=plancolData headers=check><INPUT id=p311 type=checkbox value=311AAFFSH name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p311>GEHA Benefit Plan -high- Nationwide </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">800-821-6136 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="state genPlanInfo">Nationwide </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="self enroll">311 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="selfFamily enroll">312 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolAlterData><TD class=plancolAlterData headers=check><INPUT id=p314 type=checkbox value=314AAFFSS name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p314>GEHA Benefit Plan -std- Nationwide </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">800-821-6136 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="state genPlanInfo">Nationwide </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="self enroll">314 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="selfFamily enroll">315 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolData><TD class=plancolData headers=check><INPUT id=p341 type=checkbox value=341AAFFSD name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p341>GEHA High Deductible Health Plan -HDHP- Nationwide </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">800-821-6136 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="state genPlanInfo">Nationwide </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="self enroll">341 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="selfFamily enroll">342 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolAlterData><TD class=plancolAlterData headers=check><INPUT id=pTV1 type=checkbox value=TV1TXCDPC name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=pTV1>Humana CoverageFirst -CDHP- Austin Area </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="planType genPlanInfo">CDP </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">888-393-6765 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="state genPlanInfo">TX </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="self enroll">TV1 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="selfFamily enroll">TV2 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolData><TD class=plancolData headers=check><INPUT id=p481 type=checkbox value=481AAFFSD name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p481>Mail Handlers Benefit Plan Consumer Option -HDHP- Nationwide </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">800-694-9901 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="state genPlanInfo">Nationwide </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="self enroll">481 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="selfFamily enroll">482 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolAlterData><TD class=plancolAlterData headers=check><INPUT id=p454 type=checkbox value=454AAFFSS name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p454>Mail Handlers Benefit Plan -std- Nationwide </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">800-410-7778 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="state genPlanInfo">Nationwide </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="self enroll">454 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="selfFamily enroll">455 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolData><TD class=plancolData headers=check><INPUT id=p414 type=checkbox value=414AAFFSS name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p414>Mail Handlers Benefit Plan Value Option -std- Nationwide </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">800-410-7778 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="state genPlanInfo">Nationwide </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="self enroll">414 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="selfFamily enroll">415 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolAlterData><TD class=plancolAlterData headers=check><INPUT id=p321 type=checkbox value=321AAFFSH name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p321>NALC -high- Nationwide </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">888-636-6252 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="state genPlanInfo">Nationwide </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="self enroll">321 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="selfFamily enroll">322 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolData><TD class=plancolData headers=check><INPUT id=p431 type=checkbox value=431AAFFSH name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p431>Panama Canal Area Benefit Plan -high- Specific Areas </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">800-424-8196 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="state genPlanInfo">Specific Groups </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="self enroll">431 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="selfFamily enroll">432 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolAlterData><TD class=plancolAlterData headers=check><INPUT id=p381 type=checkbox value=381AAFFSH name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p381>Rural Carrier Benefit Plan -high- Specific Areas </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">800-638-8432 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="state genPlanInfo">Specific Groups </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="self enroll">381 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="selfFamily enroll">382 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolData><TD class=plancolData headers=check><INPUT id=p441 type=checkbox value=441AAFFSH name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p441>SAMBA -high- Specific Areas </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">800-638-6589 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="state genPlanInfo">Specific Groups </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="self enroll">441 </TD><TD class=plancolData headers="selfFamily enroll">442 </TD></TR><TR class=plancolAlterData><TD class=plancolAlterData headers=check><INPUT id=p444 type=checkbox value=444AAFFSS name=Enroll1State> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterDataLeft scope=row align=left headers=links><LABEL for=p444>SAMBA -std- Specific Areas </LABEL></TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="planType genPlanInfo">FFS </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="telephone genPlanInfo">800-638-6589 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="state genPlanInfo">Specific Groups </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="homepage genPlanInfo"> </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="self enroll">444 </TD><TD class=plancolAlterData headers="selfFamily enroll">445 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[SuzanneG 1]

I have federal BC/BS Basic. I was turned down based on my BMI (35.1) the first pass through, but appealed and was approved. I paid $100 co-pay for my surgery and that's it. For fills, if I have them done under fluro I pay $100 co-pay (considered surgery if a foriegn object enters your body) and $40 for the x-ray.

Good luck to you.

[creed2474 0]

I have federal BC/BS Basic. I was turned down based on my BMI (35.1) the first pass through, but appealed and was approved. I paid $100 co-pay for my surgery and that's it. For fills, if I have them done under fluro I pay $100 co-pay (considered surgery if a foriegn object enters your body) and $40 for the x-ray.

Good luck to you.

Yeah, I am going to go with Federal BC/BS Basic. I wonder what the difference is with the Basic and STD. You would think the STD covers the surgery better because you are paying a higher premium per month.

I'm pretty sure my BMI is over 40. How long did it take you to have the surgery once you were approved?

On the fills, you pay 100 dollar each fill? Or, just a flat 100 dollar co-pay for all of them for the year? You have to have an x-ray after each fill? How often do you have to have a fill?

I'm like 6ft 1in and pushing 400 lbs. Yeah, i'm over-weight and people trip out when i tell them how much I weigh because I don't look it. I just tell them when U got fat and muscle you're going to weigh alot more. I have always been pretty active... but at this point it has gotten the best of me and I need help.