After having BCBS family coverage for umpteen years, I finally switched last open season to the Compass Rose plan. I looked it over pretty closely before making the switch, and was satisfied that in addition to my premiums being more than $50 less per pay period (2 weeks) my office visit co-pays would drop by 50% and in some cases, go from $20 down to 0, depending on the nature of the visit. All of our current doctors and hospitals etc. are in the network, and the coverage for the meds we buy are about the same. To me, a no-brainer.....plus the comfort of knowing if for some reason it turned out to be a mistake, we'd only be stuck for a year before we could change companies again. In my opinion, the ability to choose between several different companies and plans, every 12 months, is a great added benefit, and most private employees do not have that kind of option. Also, having no discrimination based on pre-existing conditions is a super plus. I'm so glad I stuck with my fed job! I didn't get rich, but I've slept well at night. Prior to last open season, I believe the Compass Rose plan was only available to CIA and some other intelligence community type government employees. In 2011 they began including DoD (me) and a few others. It's still not open to all feds though, as far as I know.
