It's even more interesting with an HDHP/HSA. We've had to become VERY aware of drug costs. When we were in a PPO there was simply a $25 copay for brand name "preferred" and $10 for generics. Now we pay the entire cost until the deductible is met ($2500).The cost of prescriptions went up for federal employees' BCBS Standard in 2009. Instead of paying $22.xx for my name brand prescription, yesterday I had to pay $27.xx . So, $5 gone with the wind. I should have refilled my prescription last week.
If this gets much worse, there won't be any pharmacies left in the US because everyone will be getting their prescribed drugs in Mexico or Canada.
The cost of prescriptions went up for federal employees' BCBS Standard in 2009. Instead of paying $22.xx for my name brand prescription, yesterday I had to pay $27.xx . So, $5 gone with the wind. I should have refilled my prescription last week.
If this gets much worse, there won't be any pharmacies left in the US because everyone will be getting their prescribed drugs in Mexico or Canada.
W2R,
There will always be pharmacies - they get the wholesale cost of the drug plus a dispensing fee (that's why Walmart and others offer generic prescriptions for a $4 co-pay, regardless of what your healthplan offers). A solution to the fiscal problem, is to move to the generic version, if available, or -- go to mail order where you get a 3 month supply for the cost of two co-pays. Doesn't the FEHP support these two options?
Get my generics at WalMart (they don't carry every one) for $10 for a 90 day supply and a couple are only $6 for 90 days. I don't even run these through my Medicare Advantage Plan because it's my cost PLUS their cost that goes towards the "donut hole" of $2750. I'm trying to stay away from the donut hole.W2R,
There will always be pharmacies - they get the wholesale cost of the drug plus a dispensing fee (that's why Walmart and others offer generic prescriptions for a $4 co-pay, regardless of what your healthplan offers). A solution to the fiscal problem, is to move to the generic version, if available, or -- go to mail order where you get a 3 month supply for the cost of two co-pays. Doesn't the FEHP support these two options?
-- Rita
What do they charge for a woman trapped in a man's body? Or a man trapped in a woman's body?
I think this could get sticky.
Ha
Medical inflation is not 20% per year, but it has been the double digits generally.
What does your insurance carrier say about the reason for the increase?
Agreed, there seems to be a lot of bait and switching, probably worksLook for a large cost increase for all lines of insurance. With the exception of a government run plan , the insurance business IS about how bad Allstate ,Chuub , State Farm, etc. got beat up with investments. Risk pooling is only part of the picture.
Just got a notice that my Anthem Blue Cross monthly payment will be going up over 50% in March! It's a high-deductible ($3500) HSA plan. It's still relatively cheap (was $107, now going to $163) but, as they say, "it's the principle of the thing."
Just for fun, I went to the Anthem website and got a quote for my age/location/etc for coverage starting in April 2009. Still $107/month.
That website timed out when I entered my info to check alternatives, probably because lots of folks got the same letter.If you have been covered for at least 18 months under and Anthem BC health plan, you may be able to transfer, without medical underwriting, to another plan providing equal or lesser benefits.
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You may also view other coverage options at changemycoverage.com
I just noticed a strange coincidence: The date of my rate increase is exactly 18 months since I began the plan, and there is a statement in the letter that:
That website timed out when I entered my info to check alternatives, probably because lots of folks got the same letter.
Given that I'm not being singled out, I won't start hypothesizing about them trying to switch me into a lesser plan.
My guess is that they are reacting somehow to their predictions of what will happen to healthcare under Obama.