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This guide is excellent and well worth the price. The online version covers the entire country. The print one only DC. I've used the guide for years, and just received notice for this year
Quote:
Because you have purchased Checkbook's Guide to Health Insurance Plans for Federal Employees (www.guidetohealthplans.org) in the past, we wanted you to know that the 2018 edition is available for pre-order purchase.
Choosing the right health plan is one of the most important decisions you have to make. Rising costs and changing benefits don't make it an easy one. The Checkbook Guide has for 39 years provided federal employees and annuitants with rankings of available health insurance plans by estimated out-of-pocket costs, taking into account premiums, catastrophic limits, and estimates of likely additional costs for medical expenses of every kind. FEDVIP Dental and Vision plans are also rated in the Checkbook Guide.
Click here to Purchase Access to the Guide
• HMO, Fee-for-Service, Managed Care, HDHP, CDHP, Medicare Part B...which is the best plan for you?
• Are you paying too much in your current plan or not getting the benefits you need?
• Are you in the wrong type of plan for your situation?
Purchase Access to the Guide by Clicking Here
If the above link does not work, copy and paste the link shown below in your browser:
The online Guide can be pre-ordered now. 2018 health plan data will be available at the start of Open Season which begins November 13th. We hope you take advantage of this one-of-a-kind resource to make an informed decision this upcoming Open Season.
I agree that Checkbook's Guide to Health Care Insurance Plans is probably the best resource on evaluating health care insurance options available for Federal Employees. Employees and retirees should check their plans during Open Season (Nov 13 - Dec 11) as rates and coverage change, and many rates have significantly increased for 2018.
Before you purchase the reference however, check to see if this service is provided to you for free by your local library. Most public libraries in the DC Metro area subscribe to this service. It may be available in other US cities with a large number of federal employees (search for Consumers Checkbook under available library database services). To the best of my knowledge, you will have to access Checkbook from a library terminal rather than remotely offsite.
In 2016, I printed off a hardcopy of the Guide (32 p) at my library, only paying a standard library charge per page. I refer to it often. One of the best features of the Checkbook site is that it will allow you to run various specific comparisons of the health plans tailored to your personal specifics such as family size, home location, etc. The Checkbook comparison tool compares up to 3 plans at a time against dozens of specific details such as in network vs out of network charges, outpatient care, hospitalization, emergency care, mental health/substance abuse, chiropractic, acupuncture, hearing aids, drug coverage, etc. It also provides a Consumer Reports type rating system on the various plans in multiple categories of customer service, quality of clinical care, coverage of health care screenings, etc.
For a brief moment I thought the title of this thread was "Open Season on Federal Retirees". I guess I've been spending too much time on the Retirement forum. LOL
For a brief moment I thought the title of this thread was "Open Season on Federal Retirees". I guess I've been spending too much time on the Retirement forum. LOL
It is open season on federal retirees, Lenora! The House Budget Resolution has several proposals to decimate our federal pensions as well as FEHB and the TSP G Fund. For the first time, I sent emails to my Senators to protest as we are now at the mercy of the Senate. And I am in the 30% of the middle class that would pay more taxes under the Trump tax reform.
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