BCBS Federal Employee Program

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program – Overview

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) companies provide comprehensive health insurance coverage to members. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, a federation of 35 independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies, was established to provide healthcare coverage across the United States, ensuring access to quality healthcare services in every state and county. BCBS works closely with community doctors and hospitals to ensure members receive top-quality but affordable healthcare.

Blue Cross Blue Shield serves over 115 million members across the United States, including all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, through a network of contracted healthcare providers. This network makes it one of the largest health insurance providers in the country, although it is important to note that BCBS operates as a private insurer rather than a public health system.

Besides a vast number of individual and family health insurance programs, Blue Cross Blue Shield also offers special coverage for federal employees.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program provides extensive health insurance coverage for federal employees. It includes several attractive benefits, such as:

  • Access to healthcare services in over 96% of hospitals in the US.
  • Direct access to more than 95% of doctors in the US.
  • Prescription drug coverage at more than 66,000 retail pharmacies in the US.
  • Free preventive care, including flu shots, annual physical exams, cancer screenings, and nutritional counseling.
  • Two (2) free Telehealth visits using Teladoc® to treat minor illnesses or injuries, dermatology care, mental health support, and more by video or phone.
  • Overseas coverage for when working or traveling outside the United States.
  • Wellness incentives to keep you motivated to stay healthy.

BCBS Federal Employee Program also gives access to the Preferred Provider Network, which includes more doctors, specialists, and hospitals than any other health insurance system. Members do not need a referral to see a specialist with BCBS FEP.

The BCBS Federal Employee Program Blue Focus is the most popular product. It has a deductible and must-see preferred providers. Additionally, it has certain out-of-pocket expenses, such as copays and coinsurance. However, members can earn significant rewards for getting their annual physicals on time.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program – Plan Rates

Eligible individuals can buy the Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program Blue Focus in three ways, depending on how they enroll in the plan.

For Self (131), you can choose to pay USD 54.21 bi-weekly or pay USD 117.46 monthly.

If you choose Self+1 (133), you can pay either USD 116.54 bi-weekly or a monthly premium payment of USD 252.51.

Consequently, if you enroll in Self & Family (132), you can make a bi-weekly premium payment of USD 128.19 or a monthly payment of USD 277.75.

Remember, these rates do not apply to all enrollees. The rates may be different if you enroll in a special enrollment category. Contact the agency that manages your health benefits enrollment for more details.

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program – Benefits

Let’s check out the special benefits you receive when you enroll in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program Blue Focus:

  • In-network care
  • Preferred drug coverage
  • The reward for getting annual physicals
  • First 10 primary care visits and specialist visits for only USD 10 each

Besides these, the BCBS FEP Blue Focus offers benefits in three different layers:

  1. Core Benefits – Core benefits include free annual checkups, preventive care coverage, screenings and vaccines, telehealth visits, generic drug coverage, urgent care visits, and chiropractic and acupuncture visits.
  2. Non-Core Benefits – Non-core benefits include specialist visits and primary care coverage beyond the first ten visits to the doctor, diagnostic and lab-work coverage, hospital and emergency services and allergy treatments.
  3. Wrap Benefits – Wrap benefits include care at the maternity facility, physical therapy costs, and home healthcare coverage.

Now, let’s take a detailed look at the comprehensive benefits:

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program Blue Focus plan

Preventive care Free preventive screenings, immunization, etc.
Physician careUSD 10 copay/visit for first-10 primary and/or specialty care visits
Mental HealthcareUSD 10 copay/visit for first-10 primary and/or specialty care visits
Telehealth (Teladoc®)Free first-2 visits, USD 10 copay for additional visits
Urgent careUSD 25 copay/visit
Prescription Drug coverageUSD 5 copay for Tier-1 (Generics)

40% of USD 350 allowance for Tier-2 (Preferred Brand)

40% of USD 350 allowance for Tier-3 (Preferred Generic and Brand)
Maternity careFree doctor’s visits, USD 1,500 copay for facility care services
Hospital care30% of allowance {USD 500(for individual) and USD 1,000 (for families)} for Inpatient care

30% of allowance {USD 500(for individual) and USD 1,000 (for families)} for Outpatient care
Surgery30% of allowance {USD 500(for individual) and USD 1,000 (for families)}
ER (Accidental Injury)Free for the first 72 hours
ER (Medical Emergency)30% of allowance {USD 500(for individual) and USD 1,000 (for families)}
Lab-workFree for first-10 (specified) lab tests
Diagnostic Services30% of allowance {USD 500(for individual) and USD 1,000 (for families)}
Dental care(Not covered)
Chiropractic/AcupunctureUSD 25 copay/treatment (up to 10 visits per year combined)
Network CoverageIn-network care only (except for emergency care)
Rewards Earn rewards with no out-of-pocket expenses for annual physicals
PPO (Out-of-Pocket) Max.Self-Only = USD 8,500, Self+One and Self+Family = USD 17,000
Annual Deductible Self-Only = USD 500, Self+One and Self+Family = USD 1,000

Conclusion

The Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Federal Employee Program (FEP) is an excellent choice for health insurance coverage. The Blue Focus plan is designed to provide extensive health and medical care benefits to eligible members.

The program offers excellent healthcare services at more than 95% of hospitals and is contracted with over 96% of doctors and specialists in the United States. The health insurance plans offer comprehensive coverage for minor to major medical needs and significant rewards for annual physicals.

If you want to know specific details of BCBS FEP programs, you can check out the official link here https://www.fepblue.org/our-plans/benefits-plan-overview.

See Also

Blue Cross Blue Shield IVF Coverage

Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO Providers

What is NICU

Social Health Insurance

Foster Care Grants

Who is Eligible for Tricare?

Medical Loans for Bad Credit UK

Is Canadian Healthcare Free?

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana

Current Version
March 5, 2024
Updated By
Andrea Morales G.

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