Blue Cross Health Insurance Changes for Federal Workers Raise Concerns

just bend over and grab your ankles

Just bend over and grab your ankles, that seems to be the American way these days. This is just one of the countless injustices imposed on us by our pharmaceutical companies,corporations, and enforced by our government.

Think about this. The very foods we eat are poisoned with chemicals and preservatives that cause cancer and other chronic illnesses. The cures for most illnesses are withheld from the public. After all it's more profitable to treat patients than to cure them. If people don't get sick, then the drug and insurance companies can't stay in business. And they give drug dealers a hard time! Drug addicts at least know the dangers of illegal drugs. Does a 5 year old know the dangers of ridelin, a drug comparable to cocaine!? But oh my god!!! We can't have hyper active kids, lets drug them into a coma!

Point is, everyone is getting screwed. However,the problem isn't the government or the corporations. The problem is the American people. Everyone complains, but no one does anything to change things. Americans don't even have the back bone to speak up or even protect their own children anymore! Wake up America!!!!

cost of chemotherapy

my husband is employed by a va hospital. i have recurrent ovarian cancer times 2. on top of worrying like crazy about whether or not the medications will work, we also must pay 15% of the medications that comes to several thousands of dollars, thank you very much.

why isn't what the insurance company pays enough. i have enough worries without getting a loan to pay chemo.

Blue cross and Blue shield copayments

I am a retired from the Federal Government. I think it is not fair to pay $65.00 per prescription from my pension and not have pretax dollars pay for my medical and dental. I no longer have a flexible savings account and that also is not a good thing.

Increase in name brand medicine and co-payment

I think an increase from $35 to $65 for brand drugs is unfair. It is only to force you to accept the generic medicine. Generic medications are not always the same as brand name medicine. I have tried the generic to some of my medicine and the generic was not as effective. If they are giving 4 free generic medicine why not give some brand name medicines also. Such as required high blood pressure medicine free. Why not offer half off on all health facilities to help improve your health? Retirees are on a fixed salary. OPM seems to forget this.

Acupuncture/Alternative Medicine Practioners coverage

I have Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance pay the premuim and do not have the choice of practioners because the coverage is limited to MD's. These MD's have perscribed medication anti-virals that they have admitted to be of little or no effect on the illness. I still have to pay the copay to them and then go to a DC or ND to get any real treatment for the ailment. I pay twice as much because I am paying for insurance that does not cover the treatment/service/remedy required to correct the condition. When will there be true choice in ones health care provider?

The Real Costs of Medical Care

The real costs of medical care and treatment are over-the-moon and are not associated with reality. Especially hospital costs. We need to get back to a system where the doctor is paid a reasonable amount for a service - its real cost, without an insurance company making obscene profits on the side. Many physicians are opting out of the insurance system and charge a cash fee. These fees represent the real cost of medical treatment, not to pumped up pricing made necessary by the insurance companies. Throw out these insurance carriers. They do not belong in medicine.

I Agree

Blue Cross and other federal employee insurance plans should be looikng at insured + one, etc. I strongly agree with what Mr. Phipps and Ms. Freeman-Holmes state above. As the federal work force ages, more and more policy holders are becoming empty-nester two person households, and shouldn't have to bear the same premium burden of 3-person plus families. Many of the Fed Vip dental and vision plans are already doing this...why not the major health insurance providers? This is something that our federal contract negotiators should be aggressively pursuing for the 2010 health insurance contracts and therefter!

Blue cross family plans

There should be a plan for two people Man&Wife ,We should not have to pay for a family when there is only two people, AARP needs to get in this for change

Suggestoins for Preminums

It seems ridiculous that a family with 2 people would have to pay the same preminum as a family with 4 to 6 people. There should be a choose of employee + one; employee + two and etc.

health, dental, and vision insurance

I worked 35 years in the coal industry and 2 years with a very small manufacturer of coal mine related equipment. The insurance that I have now with the government has the worst coverage and the highest premiums and the highest out of pocket expenses that I have ever had. Now we are asked why it is so hard to keep employees at MSHA. We as government employees feel that we are being ripped off. Sure we have different companies to choose from, but none of them offer coverage that is considered as being great. I think we all as government employees would appreciate some consideration on these concerns