Insurance Plan Advice

[Junenight]

I’m a federal employee happy with how my federal Blue Cross health plan has covered my scans/treatments/doctor visits for my Stage 4 prostate cancer for 3 years. The premiums have skyrocketed and I’m considering changing to an Aetna plan, the MHBP federal plan. The Aetna plan has similar coverage as the Blue Cross plan, at a substantially lower premium. I’d appreciate any insights, bad or good, on Aetna, as well as on the wisdom of someone with Stage 4 cancer changing from a known plan I’m happy with to an unknown (much less expensive) plan with purportedly similar coverage.

Thanks in advance!

[MoonRocket]

Which Aetna Plan? There are several.

[Junenight in reply to MoonRocket]

It is the Standard plus 1 PPO plan. It is a federal employee/mail carrier plan.

[MoonRocket in reply to Junenight]

To echo other sentiments about Aetna, I work for a defense contractor in PA, I've had the HDP Aetna Pos II plan since I've been diagnosed. Never had a issue getting treatments approved.

[Junenight in reply to MoonRocket]

Thanks. Good to hear about Aetna.

[6357axbz]

check if you doctor accepts

[vintage42]

Looks like MHPD Std Self+1 is about $400/month less than your present BCBS Std Self+1. You could save about $230/month if you dropped down to BCBS Basic Self+1, which we did two years ago. The only difference I saw was that Basic does not cover care outside the US.

Also check what MHPD does about drug coverage. Do all the FEHB plans have the MPDP? It is paying almost $8,000/month for my Orgovyx and Abi/Pred.

[Junenight in reply to vintage42]

Thanks for this. I’ll check.

[vintage42 in reply to Junenight]

In the November NARFE Magazine, page 49 shows all the FEHB plans and premiums.

Table of plans and premiums

[MoonRocket in reply to vintage42]

That's a lot of health plans. Surprisingly, the monthly costs seems high.

[Don717]

My dad, (retired from PA State) had Aetna and never had to pay for anything, I use Aetna as my secondary insurance (wife retired from PA State). I have nothing but good things to say about Aetna. Everything my primary insurance (Capital Blue Cross) doesn't pay Aetna picks up. However, I'm not sure how plans vary state to state since I know Aetna uses in-network(yes, even PPO plans)providers and these contracts are negotiated between hospital networks and Aetna so our plan/experience may not be the same as yours. We have never had an issue with Aetna in 24 years. Only ever had to make one call about a bill and it was taken care of.

[Junenight in reply to Don717]

Thanks! Very helpful.

[Sunnysailor]

I would call your oncologist office and ask if they have a social worker. They can help navigate this. We have a change due to a move. I am consulting with the social worker, the insurance company, and reading everything carefully. Good luck!

[Junenight in reply to Sunnysailor]

Good advice. Thanks

[j-o-h-n]

Getta AETNA it's Betta...

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n