Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program (FEP) Expands Benefits and Services in 2020

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Today the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program^® (FEP^®), announced 2020 benefits with innovative health tools, cost transparency solutions and quality benefits for eligible participants in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program and the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).

“As a health insurer for the federal workforce since the start of the FEHB Program 60 years ago, we take great pride in providing products and services that meet our members’ needs,” said William A. Breskin, senior vice president of government programs for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. “We’re continuing to evolve our products to provide great coverage at reasonable prices, to make health care and health insurance easier to understand and more transparent, and to partner with our members in their health. With the fepblue mobile app, the online procedure cost estimator and the introduction of a new drug cost tool, we are providing our members with the information and capabilities they need to maximize the value of their health insurance and to navigate the health care system. FEP is today what it has always been – the best value out there for the federal workforce.”

Highlights of What’s New for 2020 
Enhanced Telehealth Services

FEP continues to expand access to quality health care services through telehealth benefits, provided by Teladoc^®. Telehealth services can be used for the treatment of minor acute conditions, dermatology care, behavioral health, counseling for substance use disorders, and new for 2020, nutritional counseling. The program eliminates the copayment for the first two telehealth sessions for all members no matter which service they choose. All services, except nutritional counseling, are subject to a copayment after the first two sessions. Nutritional counseling has no member cost-share as a preventive benefit. Learn more at https://www.fepblue.org/get-care/telehealth.  

Increased Medicare Part B Premium Reimbursement

The Medicare Reimbursement Account will offer additional value to Basic Option members with Medicare. All members enrolled in Basic Option and Medicare Part A and B are eligible for up to $800 in their reimbursement account. This enhanced reimbursement significantly offsets the annual cost of Part B premiums.

Diabetes Support

FEP is expanding its support of members living with chronic conditions with the introduction of a new diabetes management program offered by Livongo^®. Standard Option and Basic Option members with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes will be eligible to participate in the program, which offers a glucose meter and unlimited test strips, and lancets at no cost to the member. Certified diabetes educators are also available to provide coaching on nutrition and lifestyle questions anytime via phone, text and Livongo’s mobile app.

Enhanced Benefit for Preventive Cleanings

Regular dental care is vital to overall health. FEP BlueDental^® will offer an additional cleaning at no cost to Standard Option and High Option members to encourage regular visits.

Continued Vision Provider Network Expansion

FEP BlueVision^® is accepted by many national retailers and independent ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians. The vision network includes more than 91,000 doctors, providing unparalleled access to vision care for members.

2020 Approved Rates: 
Standard Option, Basic Option and FEP Blue Focus Premiums in 2020
Standard Option: 
Self Only biweekly premiums will be $116.91
Self Plus One biweekly premiums will be $267.15
Self and Family biweekly premiums will be $286.74

Basic Option: 
Self Only biweekly premiums will be $75.94
Self Plus One biweekly premiums will be $178.61 
Self and Family biweekly premiums will be $191.22

FEP Blue Focus: 
Self Only biweekly premiums will be $53.14
Self Plus One biweekly premiums will be $114.25
Self and Family biweekly premiums will be $125.67

FEP BlueVision Premiums in 2020
High Option: 
Self Only biweekly premiums will be $5.49
Self Plus One biweekly premiums will be $10.97
Self and Family biweekly premiums will be $16.46

Standard Option: 
Self Only biweekly premiums will be $3.50
Self Plus One biweekly premiums will be $6.99
Self and Family biweekly premiums will be $10.49

FEP BlueDental Premiums in 2020 (the rates below are for FEP BlueDental’s most populous region, Region 1) 
High Option:
Self Only biweekly premiums will be $17.31
Self Plus One biweekly premiums will be $34.63
Self and Family biweekly premiums will be $51.94

Standard Option: 
Self Only biweekly premiums will be $9.16
Self Plus One biweekly premiums will be $18.32
Self and Family biweekly premiums will be $27.49

FEP BlueDental rates depend upon the rate region in which a member lives. 

All changes will take effect Jan. 1, 2020. Eligible participants will have an opportunity to make their health care coverage decisions during open enrollment, which runs from Nov. 11 through Dec. 9, 2019. 

Additional information about 2020 benefits is available on at www.fepblue.org/whatsnew. Members can also call the National Information Center at 1-800-411-BLUE (2583).          

About Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 36 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans. BCBSA provides health care insights through The Health of America Report series and the national BCBS Health Index^sm. For more information on BCBSA and its member companies, please visit BCBS.com. We also encourage you to connect with us on Facebook, check out our videos on YouTube and follow us on Twitter.

About The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan (FEP^®)

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan, also known as the Federal Employee Program (FEP®), has been part of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) since its inception in 1960. It covers roughly 5.3 million federal employees, retirees and their families out of the nearly 8 million people who receive their benefits through the FEHBP. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association negotiates annually with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to determine the benefits and premiums for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan. The 36 local member companies of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association are the primary points of contact for Service Benefit Plan members. They are responsible for processing claims and providing customer service to our members. To locate the address and telephone number for a Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, please visit the Contact Us section.

About Teledoc Health
Teledoc is an independent company offering telemedicine services. A mission-driven organization, Teladoc Health, Inc.is successfully transforming how people access and experience healthcare, with a focus on high quality, lower costs, and improved outcomes around the world. The company’s award-winning, integrated clinical solutions are inclusive of telehealth, expert medical services, AI and analytics, and licensable platform services. With more than 2, 000 employees, the organization delivers care in 130 countries and in more than 30 languages, partnering with employers, hospitals and health systems, and insurers to transform care delivery. For more information, please visit www.teladochealth.com or follow @TeladocHealth on Twitter.

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SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield Association