David Yoder, senior vice president of the Federal Employee Program (FEP) at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to offer guidance for federal and postal workers and other eligible uniformed service families during Open Season, which closes Dec. 14.
Yoder covered how to assess next year's health needs, the tools available for comparing plans and prescriptions and why total cost matters more than premium.
David Yoder, senior vice president of the Federal Employee Program (FEP) at the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to talk about Open Season, which runs through Dec. 14 for the 2027 plan year. The segment is part of AWF's partnership with the National Labor Office of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an AWF sponsor.
Yoder's first piece of advice is to take action. He urged people to assess their current health and look back at how this year's plan performed. Did it meet the needs that actually arose, and will next year look the same? Even if the answer is yes, he said, it is worth examining drug use, whether new medications are likely and whether different doctors may be needed. As an example, he cited someone who is getting older and considering a knee replacement. His suggestion is to pick the plan that best fits those needs, with in-network doctors and prescriptions on the formulary, and to plan for the next 12 to 18 months.
Yoder described coverage that starts with preventive care, aimed at keeping bodies healthy before something goes wrong, and encouraged routine doctor visits. A large nationwide network lets members see doctors and specialists at the lowest possible copays, he said, and members who add FEP's dental and vision products get the same preventive focus there. He pointed to a comprehensive pharmacy benefit that covers all generic medications and many brand-name products, including specialty drugs, available at pharmacies nationwide. A separate specialty pharmacy can ship medication to a member's door, he said.
Yoder acknowledged that choosing a plan can be confusing and pointed to tools meant to cut through the clutter. On fepblue.org, he said a plan finder lets members enter anticipated healthcare needs and prescriptions. The program then suggests a best fit based on family and health status and explains why it chose that plan. A doctor finder and a prescription drug finder round out the picture, he said, so there are no surprises once the year starts.
For anyone with ongoing prescriptions, Yoder's first question is whether they will stay on those medications. Someone stable on treatment for diabetes or high blood pressure will likely continue, he said, but anyone who expects a change should look for comprehensive coverage at an affordable copay, because medications do not work if people do not take them. He pointed to a formulary tool that shows whether a drug is covered, which tier it falls under, and the copays for different benefit designs. He also suggested asking a pharmacist about discontinued products or brand-name drugs that may get a generic option next year.
Postal unions make sure their members remember Open Season, Yoder said, acknowledging that some people forget. They also point members to the available carriers and tools, which matters because many postal facilities are not open to health plans. FEP works with the postal community so members understand its products, and Yoder credited the unions with helping facilitate that.
For uniformed service members, eligibility covers dental and vision, which are two separate products, with two options in each market, Yoder said. Families of active-duty members can enroll, since the military still covers the member's own healthcare, dental and vision needs, and retirees can enroll themselves and their spouses.
Yoder said FEP offers a comprehensive telemedicine benefit meant to drop barriers to care, and it is not just for a case of the flu. Members can connect with mental health professionals without going to an office, which he said matters because mental health resources can be tough to find locally, especially in rural areas. He said it avoids the long local waits and supplements in-person care when members also need to see someone locally.
Yoder's closing message was to be an active consumer. Just because this year’s coverage worked out does not mean it will next year, he said. People should think longer term, he continued. As examples, he mentioned looking ahead at future retirement benefits for older employees, or if there’s a chance their family will grow, what are the maternity benefits? He said FEP has really good plans, and other carriers do too. The right choice depends on networks and prescriptions, he said.
The most important point, he said, is to look beyond the premium. A plan chosen on premium alone can carry higher copays, network restrictions and a smaller formulary, he warned, adding that higher hospitalization copays can make the cheapest-looking coverage cost more. Yoder's advice is to compare the total cost over a full year rather than what a member pays each month.
More information on the Federal Employee Program is available at fepblue.org.
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