New Health Plans Are Worth a Look

For government retirees who are enrolled in Medicare Part A or B, Checkbook recommends the same lineup of plans and adds the GEHA standard option and the Coventry high-deductible plan available in Maryland.

Checkbook also points out key changes such as new plans. One of them, the Mail Handlers Value Option, calls itself the lowest-priced plan in the program next year.

This year's is the 29th edition of the Checkbook guide, which dozens of federal agencies offer free online to their employees. Francis is the chief researcher and writer for the guide, sponsored by the nonprofit group that publishes Washington Consumers' Checkbook magazine.

The guide offers cost-comparison tables for civil service employees, postal workers and retirees. The ratings estimate how much an enrollee is likely to pay for premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses, and the tables cover routine expenses and catastrophically large bills.

As the guide makes clear, the program's plans vary widely when measured by premiums, deductibles and co-payments. In addition to taking stock of what plans cost, enrollees also need to determine which type of plan (fee-for-service, HMO, consumer driven) seems likely to meet their needs and which plans allow them access to their favorite doctors in their preferred provider network.

OPM officials say that relatively few federal employees and retirees switch plans each year, and the majority of enrollees have opted for a well-established brand name, Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Blue Cross standard option, which is especially popular with retirees, and Blue Cross basic, which only covers in-network services and providers, have attracted nearly six in 10 of the program's enrollees.

"It is not irrational to stick with the tried and true and familiar," Francis said. "But that decision comes at a not insignificant dollar price."

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.