Talk of The Villages Florida - View Single Post - Federal Retired Employee - Medicare - which plan
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Old 05-15-2018, 03:09 PM
Villageswimmer Villageswimmer is offline
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Originally Posted by jnieman View Post
I called my Federal BC/BS about the $777 hospital bill I received from last fall when I went to the emergency room. I was not admitted but received a pain shot and some fluids, a CAT scan, EKG and bloodwork. My co-pay is the amount above.

I asked her what the difference is in the standard option and the basic option of the federal plan. She said the biggest difference are the out of network services. With the standard plan they are covered but she said with the basic plan you might have a large out of pocket expense with non-covered doctors. She said the doctors drop out and go back in the plan often so it is very difficult to keep track of who is in and who is out of network. She said the doctors may be practicing in a preferred plan hospital but are non-participators. I don't know if this would be a problem at all for those who have medicare in addition to their BC/BS federal plan.

Have you discussed your situation with SHINE? Also BCBS? I’ve never heard that doctors go in and out of the plan frequently. I, for one, have never had a doctor who did this; but that’s just me. I’d do some research on this statement before taking it at face value.

I may have missed it but were any of the doctors who treated you during this recent visit out of network?