If I were in this situation of selecting a health plan particularly one with a certain type of care in mind, I would look into the Checkbook Guide to Open Season for Federal Employees. Many agencies make it available to their employees and it is also available on line for a modest fee.

It would be a matter of selecting a small number of plans with lower cost estimates and higher ratings that seemed to fit my criteria and then zeroing in on the specific type of care you mentioned as discussed in the plan brochures, which are easily searched on screen. You may have to call the plans you are interested to obtain clarification of what is discussed in brochure. To review the Guide estimates for the various fehb plans requires making a judgment expecting low, average, or high expenses for the coming year. With the type of surgery mentioned here, I think the category high expenses should be considered.

I'm not too familiar with that type of surgery, if someone knowing more about it posts to this thread in future, I would be interested in what they have to say but would still use the Checkbook Guide as a valuable reference in conjunction with that information. Just one reason would be this: suppose the posting says they know firsthand how a plan worked with that surgery and they were happy with it, but on the other hand, the Checkbook reference says that overall member experiences give the plan low satisfaction ratings, I would want to know that before enrolling in that plan.

Edited by user Monday, April 18, 2022 9:21:34 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Good day,

Sent you private message. I’m a federal employee currently out for sleeve surgery. I can help with some questions.

Thanks