Reply #20: I'd still put money on the oil drop - but to answer your question, yep, same plan

[ThomWV]

Every Federal Government Employee is in it, or at least can be in it. Basically its an umbrella. Many companies participate. Companies put together a couple of plans, generally a high and low cost plan; one with everything, the other bare bones. Prices for similar plans are similar. Once a year there is an 'open season' during which you get to shop from among the plans and chose the one you want for the upcomming year. The Government pays a large portion of the cost, you pay the rest. We use the BlueCross/BlueShield plan, I think my end of it comes to about $350 per month, which means the total price is somewhere near $1,000 per month with the Government picking up 65% of it. Its pretty much like state BC/BS plans, covers all the big stuff, dental, mental, some perscription coverage too. The thing is there is lots of choice but its between very similar plans, so you have to decide for yourself if that really represents a choice at all. Price wise its really not cheap other than the individual never sees most of the cost.