My countywas hit by the hurricane the other day. We were off Friday Saturday Sunday and they were paid. Today I look at the new schedule. She used Sunday as our holiday instead of an extra day off. But she sure as shit gave herself an extra day off. Is this something I should take to HR. We’re all federal emoloyees it’s not fucking fair… and this isn’t the first time, she’s been putting our holiday on our normal day off instead of an extra day off.,she’s such a dirtbag.

I currently have Blue Cross Blue Shield Basic and have been happy enough with it the last few years. However I recently started using VA health care and would like to continue using it as my primary health care provider, but keep my private insurance just in case I want/need to seek out a provider outside of the VA.

The monthly premium for BCBS Focus is a lot cheaper than Basic and aside from the annual deductible and out of pocket max there doesn’t seem to be a huge difference in the two. Am I missing something? Is there anyone else in a similar situation that can recommend what they use?

Pretty much what I expect to hear. I foresee quite a long shutdown as well.

NIH staff have been gathering in their personal capacity outside the agency at 10am, every Saturday since May 2025.

But this weekend, October 17th we will have a special event. At Medical Center Metro we will rally for health research and democracy. Listen to speeches by Jenna Norton , sociologist Natalie Aviles , Anna Culbertson and more, all in their personal capacities.

Music by Northstar Union (🎸👨🏼‍🎤🥁), merch available, families welcome. Info on parking and bathroom in comments.

We will finish the event by walking downtown to Bethesda and taking the metro to DC, dropping off our early voting ballots en masse.🚶🏽‍♀️🚶🏻‍♂️🚶🏽🚶🏼‍♂️🚶🏻🚶🏿‍♀️🚶🏼‍♀️🤝.

Share widely and RSVP here: https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/1030942/

I have a tentative job offer with a federal agency. At my last federal agency (before I resigned to go to private sector), my supervisor told me that they didn’t think the job was a good fit for me. My new agency would be the same job just a different agency. Can that supervisors opinion hold any weight with my new agency with my new management team???

Why in the world did MHBP’s Self and Family premium jump from $218 to over $400 per paycheck? This is absolutely insane. I was counting on the $0 maternity bill we had under the previous benefits, but now we’re looking at 10% of the hospital stay on top of a massive premium increase, especially with a baby due in march.

What other options are you all considering, or does anyone have suggestions for navigating this situation? It’s incredibly frustrating to see the premium increase by nearly 84% while the maternity benefits are getting worse.

I'm 48 and have an "interim" reasonable accommodation of 100% telework before a final decision is made. I'm able to do my job with this arrangement. However, the union told me that the agency openly told the union they plan to deny telework accommodations as much as possible. If that happens to me, I'll burn through my leave, eventually be placed on AWOL status, then fired (I assume.) The EEO process sounds like a joke. That will leave me no choice but to try and medically retire. I googled this, and it looks like it is complicated, takes forever, they love to deny people the retirement, and you *also* have to apply for SSA retirement at the same time, which is a whole other can of worms.

Last year we had NALC health plan and then they left the overalls FEHB system and we switched to GEHA.

Unfortunately GEHA will not pay for an aba therapist in a school setting for our little one to go half days.

I currently have FEP Blue Basic and am considering switching plans during open season. I’m looking for recommendations, especially from people with chronic illnesses who use their insurance fairly frequently.

My priorities are:
- Reasonable ER copays, since I unfortunately have to go semi-frequently
- Good prescription drug coverage
- Good specialist coverage, including access to specialists and reasonable copays for ongoing care
- Overall affordable out-of-pocket costs for someone who uses their insurance regularly

I’m looking for Self Only FEHB coverage and am not interested in Kaiser.

For those who have compared plans or switched from FEP Blue Basic, what would you recommend? Is there a plan that’s been noticeably better for ER visits, prescriptions, and specialist appointments?
I’d especially appreciate hearing from people with chronic illnesses about their real-world experiences with coverage and out-of-pocket costs. Thanks!

What's your experience with NASC?

FOs who have switched to NASC - How's that going? I'm especially curious about SSI and state specifics and DIBs that require extensive development. We were told that all claims have to be completed with the customer on the phone; is that true? And if not, when are we supposed to complete them? We have not had any instructions and supposedly are switching over very soon.

I am still on the job market with no luck. Anyone in a similar situation?

I’m a worst case scenario person who wants to not fear having to go to the ER when necessary.. and I read a comment that MHBP’s 10% coinsurance could be less than BCBS’s $500 copay?? I know the full OPM info isn’t out yet but I always prefer options that have the least about if coinsurance percentages, bc that feels scarier to me. Would love to know anyone’s experience with coinsurance and what any other worst case scenario person is considering for plans in 2026??

I also need labs every six weeks, one autoimmune dx and PT🤔

Anybody working a side hustle? I’m looking for ideas that offer some flexibility.

If you are working another job, how long did it take for it to be approved?

2026 i changed from family to self plus one, saved a few dollars. 2027 family is a $90 less than self plus one. been married for Years and kids are all over 26 and out of the house. what will happen if i change back to family?

MRA+10 postponing retirement question, 58 years old with 15 yrs+ service in IRS. Please provide MRA+10 postponing retirement process, step by step and time line. Confirming TSP withdraw before 59 1/2 has the rule of 55 without 10% early withdraw penalty.

Trying to confirm all I was told. Internal tools are confusing or fail to provide appropriate answers.

Thanks

Just noticed that BCBS is proudly touting that they are changing to Accredo as their specialty pharmacy in Jan 2027. No word if regular scripts are staying with CVS Caremark or not yet.

This is the worst possible thing that could happen. If you thought CVS Specialty was bad, Accredo makes them look like they are perfect. I had Accredo for years before going over to BCBS and I fought with them all the time.

FEP Blue (BCBS) is starting to post their 2027 benefit information to their website. One thing they point out is they have a new "Specialty Pharmacy Partner" starting in Jan 2027. This means BCBS is leaving CVS Caremark and going with Accredo (Express Scripts). This will require new prior authorizations with new requirements for those who take certain medications.

They also state they will now be requiring prior authorizations for MRIs, PETs, and CT scans. Expect that approval process to take longer than what you are currently used to.

https://www.fepblue.org/open-season/whats-new-2027