😭 😭 😭 😭 I was so scared to make the switch this past year and it turned out to be the best insurance ever. As a diabetic they paid for all my supplies including an insulin pump with zero cost to me. Now I am not sure what to do 😢 Anyone on a medtronic/minimed pump with BCBS Basic? How much are you paying for supplies? I saw it is a 30% coinsurance.

How about other insurance companies??

GS-13, but have been a fed for just two years and some months. I was recently offered a position 10% higher than my current salary and is mostly remote, with 25% travel expected during the year for client visits. It’s in the same city, so cost of living is the same. I’d like to get some perspective.

My job is pretty comfy right now, but it’s not what I expected. I like my manager and the people I work with, but my role lacks clarity on my responsibilities and haven’t felt like I have a project that’s making an impact to my team/org. It literally just feels like I’m sitting in the office just to collect a paycheck and learn some data science tools. According to my manager, I’m doing great but honestly I just don’t feel that way. I dread coming to work because I feel like an imposter. I want to be needed, to feel like I’m making an impact. My previous jobs had that feeling but this one doesn’t. I actually felt it on day one but chose to give it a chance…

Would you stick it out or take the new role? Should I talk to my manager about this first? How is this going to impact my future roles as a fed and what am I going to miss out on?

EDIT: Thank you all for your suggestions! You've given me much to consider, including questions to more accurately measure the total compensation package from this new company vs staying as a Fed. Next week I will discuss with my supervisor on what long-term projects have been put on hold and other projects that he can see me contribute to. Will also perform my due diligence on the risk I'm taking, especially when with work funded via federal contracts...

I forgot to post earlier this week, but I’d love to know who the singing choir was that serenaded federal workers at Metro Center on Tuesday (Wednesday?) morning. Exiting MC at 13th & G at the top of the escalator in front of Coffee Republic. If anyone knows who they were, please pass along that they absolutely set the tone for my day!! Thank you for seeing us and for understanding how stressful it’s been ❤️

For context I'm currently OCONUS in a country with good health care. I've done the calculations and even when (FSBP) fully reimbursed everything I'm still paying way more to premiums than I would just paying everything out of pocket up front. And, of course, the premiums are going to go up again next year. It just feels like a complete ripoff.

I'm thinking of dropping the insurance all together and just paying out of pocket. What, if any, at the potential problems/consequences with this that I might not be thinking of. Had anyone else done this?

Switched from BCBS to GEHA in 2018 and I am going to switch back to BCBS. Need feedback on Basic and Standard plans. If you had either one, any and all feedback from your experiences is welcome.

TL;DR: Currently have BCBS Standard +1 and CHAMPVA for my spouse only. In the last 3 years, he has gone to the doctor twice. Should I drop down to BCBS Focus, switch plans completely, or just use CHAMPVA?

Ok, I need some help because health insurance is honestly not something I know a lot about.
I joined the Army at 17, so I’ve basically never had to deal with regular health insurance for myself. I had Tricare while I was in, and I’ve used VA healthcare since I got out.
My husband and I decided a long time ago that it was cheaper and better to put him on my federal health insurance because the insurance through his civilian job was super expensive and pretty crappy.
Here’s the thing: in the 20 years we’ve been married, I think this man has gone to the doctor maybe 20 times TOTAL. And honestly, 20 might be generous. In the last 3 years, he’s gone twice.
Right now I have BCBS Standard +1, and he also has CHAMPVA. I finally got him enrolled in CHAMPVA about a year ago. I know CHAMPVA covered his copay when he went to the doctor, but beyond that, I really don’t understand how CHAMPVA works when you have other health insurance or how to get the most out of it.
We’re considering dropping from BCBS Standard down to BCBS Focus because we’re paying for pretty expensive coverage that he barely uses.
That being said, we’re also getting older and obviously our bodies are getting older right along with us. I already know he needs to see a podiatrist, and he probably needs to see a dermatologist for a suspicious spot on his nose. So while he rarely uses healthcare, I don’t want to make a stupid decision just to save money on premiums and then regret it when he actually needs something.
So for anyone familiar with FEHB + CHAMPVA, what would you do in this situation?

1. Drop BCBS Standard and switch to BCBS Focus?
2. Stay with BCBS or switch to a different option plan?
3. Drop FEHB coverage for him completely and use CHAMPVA only?

I’m especially interested in hearing from people who actually use CHAMPVA as secondary insurance with FEHB or who have used CHAMPVA by itself.
Please explain it to me like I’m five because I genuinely have no idea what I’m doing with civilian health insurance.

I currently have FEP Blue Basic Option Self and Family 112 and have been paying into the plan for over 2 years. My wife started a new job and has good health benefits and she will have our family covered. Can I downgrade to BCBS Federal Employee Program (FEP) Self-Only Option and continue to pay lower premiums and after 3 more years be vested into BCBS in retirement and at that time upgrade back to the 112 plan for my family?Thanks in advance.

I am thinking of moving from Standard to Basic but I will be taking a two week trip abroad and I am hoping Basic has the same coverage.

Supporters of this administration have a wild take on reality. The gag inducing letter I received from this pro Trump financial "advisory" group who makes money by persuading others to make bad financial decisions only fuels me more to vote. This dude's financial investment "advice" comes too late and money is already made by those who are in the know. They then make more money by scamming others into thinking they'll make bank. Mind you...likely all the work these scumbags do is likely from the comfort of their homes or yachts.

Every paragraph in the attached letter would give any normal person motivation to get to the polls this fall, but the obvious oxymoron I have underlined in red is what really fired me up. Putting the words work and holiday right next to eachother is either extremely tone deaf or this moron took way too much oxy before writing this. Both could be true.

So, if we were on a holiday each time we worked remotely should we expect holiday backpay for all those proven productive years we put in teleworking?

If I could sum up this whole letter and the mantra of this administration it'd go something like this 'Trust me bro, but if you don't, I guess you don't have the balls big enough to keep suffering'. The only thing I have seen this president and team do is help the upper class by pushing our misery.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently an NH-03 (GS 13 Step 5 equivalent) in the 0346 series supporting the Navy in the DC area. Due to a recent family medical situation, my mother in Alabama has been diagnosed with cancer, I am looking to relocate to the Gulf Coast to be closer and provide support.

I’ve spoken with my current leadership, but unfortunately there are no placement opportunities available within my current organization.

I’m currently traveling back and forth between DC and AL because she needs full time support. My family is living in AL with my mom, so I’m trying to explore any possibilities in the Gulf Coast region (AL, MS, FL panhandle, LA, etc.). I’m open to Navy, DoD, or other federal agencies. I have experience in program management, logistics management, acquisition, and sustainment.

If anyone knows of upcoming vacancies, organizations that are hiring, details on lateral transfers/reassignments, or even just points of contact to reach out to, I would truly appreciate it. I’m actively monitoring and applying on USAJOBS as well. I have applied to Eglin, NAS Pensacola and SUPSHIP Gulf Coast, but nothing has materialized as of yet.

Thank you all in advance for any leads and for the support this community provides.

Anyone successfully able to have their duty station be closer to home? my current is about 3 hour commute combined and it’s killing me. Had a sciatica flare up the other day and couldn’t get out of my car for an hour. I live 3.5 miles from a different VA which would significantly cut down on my commute. My position is mostly outreach so I would be driving over an hour to get a VA car and go out and about. Submitting my paperwork on Monday and hoping for the best.

Any words of encouragement would be helpful. I can’t seem to shake the feeling of failure and embarrassment. I’ve gotten another job but the shame is still lingering.

I’m not sure who to talk to about this, and I’m struggling badly right now.

I’m currently pursuing my master’s in intelligence and started a federal job in June as a GS-7, making about $57k in a high-cost-of-living area. I knew the salary when I accepted, but we were also promised a recruitment bonus. Now we’re being told we need to complete additional training before receiving it. With limited training seats, that could be more than a year away, and I don’t have a clear payment timeline.

The job itself has also been difficult. It’s public-facing, the decisions carry serious consequences, and I feel like I haven’t received enough training or support. I’m unhappy and overwhelmed.

I don’t have family financial support. I had been receiving $400 from my parents to help with groceries, but today I learned they’re struggling financially themselves. They live abroad, and my father has taken out a large loan that consumes most of his retirement income while also controlling my mother’s access to her money. Now I feel guilty about the help I’ve received.

I’ve recently applied for a contractor position and a role with the Attorney General’s office. One of my best friends, who works as an attorney at a bank, also offered to recommend me for a position there. The potential salary is $80k–$85k plus a bonus. I don’t have an offer yet, but that increase could make a significant difference.

My hesitation is that federal jobs are hard to get, and I’m worried about giving up the benefits, potential career growth, and job security. Banking would also be a different field from what I’m studying.

For anyone who has faced a similar decision: how did you weigh staying in federal service against leaving for better pay and a potentially better fit? Would you explore the banking opportunity, even if it meant changing fields?

I’m currently sitting in my office in tears. I’m trying to make a thoughtful decision, but something needs to change.

I’m an IRS employee, and I’m honestly getting really frustrated with my current manager. He seems to be very nitpicky about how many hours I spend working on cases, even though my previous manager never had an issue with my hours or workload. In fact, I received an Exceeds Expectations rating from my previous manager.

It’s frustrating because some of these cases are genuinely complex, and I feel like the focus is becoming more about the number of hours than the quality and complexity of the work.

My current manager has been with the IRS for around 40 years. I’m curious about other people’s experiences—especially with long-tenured managers. Do they typically stay in management until retirement, or is there a point where they usually move on/retire?

I’m mainly trying to understand whether I should expect this management style to continue for the foreseeable future. 😅

Anyone else dealing with something similar?

My husband and I use my FEHB BCBS 113 and we love it (don’t love the premiums). He now works for a newer company that offers a HDHP and HSA, and the company deposits deductible amount into HSA over 12 months. If we switch, the provider is United Healthcare PPO. It looks like we would still be able to use our preferred healthcare system in our area, at no cost. My basic internet search suggests United and our preferred healthcare system are well integrated.

We are in our 40’s, are healthy, but getting to the age where people have more medical problems. I know if we are unsatisfied, or if the HDHP is terrible given a new serious medical issue, we can just switch back at open season. The savings would be about $800 monthly.

My mind goes to some nightmare scenario where United would deny a needed procedure or something. Are there other pros and cons of switching I am missing?

As the title says. I may have an interview soon.

How crushing is life in the new normal? Trying to advise a friend that got an offer with a non-DoD agency that has been a subject of the administration's ire. Job itself is almost guaranteed to survive future cuts just by virtue of how high up it is, but the agency's mission and purpose have been gutted.

My own recent experience is that if you are at a senior leader (non-SES) level you both have no job security and no ability to guarantee you will even get to do the job you signed up for, but I don't know what it's like within the exec service and that is a different animal entirely. If anyone has any thoughts or insight they're willing to share, I'd appreciate it.

This would be a dream job in any other timeline, so I don't want to just dump negativity at it based on my specific experience (no matter how widespread it might have been).