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Changes to our Federal Employee Program plans for 2025
December 3, 2024

This article is for providers caring for our Federal Employee Program members

Beginning January 1, 2025, we will make changes to our Federal Employee Program (FEP) plans. These plans are offered to federal and postal employees and their families in Massachusetts. Because of these changes, it is important to always check your patient’s Blue Cross ID card and to verify their eligibility and benefits.

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New Postal Service Health Benefits Program

We have received approval from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to have the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program (FEP) participate in the Postal Service Health Benefits Program.

The new Postal Service Health Benefits Program offers health insurance to Postal Service employees, retirees, and eligible family members starting on January 1, 2025. 

What you need to know about the 2025 Postal Service Health Benefits Program

Benefits

  • Members have the same plan options as before: FEP Blue Standard, FEP Blue Basic, and FEP Blue Focus.
  • CVS Caremark is the pharmacy benefit manager.

 

ID card

  • Current members will keep their existing identification number. The ID numbers start with an “R” prefix.
  • Members will receive a new ID card (even though the number is the same as they had previously). You may want to ask for a copy of their new ID card.
    • New ID cards have a postage stamp emblem in the top right corner. There’s also an image of the United States.
    • New member service toll-free numbers are listed on the card.

Claim submission

  • Follow the same process you follow today for Federal Employee Program member claims. There are no changes to way you submit claims for Postal Service Health Benefits Program members. As noted above, the ID numbers remain the same for current members, but they will receive new ID cards.

Authorization requirements

  • Prior approval and authorization requirements are the same for both the Postal Service Health Benefits Program and Federal Employee Health Benefits.
FEP benefit changes

Below, you’ll find a summary of changes. There are additional cost sharing changes for certain services and medications not listed here. As always, we remind you to check member benefits and eligibility before performing services.

For all FEP plans

New coverage

New program

New options
  • Adding these benefits:
    • Salpingectomies (to the family planning benefit)
    • Suction-assisted chest lipectomy related to mastectomy (to the gender affirming surgical care benefits)
    • RSV vaccine
    • Monkey pox vaccine
  • Waiving the cost-share associated with telehealth professional services (using preferred telehealth provider Teladoc Health®)
  • Offering a Weight Management Program by Livongo® to members 13 and older who meet specific criteria
  • Increasing options for free breast pump kits available to members who are pregnant or nursing. Members can order their free kit by calling
    1-800-411-BLUE (2583)

For FEP Blue plans
New catastrophic maximums will be added to certain Federal Employee Health Benefit plans to help members with unexpected illnesses, surgeries, or medical emergencies. These maximums may be higher or lower than the previous year, depending on the plan.

For FEP Blue Standard Medicare Prescription Drug Plan
Instead of paying a co-insurance, members will now have a copayment for Tier 2 preferred brand name medications and preferred brand name asthma and diabetic medications and supplies. This will help members who take these medications with their prescription drug costs.

We’ll update formularies for 2025 and post them on our Medication Lookup page.

More information

As always, please visit FEPblue.org to review FEP Medical Polices and Plan specific brochures for an all-inclusive list of benefits and prior authorization requirements.

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