Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Statement on Federal Employee Health Care Coverage During the Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON – Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Senior Vice President of Government Programs William A. Breskin issued the following statement today on federal employees’ health care coverage during the government shutdown.
“Health care coverage for members of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program® (FEP®) remains in place and active during the government shutdown. The BCBS Federal Employee Program continues to process claims and reimburse doctors, hospitals, and other health care providers. Eligible FEP members can also contact their local Blue Cross and Blue Shield company if they have a Qualifying Life Event, such as the birth of a baby, that allows them to change their coverage or add eligible individuals to their policy.
We remain committed to the health and wellbeing of our members and want them to know that they will continue to have full access to their health care coverage during this time.
FEP members who have questions about their coverage can learn more at www.fepblue.org.
About the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan (FEP®)
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan, also known as the Federal Employee Program® (FEP), has been part of the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program since its inception in 1960. It covers roughly 5.7 million federal employees, retirees and their families out of the more than 8.5 million people who receive their benefits through the FEHB Program. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association negotiates annually with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to determine the benefits and premiums for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan. The local Blue Cross Blue Shield companies are the primary points of contact for Service Benefit Plan members. They are responsible for processing claims and providing customer service to our members. To locate the address and telephone number for a local Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, please visit www.fepblue.org/contact-us.
About the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is a national federation of independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross Blue Shield companies that collectively provide health care coverage for one in three Americans.