Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan — Basic Option — 2026 Premiums & Cost Guide
Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan — Basic Option is a nationwide Fee-for-Service plan offered to all federal employees and retirees. 2026 biweekly employee share: $133.77 (Self Only) to $356.86 (Self and Family). Lower biweekly premium than Standard Option — same vast BlueCard network, higher deductible.
Premium Source: OPM 2026 FEHB Premium Rates (official OPM spreadsheet) • Data Year: 2026 Open Season
About This Plan
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association · Fee-for-Service · Nationwide · OPM enrollment codes: 111 / 113 / 112
The BCBS Basic Option offers the same broad BlueCard PPO network as the Standard Option at a lower biweekly premium. The trade-off is a higher in-network deductible ($700 vs. $350) and higher cost-sharing per visit. It is generally a better fit for healthy enrollees who rarely use medical services and want to minimize recurring paycheck deductions.
2026 Biweekly Premiums
OPM-verified biweekly totals, government share, and employee (your) share for all three enrollment tiers.
| Enrollment Tier | Biweekly Total | Government Pays | You Pay | OPM Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self Only | $458.53 | $324.76 | $133.77 | 111 |
| Self Plus One | $1,030.42 | $711.17 | $319.25 | 113 |
| Self and Family | $1,134.89 | $778.03 | $356.86 | 112 |
Government pays the LESSER of 75% of the premium OR the 2026 OPM cap: Self $324.76 / Self+One $711.17 / Family $778.03. Source: OPM Federal Employees Health Benefits
Monthly & Annual Employee Cost
Monthly = biweekly × 26 ÷ 12 (OPM standard conversion). Annual = biweekly × 26. These are your out-of-pocket premium costs before any healthcare services.
| Enrollment Tier | Monthly (Your Share) | Annual (Your Share) | Annual (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self Only | $289.84 | $3,478.02 | $11,921.78 |
| Self Plus One | $691.71 | $8,300.50 | $26,790.92 |
| Self and Family | $773.20 | $9,278.36 | $29,507.14 |
Benefits Snapshot
Key cost-sharing parameters for 2026. Verify detailed benefits in the official OPM plan brochure.
| Benefit | In-Network | Out-of-Network |
|---|---|---|
| Deductible | $700.00 | $1,000.00 |
| Out-of-Pocket Maximum | $8,000.00 | — |
| Primary Care Copay | $30.00 | — |
| Specialist Copay | $60.00 | — |
| HSA Eligible | No | — |
Benefits summary for comparison only. Verify all benefits in the official OPM plan brochure at opm.gov plan brochures →
Costs in Retirement
Many retirees switch to Basic Option from Standard when Medicare becomes primary — Medicare covers most costs first, making the lower-premium Basic Option sufficient as secondary coverage. Open Season (November) allows plan changes each year, including the year you retire.
FEHB 5-Year Rule: To carry FEHB into retirement, you must be enrolled in an FEHB plan (or covered under TRICARE/CHAMPVA) for the 5 consecutive years immediately before your retirement date. If you are not yet enrolled, start coverage as soon as possible to preserve this option.
Compare Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan — Basic Option to All FEHB Plans
Use the FedTools FEHB Calculator to compare this plan against all 2026 nationwide plans for your enrollment tier and employee status.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan — Basic Option — Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan — Basic Option cost per paycheck in 2026?
For 2026, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan — Basic Option biweekly employee share is: Self Only $133.77, Self Plus One $319.25, Self and Family $356.86. The government pays the lesser of 75% of your plan premium or the OPM-set cap ($324.76/$711.17/$778.03 for Self/Self+One/Family in 2026). Use the FEHB Calculator to compare all plans side-by-side.
What does the government pay toward Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan — Basic Option?
For 2026, the government pays the lesser of 75% of the total biweekly premium or the program-wide cap. For Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan — Basic Option Self Only ($458.53 biweekly total), the government pays $324.76 and you pay $133.77. For Self and Family ($1134.89 total), the government pays the 2026 cap of $778.03 and you pay $356.86.
How do Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan — Basic Option premiums change at retirement?
Many retirees switch to Basic Option from Standard when Medicare becomes primary — Medicare covers most costs first, making the lower-premium Basic Option sufficient as secondary coverage. Open Season (November) allows plan changes each year, including the year you retire.
Is Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan — Basic Option a good FEHB plan?
Lower biweekly premium than Standard Option — same vast BlueCard network, higher deductible. The right FEHB plan depends on your healthcare utilization, family size, preferred network, and whether you want HSA eligibility (available only with HDHP plans). Use the FedTools FEHB Calculator to compare Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan — Basic Option against all other plans for your specific enrollment tier.
Other FEHB Plan Premium Pages
Premium breakdowns and cost guides for all 2026 nationwide FEHB plans.
Data Accuracy Notice: All premium figures on this page are copied cell-for-cell from OPM's official 2026 FEHB premium rate spreadsheets (FFS and HMO/Other). The government contribution is computed per OPM's formula (lesser of 75% of premium or the program-wide cap). This page does not constitute financial or benefits advice. Verify current rates with your agency HR office and OPM.gov.