Extended Enrollment for 2008 FEHB Open Season

http://www.myfederalretirement.com

December 8, 2008

According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the

agency is taking steps to provide additional protections for federal

employees participating in the FEHB Program who have non-emergency surgeries

performed by out-of-network physicians.

The agency has asked FEHB carriers to re-evaluate their benefits for

non-emergency surgeries.

OPM states they are taking this action in response to concerns over a change

in coverage in the Blue Cross Blue Shield out-of-network reimbursement that

would have established a $7,500 co-pay for out-of-network surgeries. OPM stated

they negotiated this change to address situations where enrollees could be

billed tens of thousands of dollars for non-emergency surgeries performed by

out-of-network providers, a practice known as balance billing.

What This Means To You

According to OPM, federal employees may make belated Open Season enrollment

changes to their FEHB Program, Federal Employees Dental and Vision

Insurance Program (FEDVIP) and the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program

(FSAFEDS) if FEHB benefit changes affect their enrollment decisions in

these programs. Employees will have an extended enrollment opportunity

through January 2009 to make any enrollment changes in these programs.

Also, if employees make a belated Open Season change to their enrollment, the

effective dates of the belated change will vary among the programs. Depending on

the timing of the change and the employee's pay periods, it may take one or

more pay periods for the federal benefits deductions/allotments to be

adjusted to match the new election.

Emlpoyees need to know that if they make a belated Open Season

change and if they have claims for services incurred in 2009 under their

former plan, they and/or their provider may be responsible for

reimbursing the former plan for any benefits paid.

Effective Dates

OPM states that belated FEHB changes will take effect the first day of the

pay period that starts on or after January 1, 2009. Belated FEDVIP changes will

take effect January 1, 2009. Belated FSAFEDS changes will take effect on January

1, 2009, or the day after the change is received, whichever is later.