Frequently Asked Questions:
Belated Enrollment Opportunity for 2008 FEHB Open Season
December 16, 2008
Why is OPM
allowing agencies to accept belated enrollment changes?
OPM has asked
the FEHB carriers, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield, to re-evaluate their
benefits for non-emergency surgery by a non-participating physician, and to
propose any changes for 2009 in this benefit category. To ensure fair
competition, all Plans were given the opportunity to propose changes in this one
benefit area.
OPM has
requested that agencies exercise their FEHB belated enrollment authority to
permit all changes through January 2009, to ensure that employees have adequate
opportunity to elect the FEHB Plan that best suits their benefit needs. Because
FEHB Plan choice may affect decisions on dental and vision plan enrollment, and
flexible spending account (FSAFEDS) participation, OPM is permitting belated
enrollments, changes and cancellations in these programs as well.
Who is allowed
to make a belated enrollment change?
Anyone can make
a belated enrollment change including employees, annuitants, survivor
annuitants, and temporary continuation of coverage enrollees.
This
opportunity is not limited to enrollees of any particular health plan.
Can I make a
belated enrollment change even if I made a change during the Open Season?
Yes.
Which Programs
are affected by the belated enrollment opportunity?
The Programs
participating in the annual Federal Benefits Open Season are included in the
belated enrollment opportunity. These Programs are the Federal Employees Health
Benefits (FEHB) Program, the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance
Program (FEDVIP) and the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS).
If I'm not
currently enrolled but eligible, can I use this belated enrollment opportunity
to enroll?
Yes.
If I'm
currently enrolled, can I use this belated enrollment opportunity to cancel
coverage?
Yes.
How long do I have to
enroll or make a change?
• FEHB - You
can make a belated FEHB enrollment change through the end of January 2009.
• FEDVIP - You can make a
belated FEDVIP enrollment change through January 2009 when the online systems
and call centers are available. FEDVIP changes during the month of December can
be made via the website at www.BENEFEDS.com and by phone at
1-877-888-3337. FEDVIP changes during the month of January will only be allowed
for FEDVIP via BENEFEDS by phone at 1-877-888-3337. The call center is open from
9:00 am to 7:00 pm Eastern time, Monday through Friday. The BENEFEDS call center
is NOT open on Saturday, January 31. You will not be able to make belated
enrollment changes via the BENEFEDS website during the month of January. The
phones will be busy in January and you may experience long hold times. Please
make your changes in December, if possible.
• FSAFEDS --
You can make a belated FSAFEDS enrollment change through the FSAFEDS.com website
or by phone at 1-877-372-3337 through January 2009. The FSAFEDS call center is
open from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm Eastern time, Monday through Friday. The FSAFEDS
call center is NOT open on Saturday, January 31.
***Any actions
you take should be done as soon as you have made your decision. Making a belated
enrollment change early will avoid delays in processing your enrollment and
ensure your proof-of-enrollment documentation is issued in a timely manner.
What are the
effective dates of a change?
• FEHB -- the
first day of the first full pay period in January (for most employees this date
is January 4, 2009)
• FEDVIP --
January 1, 2009
Please note:
Depending on the timing of your enrollment/change, you may owe retroactive
premiums back to January 1, 2009. Retroactive premiums cannot be paid pre-tax.
If you owe retroactive premiums, you would receive a direct bill in the mail,
from BENEFEDS. You must pay this direct bill. If you do not, your FEDVIP
coverage will be cancelled.
• FSAFEDS
o Enrollments,
changes and cancellations received on or before December 31, 2008 will be
effective on January 1, 2009. These actions do not affect your enrollment(s) for
the 2008 plan year or 2008 plan year grace period.
o Enrollments,
changes and cancellations changes received in January 2009 will be effective the
day after they are received. These actions also do not affect your enrollment(s)
for the 2008 plan year or 2008 plan year grace period.
WARNING: You will not be
able to reduce your 2009 annual election(s) to an amount that is lower than the
dollar amount(s) that you may have already received in 2009 reimbursements. You
will not be able to cancel your enrollment(s) if you have submitted claims
against your 2009 account(s).
o Please Note:
You can only submit claims for reimbursement of eligible expenses for the 2009
Benefit Period that are incurred on or after your effective date. We strongly
encourage you to enroll or change your election as soon as possible so you will
have the maximum allowable time to use your account(s).
Did my plan
make changes to its non-emergency surgery benefit?
The Blue Cross
Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan Standard Option is the only plan making benefit
changes. No other carriers are revising benefits for 2009.
What happens if
I use my health, dental or vision insurance in mid-January and change to another
plan in late January?
If you make a
belated enrollment change, and you have claims for services incurred in 2009
under your former plan, you and/or your provider may be responsible for
reimbursing the former plan for any benefits paid.
How do I make a
belated enrollment change?
• FEHB --
through your agency's online system or by completing an SF 2809 and giving it
your Human Resources Office. In the remarks section, please indicate "Belated
Open Season change." You can find links to your agency's online system and the
SF 2809 at http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/enrollment/index.asp.
• FEDVIP -- During
December, through the BENEFEDS website http://www.benefeds.com at or by phone at
1-877-888-3337. During January, by phone only, at 1-877-888-3337.
• FSAFEDS -- through the website at
www.FSAFEDS.com or by phone at 1-877-372-3337
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