The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) this week selected GEHA (Government Employees Health Association) as the exclusive carrier for two new Federal Employee Health Benefit (FEHB) plans under the Indemnity Benefit Plan (IBP) contract.
SEE ALSO: 2019 FEHB Open Season Dates and Options Announced by OPM
“GEHA will fill a slot that has been vacant for 30 years in the FEHB Program and increase the availability of nationwide health plan offerings for federal employees and annuitants,” said Edward M. DeHarde, Assistant Director, Federal Employee Insurance Operations at OPM. “We look forward to working with GEHA to provide additional quality, affordable options from which FEHB Program members can choose.”
Effective with the 2020 plan year, these two new FEHB plans will be nationwide and rolled out to federal employees during the annual benefits open season in the fall of this year. GEHA says it will be working with OPM to introduce the plans and educate federal employees about their new options.
“The Elevate plans are specifically designed to help members achieve the health they need to live the lives they want,” said Darren Taylor, GEHA president and CEO. “We are excited to enhance our collaboration with OPM and continue to partner with our federal employee members on their health and wellness journeys.”
According to U.S. code, an Indemnity Benefit Plan “is a government-wide plan, offering two levels of benefits, under which a carrier agrees to pay certain sums of money, not in excess of the actual expenses incurred, for benefits of the types described by section 8904(2) of this title.” Those benefits include:
- hospital care
- surgical care and treatment
- medical care and treatment
- obstetrical benefits
- prescribed drugs, medicines, and prosthetic devices
- other medical supplies and services.
FEHB open season will run Nov. 11 to Dec. 9 for the 2020 plan.