Nine Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plan options are leaving the program after 2026, and one Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) option is ending as well. Other plans are dropping service areas or ending options, including UnitedHealthcare’s High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA) in 12 states.
Enrollees in the affected plans must choose a new plan during Open Season, November 9 through December 14, 2026. Those who do not are moved into Compass Rose Standard, the lowest-cost nationwide plan option for 2027 as determined by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). That default plan costs less than any of the leaving plans did in 2026. It is also built differently from most of them, which is the part worth checking before the deadline.
The lists below follow OPM’s 2027 FEHB significant events tables. Changes to the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) are listed separately by OPM.
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Which plans are leaving the program in 2027
OPM’s Open Season highlights for plan year 2027 and its significant events tables list these FEHB options as leaving the program.
- Independent Health Standard and Independent Health HDHP: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming counties in New York.
- Blue Care Network of Michigan Southeast High: Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, Saint Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne counties in Michigan.
- UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Choice Primary West High and Choice Plus Primary West High: the Phoenix-area counties of Maricopa, Mohave, Pinal and Yavapai; the Tucson area, including Santa Cruz County and part of Pima County by ZIP code; and the entire states of Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Choice Plus Primary West High leaves FEHB but continues in PSHB.
- Health Net of California Northern High: 22 counties, 18 of them in full (Alameda, Contra Costa, Kings, Madera, Marin, Merced, Napa, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus, Tulare and Yolo) and four in part by ZIP code (El Dorado, Fresno, Nevada and Placer).
- Health Net of California Southern Basic, Standard and High: Orange County in full, plus parts of Los Angeles, Kern, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties by ZIP code. The service area also includes Tijuana and Mexicali in Mexico.
Where a county is covered only in part, availability depends on the enrollee’s ZIP code. The brochure or OPM’s plan comparison tool shows whether a specific address was in the leaving plan’s service area.
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What the default plan costs
FEHB enrollees who do nothing move to Compass Rose Standard. Its 2027 enrollee share for non-postal employees is $69.04 biweekly for Self Only, $151.89 for Self Plus One and $165.69 for Self and Family. Annuitants pay monthly: $149.58, $329.09 and $359.00. The full set of rates is on OPM’s FEHB premiums page and the 2027 FEHB premium rates page.
The leaving plans have no 2027 rates, so the table compares what enrollees pay in 2026 (biweekly, non-postal employees) with what the default will cost in 2027.
| Plan leaving in 2027 | 2026 Self Only | 2026 Self Plus One | 2026 Self and Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Health HDHP (Western New York) | $105.18 | $335.76 | $325.05 |
| Independent Health Standard (Western New York) | $164.34 | $536.05 | $542.55 |
| Blue Care Network of Michigan Southeast High (Southeast Michigan) | $249.57 | $609.80 | $623.35 |
| UnitedHealthcare Choice Primary West High (Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington) | $97.78 | $210.24 | $231.26 |
| UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus Primary West High (Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington) | $179.73 | $373.54 | $415.13 |
| Health Net of California Northern High (Northern California) | $588.80 | $1,298.65 | $1,414.51 |
| Health Net of California Southern Basic (Southern California) | $79.71 | $175.37 | $191.31 |
| Health Net of California Southern Standard (Southern California) | $192.11 | $425.95 | $462.46 |
| Health Net of California Southern High (Southern California) | $368.72 | $814.50 | $886.33 |
| Compass Rose Standard, the 2027 default | $69.04 | $151.89 | $165.69 |
The default is cheaper than the 2026 premium in all nine plans. The gap runs from $10.67 per pay period for Self Only in Health Net Southern Basic to $519.76 for Self Only in Health Net Northern High, which is about $13,514 over 26 pay periods. A Blue Care Network Self and Family enrollee pays $457.66 less per pay period, about $11,899 a year, and an Independent Health Standard Self Plus One enrollee pays $384.16 less, about $9,988 a year.
One rate in the table is not a typo. Independent Health HDHP charged more for Self Plus One than for Self and Family in 2026, a pattern that shows up in more than one plan in OPM’s data. Comparing every enrollment type before choosing is worthwhile for that reason.
What the default plan changes
Compass Rose Standard is a nationwide Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO). OPM’s 2027 benefit data lists no out-of-network benefits for this option, so enrollees are limited to the plan’s network. The in-network deductible is $500 for Self Only and $1,000 for Self Plus One and Self and Family. The annual out-of-pocket maximum is $9,000 for Self Only and $18,000 for Self Plus One and Self and Family.
Enrollees coming from a local Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) should confirm that their doctors and hospitals are in the Compass Rose network before accepting the default, and check the brochure for how care outside the network is handled in an emergency.
The table compares the default with other low-premium options available in the affected areas, from Aetna, Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Government Employees Health Association (GEHA). Most are Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), which cover some out-of-network care. Compass Rose High is included to show what a lower out-of-pocket exposure costs within the same carrier.
| Plan option | Network | Self Only | Self Plus One | Self and Family | Deductible (Self Only / family) | Out-of-pocket maximum (Self Only / family) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compass Rose Standard (the default) | EPO | $69.04 | $151.89 | $165.69 | $500 / $1,000 | $9,000 / $18,000 |
| Aetna Advantage | PPO | $70.43 | $154.95 | $186.63 | $2,000 / $4,000 | $8,500 / $17,000 |
| Blue Cross and Blue Shield FEP Blue Focus | PPO | $74.16 | $159.43 | $175.35 | $1,000 / $2,000 | $11,000 / $22,000 |
| GEHA Elevate | PPO | $77.92 | $187.99 | $228.85 | $750 / $1,500 | $10,600 / $21,200 |
| GEHA High Deductible Health Plan (HSA eligible) | PPO | $81.62 | $175.47 | $215.63 | $1,800 / $3,600 | $6,000 / $12,000 |
| GEHA Standard | PPO | $86.75 | $186.51 | $231.45 | $500 / $1,000 | $8,000 / $16,000 |
| Compass Rose High | PPO | $149.97 | $336.89 | $361.03 | $350 / $700 | $6,000 / $12,000 |
Premium is only part of the picture. Compass Rose High costs $80.93 more per pay period than the default for Self Only and lowers the Self Only out-of-pocket maximum from $9,000 to $6,000. FEP Blue Focus has the highest out-of-pocket maximum in the group, at $11,000 for Self Only and $22,000 for family coverage. GEHA’s HDHP and Compass Rose High have the lowest, at $6,000 and $12,000, although the GEHA plan carries a $1,800 deductible. A plan with a $0 deductible and a $3,000 maximum costs more, and the local options below show how much.
Local HMO options in the affected areas
Several affected areas still have local HMOs. Many serve only certain ZIP codes within a county, so availability has to be confirmed for the enrollee’s address in the brochure or on OPM’s plan comparison tool.
| Area | Plan option | Self Only | Self Plus One | Self and Family | Deductible (Self Only) | Out-of-pocket maximum (Self Only) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southern California | Kaiser Permanente Prosper | $55.17 | $127.45 | $136.83 | $250 | $7,500 |
| Southern California | Kaiser Permanente Standard | $76.75 | $183.44 | $203.39 | None listed | $6,000 |
| Southern California | Anthem Blue Cross Select HMO | $120.99 | $255.56 | $282.49 | $0 | $3,000 |
| San Diego County | Sharp Health Plan Basic (new for 2027) | $67.15 | $147.74 | $161.16 | $5,500 | $8,100 |
| San Diego County | Sharp Health Plan High | $101.02 | $222.23 | $242.44 | $0 | $3,000 |
| Northern California | Kaiser Permanente Northern California Prosper | $87.25 | $204.16 | $204.16 | $500 | $7,500 |
| Northern California | Kaiser Permanente Northern California Standard | $119.24 | $335.24 | $275.69 | $100 | $6,000 |
| Northern California | Western Health Advantage High | $148.58 | $333.84 | $357.67 | None listed | $2,500 |
| Fresno, Kings, Madera and Tulare counties | Kaiser Permanente Fresno Prosper | $60.04 | $132.28 | $145.51 | $250 | $7,500 |
| Southeast Michigan | Health Alliance Plan Standard | $85.66 | $197.03 | $209.02 | $350 | $6,350 |
| Nevada | Health Plan of Nevada High | $113.11 | $214.91 | $268.06 | None listed | $7,000 |
| Oregon | Kaiser Permanente Northwest Prosper | $59.66 | $128.27 | $147.96 | $300 | $7,000 |
| Washington | Kaiser Permanente Washington Core Prosper | $54.16 | $129.34 | $145.36 | $350 | $6,000 |
Two service area changes affect this list. Sharp Health Plan Basic is a new option for 2027 and covers San Diego County except ZIP codes 91934, 92004, 92036 and 92066. Health Alliance Plan Standard is also expanding in Michigan, adding Alcona, Allegan, Alpena, Antrim, Benzie, Cheboygan, Emmet, Grand Traverse, Leelanau, Montmorency, Oscoda and Presque Isle counties.
Rates in a few rows also look unusual but come straight from OPM’s files. Kaiser Permanente Northern California Prosper lists the same Self Plus One and Self and Family rate, and Kaiser Permanente Northern California Standard lists a Self Plus One rate above its Self and Family rate.
Western New York is the exception. Independent Health was the area’s local plan, and OPM’s 2027 service area file shows no replacement local HMO. The same is true in the six affected Arizona counties. Enrollees in those areas choose among the nationwide plans and Aetna options in the earlier table.
The Health Savings Account catch for HDHP enrollees
Two HSA-eligible plans are affected. UnitedHealthcare’s HDHP, officially a High Deductible Health Plan with a Health Savings Account, is dropping its service area and ending its enrollment codes in 12 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington in full, and in Arizona the Phoenix-area counties of Maricopa and Pinal plus the Tucson area, including Santa Cruz County and part of Pima County. The terminating codes are LS1, LS3 and LS2 in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee, and LU1, LU3 and LU2 in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon and Washington. Enrollees who do not choose another plan are moved to Compass Rose Standard.
Independent Health HDHP enrollees in Western New York face the same issue. In 2026 the plan paid $999.96 into the account for Self Only and $1,999.92 for Self and Family, with a $2,000 Self Only deductible and a $7,100 out-of-pocket maximum. Their 2026 premiums were $105.18, $335.76 and $325.05 biweekly for Self Only, Self Plus One and Self and Family.
Compass Rose Standard is not an HDHP and has no HSA. Anyone who wants to keep contributing to an HSA needs a qualifying HDHP. GEHA’s HDHP is one HSA-eligible option in OPM’s 2027 data. It costs $81.62, $175.47 and $215.63 biweekly, has a $1,800 Self Only deductible and $3,600 for family coverage, and a $6,000 / $12,000 out-of-pocket maximum. The plan contributes $1,300 to the HSA for Self Only and $2,600 for Self Plus One and Self and Family. Availability by area is worth confirming in the 2027 brochures.
Money already in an HSA stays with the account holder. Whether contributions can continue depends on being covered by a qualifying HDHP, so timing questions are worth settling with a tax professional or in Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Publication 969.
Other 2027 changes: Presbyterian, Mail Handlers and UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus
Presbyterian Health Plan is dropping 28 New Mexico counties but keeping its enrollment codes (P2 and PS). Enrollees in those counties who do not change plans have only emergency coverage where they live and must travel to the plan’s remaining service area for full benefits. The dropped counties are Catron, Chaves, Cibola, Colfax, Curry, De Baca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Grant, Guadalupe, Harding, Hidalgo, Lea, Lincoln, Los Alamos, Luna, McKinley, Mora, Otero, Quay, Rio Arriba, Roosevelt, San Juan, San Miguel, Sierra, Socorro, Taos and Union.
The Mail Handlers Benefit Plan (MHBP) is ending two options. The Value option (codes 414, 416 and 415) and the Consumer option (codes 481, 483 and 482) end after 2026, and enrollees who do not choose another plan move automatically to the MHBP Standard option (codes 454, 456 and 455).
UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus is a code merger, not a plan leaving. The High option code Y8 and the Advanced Value option code L9 merge into code AS, and the agency payroll office moves enrollees automatically unless they pick another plan. Code Y8 merges in Alabama, Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. Code L9 merges in the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Texas and Virginia. Affected enrollees should check the 2027 brochure for what the AS code covers.
PSHB enrollees in UnitedHealthcare Postal East
Postal enrollees in Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington keep UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus Primary West High, since that option leaves FEHB but continues in PSHB. The PSHB option that is ending is UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus Primary Postal East, which served 17 states (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia), the District of Columbia and the Atlanta area. Enrollees who do nothing are moved to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan’s FEP Blue Focus.
Unlike the FEHB default, this one costs more than the 2026 premium. For active postal employees, Postal East cost $78.58, $168.95 and $185.85 biweekly in 2026 for Self Only, Self Plus One and Self and Family. FEP Blue Focus costs $84.17, $180.95 and $199.03 in 2027. Annuitants pay monthly: $170.26, $366.07 and $402.68 for Postal East in 2026 against $182.38, $392.07 and $431.24 for FEP Blue Focus in 2027.
Cheaper options exist. For active postal employees in Texas and the Atlanta area, Aetna Advantage costs $60.72, $133.58 and $160.91 biweekly, with a $2,000 Self Only deductible and an $8,500 out-of-pocket maximum. FEP Blue Focus carries a $1,000 deductible and an $11,000 maximum. GEHA Standard costs $84.77 for Self Only with a $350 deductible and a $6,500 maximum. In Atlanta, Kaiser Permanente Georgia Prosper costs $65.59 for Self Only. PSHB changes take effect January 1, 2027.
Steps before the December 14 deadline
- Confirm whether the plan or enrollment code is on the lists above. Plans still operating in 2027 with no change are not affected by the default rule.
- Compare the default and the alternatives on deductible, out-of-pocket maximum and network, not premium alone.
- Check doctors, hospitals and prescriptions when the 2027 brochures and the OPM plan comparison tool post in early November.
- HDHP enrollees who use an HSA, in Independent Health or UnitedHealthcare’s HDHP, should decide on an HSA-eligible plan before Open Season closes.
- Submit the change before December 14. Non-postal changes take effect January 10, 2027.
What happens if a plan stays in the program but shrinks its service area?
If the plan eliminates the enrollee’s enrollment code, an enrollee who does not choose a new plan is moved into OPM’s designated default. If the plan keeps the enrollment code, as Presbyterian Health Plan does in New Mexico for 2027, coverage in the affected area drops to emergency care only, and full coverage requires traveling to the plan’s remaining service area.
What happens if a plan drops one option?
Enrollees move automatically into the option OPM identifies, as with the Mail Handlers Benefit Plan Value and Consumer options moving to Standard in 2027. If only a High Deductible Health Plan is left, they move into OPM’s default plan instead.
What happens to a Health Savings Account or Health Reimbursement Arrangement?
Contributions to a Health Savings Account can continue only with enrollment in another qualifying High Deductible Health Plan, though withdrawals for qualified medical expenses remain available. Unused Health Reimbursement Arrangement credits are forfeited once the new plan takes effect.
Do enrollees with a pregnancy or chronic condition lose their current care mid-treatment?
Not right away. Enrollees in any trimester of pregnancy, or seeing a specialist for a chronic or disabling condition, have a right to continued treatment after a plan announces it is leaving the program. That runs through postpartum care for a pregnancy and up to 90 days for other conditions.
What happens to dental or vision coverage offered through a leaving plan?
Supplemental dental and vision coverage through the plan ends with it. The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) offers separate coverage to eligible employees and retirees, though tribal employees are not eligible.
How does an enrollee change plans, and is there a gap in coverage?
Employees use their agency’s online self-service system, such as Employee Express or MyPay, or contact their human resources office. Retirees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) can call Open Season Express at 1-800-332-9798 or use Open Season Online. There is no gap: the current plan keeps paying benefits until the new plan’s effective date.
The FEHB Open Season page has the dates, and the FEHB plan comparison page links to OPM’s tool once it goes live. Retirees weighing a plan change alongside Medicare can check the Medicare premiums page for current Part B costs, and why a 2027 FEHB share can swing more than a plan’s total premium explains why enrollee costs moved so differently from plan to plan. Premiums, deductibles and service areas in this article come from OPM’s 2027 significant events tables and its 2026 and 2027 public use files.