The Office Personnel Management (OPM) announced today that the cost of premiums paid by enrollees in the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program will increase by an average of 1.5% in 2019. This is the lowest FEHB premium increase since the 1996 plan year.
OPM stated that the overall 2019 FEHB premium rates for current non-Postal employees and retirees will go up an average of 1.3 percent next year. For most federal employees and annuitants, the federal government’s contribution to premiums is about 72 percent under a formula established by law. The government will contribute 1.2 percent more toward enrollees’ FEHB premiums in 2019.
The specific FEHB premiums rate change will vary based on the plan an enrollee chooses.
2019 FEHB Premium Rates Charts from OPM
The charts below provide information on biweekly and monthly premiums, including the total premiums, the amount the government pays, and the change in the enrollee’s portion of the premium compared to last year. All FEHB plans offer Self Only, Self Plus One, and Self and Family enrollment types.
HMO (Regional Plans with Specific Service Areas)
FFS (Fee-for-Service/Nationwide Plans)
2019 FEDVIP Premiums
Under the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), the overall average premium for dental plans will increase by 1.2 percent, while the overall average premium for vision plans will decrease by 2.8 percent.
“These low premium increases testify to OPM’s ongoing commitment to ensure the quality and affordability of insurance benefits,” said OPM Director Dr. Jeff T.H. Pon. “While this announcement is welcome news for federal employees and retirees, they should continue to carefully review their plan choices to find the plans and enrollment options that best meet their healthcare needs. I urge them to take advantage of the information available to them to choose wisely this open season.”
2018 Federal Benefits Open Season
The 2018 Federal Benefits Open Season begins November 12 and ends December 10, 2018. The open season gives federal employees and retirees the opportunity to review their plan choices and make changes to their FEHB and FEDVIP coverage for the upcoming benefit year that begins January 1, 2019. Federal employees may also use open season to elect to make pre-tax contributions to health care and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts under the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS).
2019 FEHB Plan Comparison Tools Coming Soon
OPM stated its online 2019 FEHB plan comparison tool will be available the first full week of November and will help enrollees shop for coverage. It will contain more specific 2019 plan information.