This year’s Federal Benefits Open Season will run from Monday, November 12 through Monday, December 10, 2018. The programs participating in this year’s open season are: Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB)Program, Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) and the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS).
The Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program and the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) do not participate in the annual Federal Benefits Open Season. Those eligible to enroll can apply for coverage. More information is at http://www.opm.gov/insure.
To prepare employees for the open season, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has provided the following information.
Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program
If you are already enrolled in FEHB, those enrollments will continue automatically, although benefits and premiums may change. Also, be sure to check that your plan is still participating. If you do nothing this open season and are later unhappy with your 2019 benefits or premiums, you cannot cancel or change your enrollment until the next open season.
You must be covered by the Program for the 5 years of service immediately before retiring to continue FEHB coverage into retirement.
Effective dates:
- From not enrolled to enrolled, the effective date is the first day of the first pay period that begins on or after January 1, 2019 and which follows a pay period during any part of which the employee is in pay status.
- For most non-postal employees, the effective date is January 6, 2019.
- For U.S. Postal Service employees, the effective date is January 5, 2019.
- For compensationers under the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), the effective date is January 6, 2019.
- For enrollment change, the effective date is the first day of the first pay period which begins on or after January 1, 2019 regardless of whether the employee is in pay status during the preceding pay period.
- For most non-postal employees, the effective date is January 6, 2019.
- For U.S. Postal Service employees, the effective date is January 5, 2019.
- For compensationers under the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), the effective date is January 6, 2019.
- For premium conversion change in election, the effective date is the first day of the pay period that begins on or after January 1, 2019.
- For most non-postal employees, the effective date is January 6, 2019.
- For U.S. Postal Service employees, the effective date is January 5, 2019.
- For compensationers under the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), the effective date is January 6, 2019.
- For cancellation, the effective date is at the end of the day before the first day of the first pay period that begins in 2019.
- For most non-postal employees, the cancellation date is January 5, 2019.
- For U.S. Postal Service employees, the cancellation date is January 4, 2019. o For compensationers under the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP), the cancellation date is January 5, 2019.
Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
- If you are already enrolled in FEDVIP, those enrollments will continue automatically, although benefits and premiums may change.
- Your coverage will continue into retirement automatically, without a 5-year enrollment requirement, if you retire on an immediate annuity.
- Participating dental and vision providers may be different from your health plan’s providers.
- You can cancel your coverage only during open season, or deployment to active military duty.
- FEDVIP always pays benefits secondary to your FEHB insurance.
Effective dates:
- For a new enrollment, or an enrollment change, the effective date is Tuesday, January 1, 2019.
- For cancellation, the effective date is December 31, 2018.
- The plan year under FEDVIP is January 1 through December 31.
Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS)
- If you already have an FSAFEDS account, it will not continue automatically: you must re-enroll.
- There are 3 accounts from which to choose – a dependent care account, a health care account, and a limited expense health care account.
- Participating lowers your taxable income.
- You can pay for your FEDVIP and FEHB copays and deductibles.
- Not open to retirees.
Effective dates: For enrollment during open season, the effective date is January 1, 2019. An eligible employee who wants an FSAFEDS account in 2019 must enroll in FSAFEDS during Open Season.