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Insurance premiums increasing for all; Open Season begins Nov 8

  • Published
  • By Aletha Frost
  • Public Affairs
Air Force District of Washington --  Beginning Jan. 1, 2011, the amount federal employees pay for health insurance premium plans will rise an average of 7.2 percent, according to the Office of Personnel Management.

The increase is due to changes in the health care market and added plan features, such as tobacco cessation incentives, preventative screenings at no cost to enrollees, and extending coverage to adult children younger than age 26. The new cutoff age for dependent coverage, mandated by the health reform law, will also begin Jan. 1.

Visit the FEHB website for the rate chart.

The FEHB program provides comprehensive health insurance plans for all federal employees. Employees can choose from fee-for-service plans, health maintenance organizations, consumer-driven health plans, and high deductible health plans.

In conjunction with open season beginning Nov. 8, OPM will offer PlanSmartChoice, a computer-based program that will help employees chose the FEHB plan that best suits their needs. (NOTE: The current PlanSmartChoice site is for 2010 benefits. PlanSmartChoice for Open Season 2011 will be available by Nov. 8.)

FEHB premium costs, open season comparison guides, are available at OPM. The individual plan brochures for 2011 will be made available no later than Nov. 8, at the OPM website under FEHB.

Visit the OPM website for a comprehensive listing of changes and information on how the health care reform act has changed the FEHB Program.

Open Season for benefits coming soon

Employees are reminded to review and update their health benefit plans during open season.

During the annual Open Season, Nov. 8 to Dec. 13, anyone eligible to participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program and the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program may enroll, change enrollment or cancel enrollment in all of the program. Under the FEHB Program, an employee may also change participation in premium conversion (waive or begin participation).

Outside of the Open Season, newly eligible employees may enroll within 60 days of their becoming eligible for the program, members who move outside of the area covered by their plan may enroll in a different plan covering their new location, and OPM may announce special Open Seasons affecting members of specific plans only. There are also a number of other circumstances which can make federal employees eligible to enroll or change FEHB coverage outside of Open Season.

Air Force-serviced civilian employees can make their FEHB open season enrollments or changes by one of two methods:

Employee Benefits Information System (EBIS) or BEST phone system by calling (800) 525-0102, press 2 for civilian employees, the 2 for BEST entitlements, and follow prompt.

EBIS, a secure Web application, is located behind the Air Force Portal and the AFPC secure Web site. An advantage of making an election via EBIS is that employees can print a copy of Standard Form 2809, the Health Benefits Election Form, as soon as they complete the election.

For more information on other civilian employee health benefits and entitlements, visit AFPC or speak with a counselor at (800) 525-0102.