This year that date will be Jan. 3, 2021 at most Federal agencies, regardless whether the employee is in pay status. Here you will find all the resources you need to make informed decisions about your health, dental, vision, or flexible spending account benefits.

A change in enrollment is effective the first day of the first pay period that begins in the next leave year. During the annual open season, eligible employees may newly enroll in the FEHB program—generally, retirees who are not already enrolled may not join the program—and both employees and retirees who are currently enrolled may change plans, levels of coverage within plans that offer more than one, or switch among self-only, self plus one or self and family coverage. But annuitants who drop out of the FEHB program are not permitted to reenroll, even if there is a life event such as loss of their coverage through a non-FEHB health insurance plan, enrolling in Medicare, or getting divorced and losing health insurance coverage through the ex-spouse. Permanent full-time and part-time federal employees are entitled to enroll in the FEHB program. That follows a pay period during any part of which the employee was in pay status. If you are using assistive technology to view web content, please ensure your settings allow for the page content to update after initial load (this is sometimes called "forms mode"). “We recognize that this may be a uniquely challenging open season, and appreciate your efforts to ensure you are prepared to administer open season, including timely processing of enrollments and enrollment changes,” OPM said. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) officially announced the dates for the 2020 Federal Benefits Open Season which will run from Monday, November 9, 2020 through Monday, December 14, 2020. Proudly powered by WordPress The general outline of the upcoming plan year in that program and in the FEHB—including premium rates and coverage changes—typically is announced in late September, with fuller details released just ahead of the open season. “We strongly encourage you to be creative regarding how you share information with employees. Similar changes are allowed in the FEDVIP dental-vision insurance program, except that in that program, retirees may newly enroll. During the 2020 benefits ‘open season” being held from Nov. 9, 2020 through Dec. 14, 2020, employees and annuitants can take the following actions with respect to their FEHB program health insurance coverage for plan year 2021: The effective dates of the 2020 FEHB “open season” enrollments and changes in enrollment are as follows: “Open season” is also the time that an employee or an annuitant can elect to drop out of the FEHB program. Tax planning, Federal employee benefits, retirement and insurance consulting services offered through EZ Accounting and Financial Services, and EZ Federal Benefits Seminars, located at 833 Bromley Street – Suite A, Silver Spring, MD 20902-3019 and telephone number 301-681-1652. The annual Federal Benefits Open Season gives Federal employees and other eligible individuals the opportunity to review their You should discuss tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional. Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) ends at 11:59pm, per the location Premium conversion will be discussed in the next FEDZONE column. Annuitants who are enrolled in the FEHB program may change their FEHB plans and type of enrollment. The federal government pays on average 72 to 75 percent of the employee’s or annuitant’s total FEHB premium with the employee or annuitant paying the other 25 to 28 percent. In terms of premium costs, each FEHB program health insurance plans charges a different premium. The effective dates of the “open season” enrollment will not be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Getting Ready for the 2020 Federal Employee Benefits “Open Season” – Part I, 2019 Federal Income Tax Returns Filing Deadline is Less Than 10 Days Away, Choosing the Right FEHB Health Insurance Plan for 2021, What the 2021 1.3 Percent COLA Means to Federal Employees and Retirees, https://blog.stwserve.com/podcast-player/4894/fedlife-podcast-ep-36-cola-health-insurance-and-fehb-open-season.mp3, Union Sues President Over Executive Order, Choosing When to Withdraw Social Security. Every year starting on the second Monday of November and continuing through the second Monday of December, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sponsors a benefits “open season” in which federal employees and annuitants make decisions for plan (calendar) year 2021 regarding their health, dental and vision insurance coverage, and employees make decisions with respect to their participation in flexible spending accounts also during the 2021 plan (calendar) year. About Jessie Bur Jessie Bur covers federal IT and management. While the employees of Serving Those Who Serve are familiar with the tax provisions of the issues presented herein, as Financial Advisors of RJFS, we are not qualified to render advice on tax or legal matters. There are three types of enrollment in the FEHB program namely: (1) self only; (2) self plus one (eligible family member including a spouse or a child under the age of 26); and (3) self and family (multiple eligible family members including a spouse and children under the age of 26). The 2020 Federal employee benefits “open season” will take place as scheduled.

Over 200 health insurance plan choices are offered under the FEHB program.