How do I prepare for Open Season?
Open Season (also known as open enrollment) is the period of each year when federal employees can make changes to their health insurance coverage without having a qualifying life event, such as the birth of a child or marriage. During Open Season, employees can change their Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan (FEHB), Federal Flexible Spending Accounts Program (FSA), or Federal Employees Dental & Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).
In preparation for Open Season, employees should take the following steps:
- Know the open enrollment dates and deadline.
- Review and compare the healthcare and dental/vision plans.
- Research the insurance company and ensure available providers match your needs.
- Log in to your Employee Personal Page, where all Federal Employees Health Benefits plan changes will be made. If needed, you can request a new EPP password.
- Log in to BENEFEDS, where all dental and vision plan changes will be made.
- Review your current benefits elections.
- Verify your home mailing address.
- Verify your beneficiary designation.
- Know what you and your family need.
- Compare premiums and out-of-pocket costs of available plans.
- Ensure your doctors are in your plan’s care provider network.
How do I make changes?
Employees should make all Open Season FEHB changes via their My EPP page if they are:
- Enrolling in coverage for the first time
- Going from one FEHB plan to another
- Cancelling their FEHB election (employees should keep in mind the five-year coverage rule for those close to retirement)
- Changing coverage amount (i.e., self only to self + family or self + one)
If the above do not apply to you, if you are making changes to the actual people covered by your plan, or if you currently have any restrictions to your benefits due to a court order, etc., please contact the Retirement and Benefits Advisory Services (RABAS) Branch via the Retirement and Benefits Portal for instructions to make your Open Season Changes.