How Do I Enroll in FEHB and Choose My Plan

Enrolling in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program is a great way to secure quality health insurance. You can enroll during the annual Open Season, which usually takes place from mid-November to mid-December.

To start the enrollment process, you'll need to register for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) through the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website. This PIN will serve as your password for accessing the FEHB website.

Once you have your PIN, you can log in to the FEHB website to explore your options and choose a plan. You can also use the FEHB website to compare plan features and costs.

You can enroll in a FEHB plan through the OPM website or by contacting an insurance carrier directly.

Worth a look: Fehb Brochure

To be eligible for FEHB enrollment, you need to be a new employee and enroll within 60 days of your employment start date, also known as entry on duty.

If this caught your attention, see: Fehb Medicare Part B

You can also make changes to your enrollment outside of open season if you experience a major qualifying life event, such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child.

New employees can enroll online using their agency's preferred method, which may include Employee Personal Page, DoD automated enrollment systems, DoE Automated Systems, MyPay, or Employee Express.

To enroll online, you'll need to check with your agency to see which method they use. You can also complete and submit a Health Benefits Election Form (SF 2809) to your Human Resources office.

The effective date of your enrollment or change in enrollment will depend on when your employing office receives your enrollment request. If you enroll during open season, the changes will be effective the first day of the first full pay period in the following year.

Some examples of major qualifying life events that allow you to make changes to your enrollment outside of open season include:

To enroll in the FEHB program, you have a few options. You can use OPM's Open Season Online System, call the OPM Open Season Express line at (800) 332-9798, or send regular mail to the Office of Personnel Management.

You'll need to clearly state your Open Season request, including your annuity claim number and Social Security Number (SSN). If you're making an enrollment change, specify the Compass Rose Health Plan and the type of coverage you want (Self Only, Self +1, or Self & Family).

Regular mail must be postmarked no later than the final date of Open Season. Any changes made during Open Season will be effective January 1 of the following year.

Alternatively, you can call the OPM Retirement Information Center at 1-888-767-6738 (TTY: 1-800-878-5707 or DC local 202-606-0551) or send an email to [email protected] to make changes to your enrollment.

If you're already retired and enrolled in Medicare Parts A&B, you can elect the UnitedHealthcare Retiree Advantage enhanced level of benefits at any time throughout the year. You'll need to be a member of one of the qualifying UnitedHealthcare FEHB plans or PSHB plans.

Here's an interesting read: Open Season Fehb 2024

New employees can enroll in the FEHB program and its dental and vision policies within 60 days of their employment start date, also known as entry on duty. Some circumstances allow you to make changes outside of Open Season, such as marriage, divorce, or the loss of FEHB or other health coverage.

Here are the steps to enroll in the FEHB program:

Enrolling in FEHB can be a bit overwhelming, but don't worry, I've got you covered. The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program offers a range of plan options to suit different needs and budgets.

You can enroll in FEHB through the Benefits Administration Service (BAS) website or through the phone. The annual Open Season typically runs from November to December, but you can also enroll during a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) if you experience a qualifying life event.

FEHB plans are divided into three categories: Standard Option, High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), and Consumer-Directed Health Plan (CDHP). Each category offers different levels of coverage and out-of-pocket costs.

You might enjoy: When Is Open Enrollment for Dental and Health Insurance

You can choose from a variety of plan options within each category, such as the Standard Option's Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) plan or the HDHP's UnitedHealthcare plan. Each plan has its own network of providers and out-of-pocket costs.

You can enroll in FEHB even if you're not yet eligible for Medicare. In fact, many federal employees choose to enroll in FEHB as a supplement to their Medicare coverage.

Check this out: Medicare and Fehb Blue Cross

Medicare and FEHB can work together to provide healthcare coverage, which is great news for federal employees and retirees.

You typically need to be 65 years old or over to be eligible for Medicare, but people with specific conditions like end stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may qualify at a younger age.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recommends considering Medicare Part A if you're eligible for premium-free coverage, which can help cover deductibles, coinsurance, and other costs beyond what FEHB allows.

If you've worked for 10 years and paid Medicare taxes, you'll generally be eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A.

A unique perspective: Temporary Continuation of Coverage Fehb

As a federal employee, you have the opportunity to sign up for a qualifying UnitedHealthcare FEHB or PSHB enrollment code during OPM's annual Open Season.

The Open Season takes place between November 11th and December 9th, 2024, and is a great time to review and adjust your health insurance coverage.

Make sure you're enrolled by midnight on the final day, December 9th, 2024, to avoid missing out on this important opportunity.

You can also take advantage of the extended Open Season for PSHBP, which has been extended to Friday, December 13th, 2024.

For another approach, see: Usps Fehb Plans 2024

The FEHB program is a type of health insurance that covers active federal employees, their family members, some former spouses, and former employees.

One of the best things about FEHB is that there are no waiting periods for coverage to become active, which means you can get the care you need right away.

This is a significant advantage over other private insurance plans, which often have waiting periods that can leave you without coverage when you need it most.

For more insights, see: Do I Need Both Fehb and Medicare

FEHB also doesn't have preexisting condition limits, so if you have a health condition, the plan will cover health costs up to the plan limits.

This means you can enroll with confidence, knowing that your preexisting conditions will be covered.

Here are the different types of healthcare plans available under FEHB:

Each of these plans has its own unique features and benefits, so it's worth doing your research to find the one that's right for you.

If you're a federal employee or retiree with FEHB insurance, you may also be eligible for Medicare. To be eligible for Medicare, you typically must be 65 years old or over, but younger people with specific conditions like end stage renal disease (ESRD) or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may also qualify.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recommends considering Medicare Part A if you're eligible for premium-free coverage. People who have worked for 10 years and paid Medicare taxes will generally be eligible for premium-free Medicare Part A.

Enrolling in Medicare Part A may help cover deductibles, coinsurance, and other costs beyond what FEHB allows.

Consider reading: Fehb Premium Increase 2025

After you enroll in FEHB, you can expect a few things to happen. We'll review your enrollment request form and verify your eligibility.

You'll then wait for your application to be sent to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval. Approval may take up to one week, so be patient.

Once your application is approved, you'll receive your Quick Start Guide with member ID card in the mail. This guide will include details about your specific health plan benefits.

Every year you're a plan member, you'll receive an Annual Notice of Changes in the mail. This notice will describe your benefits and any changes to them for the next calendar year.

Here's a quick rundown of what to expect after enrollment: