2008 Federal Employees Benefit Programs Open Season; DD: 12/10/2007
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
November 14, 2007
In Reply Refer To:
1400-890 (WO-750) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 11/20/2007
Information Bulletin No. 2008-016
To: All BLM Employees
From: AD, Human Capital Management
Subject: 2008 Federal Employee’s Benefit Programs Open Season DD: 12/10/2007
The 2008 Federal Employees Benefit Program open season will be held from November 12, 2007, and continues through December 10, 2007. During open season, any eligible employee who is not currently enrolled may enroll in any of the three benefit programs, Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) Program, Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) and the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS).
Employees need to make decisions during Open Season, with an understanding of the relationships between and among the three benefit programs:
FEHB
The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program offers a wide variety of types of plans and options of coverage to help meet enrollee's health care needs. Eligible enrollees can choose from among fee-for-service plans, health maintenance organizations, point-of-service products, high-deductible, and consumer-driven health plans. The FEHB is group coverage, and includes employees, retirees, and their dependents. Any eligible enrollee may change from one plan or option to another, from self only to self and family, or make a combination of these changes. Enrollees who wish to continue their current enrollment will not need to take any action during this open season. Open season elections/changes will become effective on January 6, 2008.
The Guides give general descriptions of the benefits of each plan. In addition to the Guides, health plan brochures are also available through the FEHB website http://www.opm.gov/insure or you may pick one up in the WO Human Resources Servicing Office, Suite 700 L Street.
Employees wishing to enroll or change their enrollment can do so via Employee Express on 1-800-827-6254 (you will need your PIN #). Employees who make open season changes electronically via Employee Express and who do not receive new identification cards by the effective date of the change may obtain a letter confirming their coverage by calling the Employee Express Help Desk at 912-757-3030 or employees may also complete a Health Benefits Registration Form (SF-2809). The forms are available from the WO Human Resources Servicing Office, Suite 700 LS 613 and are also available through the FEHB website http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf2809.pdf
The completed forms must be received by close of business December 10, 2007. If you are unable to submit your registration form on time because of circumstances beyond your control, you should contact the Human Resources Office at (202) 452-5072.
If you change plans, any covered expenses incurred between December 10, 2007, and the effective date of the Open Season change will count toward the 2007 deductible of the plan from which you are changing.
FEDVIP
The Federal Employee’s Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
This new Program allows dental and vision insurance to be purchased on a group basis which means competitive premiums and no pre-existing condition limitations. Premiums for enrolled Federal and Postal employees will be withheld from salary on a pre-tax basis.
During open season, any eligible individual can enroll in a dental plan and/or a vision plan. They may enroll in a plan for Self-only, Self plus one, orSelf and family coverage. Eligible family members include an enrollee's spouse and unmarried dependent children under the age of 22, or if age 22 or older, incapable of self-support. The rules for family members' eligibility are the same as they are for the FEHB Program. Coverage will be effective December 31, 2007.
Employees must be eligible for the FEHB Program in order to be eligible to enroll in FEDVIP. It does not matter if they are actually enrolled in FEHB - eligibility is the key. Annuitants are eligible to enroll in FEDVIP no matter what their FEHB status is.
Employees wishing to enroll or change their enrollment can do so via www.benefeds.com during the upcoming Open Season to enroll in a FEDVIP plan or make changes to your existing FEDVIP enrollment. For specific information on the Dental and Vision plans and premiums please visit their website http://www.opm.gov/insure/dentalvision/08openseason.asp.
FSAFEDS
The Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS)
Unlike FEHB enrollments, enrollments in FSAFEDS do not carry over from year to year. Employees wishing to enroll in FSAFEDS for 2008 must make a positive enrollment during Open Season, even if they are currently enrolled in the Program.
Employees now have the option of enrolling in FSAFEDS from any touch-tone telephone at 1-877-FSAFEDS (372-3337), (TTY Line: 1-800-952-0450), Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., Eastern Time or through their website, www.fsafeds.com. Enrollments that are made during open season will become effective January 7, 2007. The deadline for FSAFEDS enrollment during the open season is close of business, December 10, 2007.
Types of FSAFEDS Accounts
FSAFEDS offers three types of flexible spending accounts: a Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA), Limited Expense Health Care Flexible Spending Account (LEX HCFSA) and a Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA). Employees may enroll in DCFSA, HCFSA or LEX HCFSA.
For general information regarding the FSAFEDS program, please visit their website at
https://www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/downloads/FedFlex.pdf
For specific information on HCSA:
https://www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/summaryofbenefits.asp#WhatIsAHCFSA
For specific information on LEX HCFSA:
https://www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/summaryofbenefits.asp#WhatIsLFSA
For specific information on DCFSA:
https://www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/summaryofbenefits.asp#WhatIsADCFSA
Questions regarding the Federal Benefits Open Season should be addressed to Shanina McRae on (202) 452-5072.
Signed by:
Authenticated by:
Janine Velasco
Robert M. Williams
Assistant Director
Division of IRM Governance,WO-560
Human Capital Management