Open season begins Nov. 13 for civilian health insurance programs Published Nov. 2, 2006 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- The Office of Personnel Management has announced an open season will be held Nov. 13 through Dec. 11 for three civilian benefit programs. The three programs are the Federal Employees Health Benefits, or FEHB, program; the Federal Flexible Spending Account, or FSAFED, program; and the new Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance, or FEDVIP, program. In the FEHB program, premiums for 2007 will rise an average of 1.8 percent, marking the smallest rate increase in more than a decade. Approximately 63 percent of enrollees will not have a premium increase in 2007, while another 15 percent will see a premium increase of less than 5 percent. With the increase in overall plan choices to 284, high deductible health plans to 29, and health maintenance organizations to 209, officials recommend employees review and update their health plans during the open season. "Open season is the best time for employees to review their health care coverage, not only to make desired changes, but to ensure their plan hasn't been altered or discontinued," said Ms. Janet Thomas of the Benefits and Entitlements Service Team here at the Air Force Personnel Center. "Employees should also review the plan premiums for next year." Air Force-serviced civilian employees will make their FEHB open season enrollments or changes by one of two methods: Employee Benefits Information System or BEST phone system. During this open season, employees eligible for FSAFED may enroll in the program for calendar year 2007. There are three types of FSA accounts: the Health Care FSA, the Limited Expense,or LEX, Health Care FSA, and the Dependent Care FSA. The FSAFEDS program allows federal employees to set aside pre-tax money for a wide range of medical and dependent care expenses. The money is set aside before salary is taxed. The money is exempt from federal income taxes, Social Security taxes, Medicare taxes and from most state and local taxes. Employees who are eligible to enroll in the FEHB program may participate in the FSAFED program, even if they are not currently enrolled. Employees who enroll in one of the high deductible health plans and are eligible for a health savings account may not have a regular Health Care FSA account, but they may enroll in the LEX Health Care FSA. All employees with qualified dependents may enroll in a Dependent Care FSA, except temporary employees with no fixed work schedule whose tour of duty is six months or less. The maximum annual election is $5,000 for the Health Care FSA and for the LEX Health Care FSA. The Dependent Care FSA annual maximum is $5,000 per household or $2,500 if married and filing separate tax returns. The minimum annual amount for each type of FSA account is $250. The FSAFED program also has a 2.5-month grace period. If the 2007 account is not exhausted by Dec. 31, 2007, eligible expenses incurred Jan. 1 through March 15, 2008 will be applied to the remaining 2007 balance. Enrollments are made via the FSAFED Web site or by calling toll-free (877) 372-3337 or TDD (800) 952-0450. Enrollment does not carry over automatically from year to year. Employees must submit a new enrollment for each year they wish to participate. Detailed information on the FSAFED program is available on the FSAFED Web site, including an online calculator that will help estimate the FSA contribution and potential annual tax savings. The Federal Employee Dental and Vision Benefits Enhancement Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-496) directed the Office of Personnel Management to make supplemental dental and vision benefits available to federal employees, annuitants and their eligible family members. "It's important to understand that FEDVIP and FEHB are entirely separate programs," said Ms. Thomas. "Some FEHB plans will continue to offer coverage of some dental and vision services, while some also offer non-FEHB dental and vision services." FEDVIP provides supplemental dental and vision insurance coverage. Some carriers participate in both FEHB and FEDVIP. Individuals eligible to enroll in both programs can choose to enroll in FEHB only, FEDVIP only, or both, or neither. Federal employees eligible to enroll in the FEHB program also may enroll in FEDVIP. It does not matter if they are currently enrolled in FEHB. Eligibility is the key, according to Ms. Thomas. The first opportunity for enrollment in the FEDVIP program is during this open season, with coverage effective Dec. 31, 2006. Premium deductions will begin, for Air Force-serviced employees, with the pay period beginning Jan. 7, 2007, and will be reflected in their Jan. 26 Leave and Earnings Statement. Premiums will be deducted on a pre-tax (premium conversion) basis for employees. Enrollees pay the full premium for dental and vision coverage, with no government contribution. Seven carriers will offer dental benefits, while three carriers will offer vision benefits. Coverage and benefits vary, but generally include preventive-care services, oral and eye exams, orthodontia, and a variety of eye- and oral-care products and procedures. Three enrollment categories are available for dental and vision coverage: self only, self plus one, and self and family. Bi-weekly dental premiums, based on the employee's place of residence, range from $7.29 for self coverage, to $56.77 for self and family coverage; bi-weekly vision premiums range from $2.63 for self coverage, to $16.21 for self and family coverage. Federal employees who enroll in FEDVIP and subsequently retire on an immediate annuity, or disability annuity, may continue FEDVIP into retirement. There is no five-year rule for continuing coverage into retirement as there is with the FEHB program. FEDVIP enrollment may be conducted directly in OPM's new enrollment and payroll/billing administration system, BENEFEDS. Employees can access the system primarily via their secure BENEFEDS Web site. The Web site contains an online tutorial and an extensive "Frequently Asked Questions" section to assist enrollees through the enrollment process. Alternatively, enrollees can call toll-free (877) 888-3337, TTY (877) 889-5680, to have a BENEFEDS customer service representative enroll them over the telephone. Enrollment functions on the BENEFEDS Web site will be available by 5 a.m. Eastern Time on Nov. 13. Open season enrollments will no longer be accepted at midnight Eastern Time on Dec. 11. The enrollment process involves two parts. First, the enrollee will create a BENEFEDS.com account by providing demographic and employment information. When this one-time step is complete, eligible employees can compare plans and enroll. The telephone enrollment process is very similar. Enrollees will be issued a username which they will use in subsequent calls or online transactions with BENEFEDS. Additional information on FEDVIP benefits and costs, along with health plan brochures, can be viewed online on the OPM FEDVIP Web page. The Employee Benefits Information System, or EBIS, is a Web application, located on the Air Force Portal and the AFPC Secure Web site. Employees with self-and-family coverage or other insurance can use EBIS to submit their elections to enroll or change plans without having to speak with a counselor to complete the transaction. Another advantage of making an election via EBIS is employees can print a copy of Standard Form 2809, the health benefits election form, as soon as they complete the election. Employees in the U.S. who wish to use the BEST automated phone system can call 800-616-3775, press 2 for Air Force-serviced civilian, then 2 for BEST benefits and entitlements, and follow the prompts. Hearing impaired employees may call the TDD line at 800-382-0893, or commercial 565-2276 within San Antonio. Overseas employees will first dial the AT&T toll-free direct access number for the country they are in, then 800-616-3775. Direct access numbers can be found at http://www.business.att.com/bt/dial_guide.jsp. Benefits counselors are available weekdays, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Central Time. For more information on any of these programs or other civilian employee benefits and entitlements, visit the BEST Web site at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil; click on Civilian Employees, then on Benefits and Entitlements.