Civilian health insurance, flexible spending account open seasons begin Nov. 14

  • Published
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  The Office of Personnel Management has announced the smallest average premium increase in nine years for the 2006 Federal Employees Health Benefits Program open season Nov. 14 to Dec. 12.

"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 Janet Thomas of the Benefits and Entitlements Service Team at the Air Force Personnel Center here. "Employees should also review the plan premiums for next year."

The average increase for 2006 is 6.6 percent although, 80 percent of FEHB enrollees are currently covered by plans in which premiums will rise between 2.5 percent and 15 percent.

With the increase in overall plan choices to 279 and High Deductible Health Plans to 21, officials recommend employees review and update their health plans during the open season.

Air Force-serviced civilian employees can make their FEHB open season enrollments or changes by one of two methods:

-- Employee Benefits Information System Web application at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/dpc/BEST_GRB/EBIS.htm. 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. Employees can print a copy of Standard Form 2809, the health benefits election form, as soon as they complete the election.

-- The BEST automated phone system at (800) 616-3775 for employees in the United States (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. 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 on the Web at www.business.att.com/bt/dial_guide.jsp. Benefits counselors are available weekdays, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. Central Standard Time.

For more information on the FEHB program, visit the BEST health insurance Web site at http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/dpc/best/fehb.htm. Links to the 2006 FEHB guides and individual plan brochures will be placed on this Web page as they become available.

FSA Open Season
During this open season, eligible employees may also enroll in the Flexible Spending Account program for calendar year 2006. There are two types of FSA accounts: the Health Care FSA and the Dependent Care FSA. FSA enrollment is conducted directly with SHPS, Inc., the third party program administrator via the FSAFEDS Web site at www.fsafeds.com or by calling toll-free, (877) 372-3337 or TDD (800) 952-0450.

Employees eligible to enroll in the FEHB program, even if not currently enrolled, are eligible to participate in the FSA program. However, employees who enroll in one of the high deductible health plans and eligible for a Health Savings Account may not have a Health Care FSA account.

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. Additional information on the FSA program is available on the BEST Web site at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/dpc/best/fsa.htm and the FSAFEDS Web site.  

(Courtesy of AFPC News Service)