Benefits Administration Letter

DATES

The 2006 Open Season will be held from November 13, 2006 through December 11, 2006. There are three separate programs that will participate in this year’s Open Season: The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB); the Federal FSA Program (FSAFEDS) and the new Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). This Benefits Administration Letter (BAL) focuses on the FEHB program. We will issue additional, separate Open Season guidance for FSAFEDS and FEDVIP.

BALs

As we proceed with our preparation for the 2006 Open Season for the FEHB program, we will issue a series of BALs to give you information about ordering open season materials, significant FEHB plan changes for 2007, suggested Open Season notices for your employees, and other useful information that will enable you to conduct a successful open season at your agency.

AUDIOCASSETTES

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will not be involved in the ordering of brochure audiocassette tapes for the visually impaired. Agencies must order these tapes directly from the fee-for-service plans. We will include a list of plan contacts from whom you may order the tapes when we send you the BAL on ordering and distribution.

FEHB GUIDES

As previously stated, agencies may purchase FEHB Guides through a Government Printing Office (GPO) print rider. Please refer to BAL 06-402, dated August 7, 2006 for further instructions. The FEHB Guide will also contain a comparison chart for plans and benefits under the FEDVIP.

OPM WEBSITE

All 2007 FEHB Guides, health plan brochures, and the 2007 premium rates will be available on the OPM web site at www.opm.gov/insure/health. The Guides, brochures and text versions suitable for visually impaired will be available in PDF format for downloading and printing.Our website will contain an interactive tool that will allow you to find the health plans that service your area and will allow you to make comparisons of the costs, benefits and quality indicators of the plans that interest you.

FEDVIP

Eligible Federal and Postal employees and retirees will be able to enroll in the new Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) during this year’s FEDVIP Open Season. FEDVIP will offer enrollees group dental and vision insurance at competitive rates without pre-existing conditions. Coverage will be effective on December 31, 2006. Employees and annuitants can enroll in self only, self plus one or self and family coverage. Please see the news release announcing the approved FEDVIP vendors at http://www.opm.gov/News_Events/. We will issue a series of BALs on the FEDVIP plan, including benefits and rates, in the next few months. Meanwhile, for updates about the program please visit the FEDVIP website at www.opm.gov/insure/dentalvision.

FSAFEDS

Employees who wish to elect a health care flexible spending account, a limited expense health care flexible spending account, or a dependent care flexible spending account must make an election during Open Season. FSAFEDS enrollments do NOT roll over from year to year. Please make sure to visit the FSAFEDS web site (www.FSAFEDS.com ) for new information about Open Season.

CONTACTING US

Our Internet email will enable us to answer agencies’ open season questions quickly and efficiently. If you have a question about an open season BAL, or any other questions about open season, please email your question to the following email addresses:

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