A. The premiums for the FEHB plan you are currently enrolled in are in the brochure you will receive from your plan during the annual FEHB Open Season. The Guide to FEHB Plans is a comparison of the plans and their benefits and premiums. There are a variety of Guides targeted to specific groups of enrollees. The different Guides are:

• RI 70-1 Guide for Federal Civilian Employees
• RI 70-5 Guide for Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) and Former Spouse Enrollees
• RI 70-6 Guide for OWCP Compensationers
• RI 70-8 Guide for Certain Temporary Employees
• RI 70-9 Guide for Annuitants
• RI 70-15 Guide for Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Employees Guides for Postal Employees
• RI 70-2 FEHB Plans for USPS Career Employees
• RI 70-2IN FEHB Plans for USPS Inspectors and Office of Inspector General Employees
• RI 70-2B FEHB Plans for USPS Nurses
• RI 70-8PS Guide for Temporary USPS Employees

The total premium is the same for all enrollees, but the Government contribution is based on your employment. Some agencies, such as the Postal Service, contribute additional money towards the total premium. As a result, the share you must pay will depend upon your employment status. All Guides are available on this web site or through your Human Resources Office.

A. The average premium is a program-wide average of the enrollment charges for all individuals who are eligible to receive a Government contribution, with separate determinations for self only and for self-and-family enrollments. For example, in 2002, the biweekly average premium amounts are $135.61 for self-only and $309.66 for self-and-family coverage. Accordingly, the maximum biweekly Government contribution is $97.68 for self and $223.41 for family.

A. Your plan's premiums will not decrease due to your family getting smaller, just as the premiums did not increase because you added children and your family grew. The law permits you to choose between self-only coverage or self- and-family coverage only. Other coverage types -- such as self-and-spouse, self-and-one-child [two children, three children, etc.], and self-plus-one -- are not available.

A. Enrollees may choose from self-only coverage or self-and-family coverage. Other coverage types -- such as Medicare enrolled and/or Medicare eligible -- are not available. Data shows that there is not a significant difference in the cost to the FEHB Program between employees and enrollees covered by both Medicare and an FEHB plan. The cost to employees or Medicare-eligible enrollees would not reduce substantially be creating a separate Medicare category.

Interestingly, your enrollees often benefit from older enrollees' Medicare enrollment. This is because substantial savings can be realized from an aggressive coordination of benefits program between the plan and Medicare; the savings are applied to all enrollees' rates.

A. Your premiums will not change. The enrollment will be changed to your name and changed to a self only enrollment if there are no other eligible family members.