2004 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program Open Season: Significant Plan Changes
This BAL provides detailed information about plan changes for the upcoming contract year. It states the number of plans dropping out or entering the FEHB program for 2005. It also provides specific information on service area reductions and/or expansions, new options added, plan and/or code mergers, plan name changes, and plans offering High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP).
Updated October 4, 2004
Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: 2004 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program Open Season: Introduction
This BAL gives the dates for the 2004 open season and provides an overview of the materials that will be disseminated to the agencies during open season. It also informs agencies that OPM will no longer provide brochure audiocassette tapes for the visually impaired as well as instructions on how to order FEHB Guides through a Government Printing Office (GPO) rider.
Updated September 17, 2004
Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: Participation Requirements for Employees Retiring During a Period of Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments or Voluntary Early Retirement Authority
This BAL updates OPM policy on waivers of the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program participation requirements for employees who retire during a period of voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIP) and Voluntary early Retirement Authority (VERA).
Updated September 8, 2004
Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: Opportunity for Enrollees of OmniCare Health Plan, Enrollment KA, to Change Enrollment
Benefits Administration Letter 04-402 Omnicare Health Plan, Enrollment Code KA, will no longer participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program effective September 30, 2004.
Updated August 13, 2004
Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program Open Season: 2004 Rider Information
Benefits Administration Letter 04-401 Each year Federal employees access Open Season material in great numbers from the FEHB website. The website provides a quick and easy path to Guides, plan brochures, and tools to compare cost, benefits and quality indicators for each FEHB plan. With the expanded use of the website, the distribution of printed FEHB Guides is at the written request of the agencies.
Updated July 19, 2004
The FEHB Clearinghouse
Benefits Administration Letter 03-209 informs agencies of our instructions to FEHB health benefits carriers for resolving certain discrepancies identified by the FEHB Centralized Enrollment Reconciliation Clearinghouse (CLER).
Updated December 22, 2003
Open Season for 2004 Web Pages Posted
The FEHB Open Season for 2004 web site has been opened to the public. The site includes an interactive plan comparison tool, the FEHB guides, plan brochures, information on plan patient safety programs, links to the plan online provider directories, and separate pages describing the changes to each plan premiums and benefits.
Updated December 3, 2003
Significant Plan Changes for 2004
We have posted our annual Benefits Administration Letter detailing the significant plan changes for 2004. Some of these events will require action on the part of agencies and enrollees. Also note the plans that are dropping out of the Program at the end of 2003. Since employees in these plans must enroll in new plans during open season if they are to continue insurance coverage in 2004, we ask that you distribute this list widely within your agencies.
Added November 3, 2003
2004 Premium Rates Announced
We have announced the FEHB 2004 premium rates. See the press release and the new rates pages.
Added September 17, 2003
2003 Open Season Guide Rider Information
We have issued a Benefits Information Letter providing information on ordering the FEHB 2003 Open Season Guides through a printing requisition rider. The cutoff date for acceptance of these riders is September 26, 2003. See
Benefits Administration Letter 03-402 of September 17, 2003.
Added September 17, 2003
