Health Insurance

The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program offers you a choice between a number of nationwide plans as well as regional health maintenance organizations. Unlike many private sector health benefit plans, it provides coverage without physical examination, places no restrictions on age or physical condition, and cannot be canceled by the plan in which you enroll. 

The cost of the FEHB program is shared by you and the government.  On average, the government pays slightly more than 70 percent of the cost.  You pay your share of the premium through a pre-tax payroll deduction.  There are two types of enrollment in each FEHB plan: self only, and self and family.  A self and family enrollment covers you, your spouse and your unmarried dependent children under age 22.

Each fall the government holds an "open season" in which you may change plans or change levels of coverage if you wish.  These changes are effective the first pay period in January.

For additional information, go to: www.opm.gov/insure/health

Dental and Vision Insurance

The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) is available to eligible Federal employees, retirees, and their eligible family members on an enrollee-pay-all basis.  This program allows dental and vision insurance to be purchased on a group basis, which means competitive premiums and no pre-existing condition limitations. Premiums for enrolled Federal and Postal employees will be withheld from salary on a pre-tax basis.  Enrollment will take place during the end of each calendar year. 

For additional information, go to:  http://www.opm.gov/insure/

Flexible Spending Accounts

A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) allows employees to pay for eligible out-of-pocket health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.  By using pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses, an FSA gives you an immediate discount on these expenses that equals the taxes you would otherwise pay on that money.  FSAFEDS offers three types of FSAs:

1. The Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) can be used to pay for qualified medical costs and health care expenses that are not paid by your Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plan or any other insurance, but cannot be used to pay for any type of insurance premiums, including long-term care insurance premiums.  
2. The Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) can be used to pay for eligible dependent care expenses such as child care for children under age 13 or children who are physically or mentally incapable of self-care and, in some cases, elder care, so that you – and your spouse, if you are married – can work, look for work, or attend school full-time.
3. The Limited Expense Health Care Flexible Spending Account (LEX HCFSA) is available to employees who are enrolled in a Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA), or whose spouse is enrolled in a non-FEHB HDHP with an HSA. The LEX HCFSA is limited to eligible dental and vision expenses only that meet the IRS definition of medical care. Under IRS rules, you are not eligible to contribute to an HSA and be enrolled in a FSAFEDS general purpose HCFSA at the same time.

For more information go to: https://www.fsafeds.com  

Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program

The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program is backed by two of the country's top insurance companies, John Hancock Life Insurance Company (John Hancock) and Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife).  The Federal Program is designed to help protect enrollees against the high costs of long term care.

For more information, go to:  http://www.ltcfeds.com/