Open season ends Dec. 10 Published Dec. 7, 2012 By David Pritchard Employee & Labor Relations Office DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- The 2013 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) open season will end Dec. 10. This is the time of year to ensure that you have the right health, dental and vision insurance coverage for you and your family. All health/dental/vision plans are not alike, so this is the time to exercise your right of choice. Most FEHB plans will see benefit and rate changes for 2013. Some plans are dropping out of the program and others are changing their service areas or coverage options. Failure to consider your health plan choices could leave you without the health care services or supplies you need or with a premium you cannot afford. Dental and/or vision coverage can fill in the gaps of any coverage you now have or pay for services you currently do not get. A flexible spending account lets you save money and pay less tax. Again, open season will run through Monday, Dec. 10. During this period, you can enroll in, change or cancel an existing health, dental or vision plan. The programs that participate in the annual Open Season are: *Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program *Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) *Federal Flexible Spending Account (FSAFEDS) Program For detailed information about FEHB, FEDVIP and FSAFEDS plans, to include plan brochures, premiums, and those that may be terminating coverage, please visit www.opm.gov/insure/openseason. This website contains valuable open season resources for your benefit. To make any changes or elections to FEHB, please access the Air Force Portal and visit the Employee Benefits Information System (EBIS) or you may contact the Benefits and Entitlements Service Team (BEST) automated phone system at 1-800-525-0102. All transactions are done either electronically or through the automated phone system. What happens if I do nothing during open season? 1. If you are already enrolled in FEHB and FEDVIP, those enrollments WILL continue automatically (although benefits and premiums may change). 2. If you already have a FSAFEDS account, it WILL NOT continue automatically; you MUST reenroll. 3. You cannot enroll, change your enrollment, or cancel your coverage in these programs outside of Open Season unless you experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). A list/explanation of those QLEs can be found on the opm website. To make changes or elections to the (FEDVIP) Dental or Vision programs, please visit www.BENEFEDS.com or call 1-877-888-3337, TTY 1-877-889-5680. To make an election for the FSAFEDS, please visit www.FSAFEDS.com or call 1-877-372-3337, TTY 1-800-952-0450. Below is a short list of benefit carriers and contact numbers for your use: BlueCross/BlueShield of Georgia - (404) 923-3172 GA Employees Health Association - (770) 565-6599 Mail Handlers Benefit Plan - (678) 742-6578 Kaiser Permanente - (404) 364-7110 Open Season effective dates are as follows: FEHB: First day of the first full pay period Jan. 2013 FEDVIP/FSAFEDS: Jan. 1, 2013 Quick links for your use: Brochures, Rates and Comparison Information for Health Plans Make changes to Health Plan in EBIS Vision and Dental plan information and changes to enrollment Flexible spending accounts information and enrollment The Dobbins Civilian Personnel Office does not accept forms for any health, dental or vision related programs. If you need further assistance or information, contact David Pritchard at 655-5036 or email david.pritchard.2@us.af.mil.
