2011 Federal Benefits Open Season Published Nov. 7, 2011 By David Pritchard Employee & Labor Relations DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- The 2011 Federal Benefits Open Season is fast approaching. Open Season is the time to make elections you usually cannot make any other time of the year. All health, dental and vision plans are not alike. Open Season is about exercising your right of choice. Failure to consider your health plan choices could leave you without the health care services, supplies 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. Dates for open season will run from Nov. 14 through Dec. 12. 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 If you are already enrolled in FEHB and FEDVIP, those enrollments WILL continue automatically (although benefits and premiums may change). If you already have a FSAFEDS account, it WILL NOT continue automatically; you MUST re-enroll. For detailed information about the different FEHB programs, please visit www.opm.gov/insure or www.facebook.com/fedbenefits. It is important for you to access these sites to review any changes in program coverage. Also, 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. 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 Flexible Spending Account (FSAFEDS), please visit www.FSAFEDS.com or call 1-877-372-3337, TTY 1-800-952-0450. Here is a short list of benefit carriers and contact numbers for your use: BlueCross/BlueShield of Georgia - Mr. Charles Smith 404-923-3172 Georgia Employees Health Association - Ms. Benita Thomas 770-565-6599 Mail Handlers Benefit Plan - Ms. Angela Holt 678-742-6578 Kaiser Permanente - Mr. Chris Hoard 404-364-7110 Open Season effective dates are as follows: FEHB: First day of the first full pay period that begins in Jan. 2012 FEDVIP/FSAFEDS: Jan. 1 Please be advised the Civilian Personnel Office does not accept forms for any health, dental or vision related programs. Your point-of-contact is David Pritchard at 678-655-5036.
