United States 

Office of 

Personnel Management 

The Federal Government’s Human Resources Agency

Benefits Administration Letter 

Number: 07-401 Date: 8-21-07 

Subject: 2007 Federal Benefits Open Season: What’s New

Welcome to the first in a series of 2007 Open Season Benefits Administration Letters (BAL). 

Beginning this year, we are changing the focus and name of the annual Federal Employees 

Health Benefits (FEHB) Program Open Season to the more inclusive Federal Benefits Open 

Season. Because of the recent addition of two benefit programs, Federal Employees Dental and 

Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) and Federal Flexible Spending Account Program 

(FSAFEDS), Open Season isn’t just for FEHB anymore. Employees need to make decisions 

during Open Season not only on FEHB but also on FEDVIP and FSAFEDS, with an 

understanding of the relationships between and among the three programs. 

Our Open Season BALs will now include information on all three benefit programs that 

participate in the annual Federal Benefits Open Season. We no longer will issue separate 

program-specific BALs on Open Season. We believe these changes will better help you in 

conducting another successful Open Season. 

FSAFEDS 

The Federal Flexible Spending Account Program, known as FSAFEDS, is available to most 

employees in the Executive branch and employees of other agencies that have adopted the 

program. FSAFEDS can help employees save money by allowing them to set aside pre-tax 

funds to pay for eligible out-of-pocket dependent-care and health-care expenses. The Dependent 

Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) reimburses non-medical expenses associated with the 

care of children under age 13, or dependents who are unable to care for themselves. It does not 

reimburse dependent health-care expenses. The Health Care Flexible Spending Account 

(HCFSA) covers eligible health-care expenses for the employee and his/her spouse and eligible 

dependents. Employees covered by a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health 

Savings Account (HSA) may enroll in a Limited Expense HCFSA (LEX HCFSA) for their 

eligible dental and vision expenses. 

FEDVIP 

The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program provides comprehensive dental 

and vision insurance. This Program allows dental and vision insurance to be purchased on a 

group basis, which means competitive premiums and no pre-existing condition limitations. 
FEDVIP is group coverage on an enrollee pay all basis and is available to Federal employees, 

retirees, and their eligible family members. There are seven (7) dental and three (3) vision 

preferred provider organization (PPO) plans from which to choose, including regional, national 

and international coverage. 

FEHB 

The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program offers a wide variety of types of plans 

and options of coverage to help meet enrollee’s health care needs. Eligible enrollees can choose 

from among fee-for-service plans, health maintenance organizations, point-of-service products, 

high-deductible, and consumer-driven health plans. The FEHB is group coverage, and includes 

employees, retirees, and their dependents. 

WEB SITE 

You can find more information about these programs at www.opm.gov/insure. OPM will post 

FEDVIP and FEHB premiums for 2008 in mid-September. You will be able to find specific 

Federal Benefits Open Season information on our web site during the first week of November. 

DATES

The 2007 Federal Benefits Open Season will be held from Monday, November 12, 2007, through 

Monday, December 10, 2007.

BALs 

Through the BENEFITSINFO Listserv, you will receive the following BALs in the upcoming 

months: 

1. Federal Benefits Open Season: 2007 Rider Information - provides guidance on 

ordering the renamed Guide to Federal Benefits (formerly the Guide to Federal 

Employees Health Benefits Plans); 

2. 2007 Federal Benefits Open Season: Ordering and Distribution of Materials – 

provides a list of carrier contacts for ordering plan brochures, and distributing Open 

Season materials; 

3. 2007 Federal Benefits Open Season: Conducting the Open Season – provides 

information on counseling employees, annuitant inquiries, carrier contacts, Open 

Season actions, effective dates, and agency actions; and 

4. 2007 Federal Benefits Open Season: Significant Events – provides tables of 

significant events affecting certain plans. 

As in the past, the 400 series will be dedicated to the Open Season. You can find these BALs at 

www.opm.gov/asd/htm/bal-1.asp. 

GUIDE TO FEDERAL BENEFITS (formerly Guide to Federal Employees Health Benefits 

Plans) 

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FEDVIP, FSAFEDS and FEHB, plus their impact on each other, have given enrollees more to 

consider when making benefit decisions. This year, we have revised the Guide to include 

information about these three benefit programs, plus brief information about two other benefit 

programs that do not participate in the annual Federal Benefits Open Season – the Federal 

Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program and the Federal Long Term Care Insurance 

Program (FLTCIP). The revised Guide explains the relationship between the Programs, provides 

guidance on making enrollment decisions and instructs employees on what they need to do, if 

anything, during Open Season. As in the past, agencies may purchase Guides through a 

Government Printing Office (GPO) print rider. You can find information about purchasing the 

Guides in the upcoming BAL Federal Benefits Open Season: 2007 Rider Information. 

CONTACTING US 

Our Internet email boxes allow us to answer agencies’ open season questions quickly and 

efficiently. If you have a question about an Open Season BAL, or any other questions about the 

Federal Benefits Open Season, please email your question to the following email addresses: 

FSAFEDS Program: fsa@opm.gov

FEDVIP: fedvip@opm.gov

FEHB Program: fehb@opm.gov. 

 Sincerely, 

Howard C. Weizmann 

Deputy Director 

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