Federal Benefits 

FastFacts

What to Consider During the Federal Benefits 

Open Season (November 12 – December 10, 2018) 

Open Season is the time of year when you have the opportunity to make decisions about your benefits 

under the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS), the Federal Employees Dental and 

Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), and the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. 

If you already have an FSAFEDS account, it will not continue automatically: you must re-enroll for 

2019. 

If you take no action, your current enrollment in FEDVIP and/or FEHB will continue automatically for 

2019. You will be subject to any changes in premiums, benefits, and service areas. 

We strongly recommend you evaluate your current enrollment status in the Programs. We have listed 

three basic questions to ask yourself. All are equally important and should be considered carefully. 

1. What are my and/or my family’s expected health care needs for 2019? 

• Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS) 

What are my out-of-pocket expenses going to be (e.g., deductibles, copays, coinsurances, 

day care and elder care expenses, over-the-counter drugs and medicines [prescription required 

except for insulin] and other over-the-counter products)? Does my child need braces or use acne 

treatments? Will I send my children (under age 13) to a non-overnight summer camp next year? 

• Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) 

Do I only need routine dental care? Will I need a crown or a root canal? Does my child need 

braces? 

Do I need glasses and/or contact lenses? Am I considering Lasik surgery? 

• Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program

 Am I expecting a new baby? Do I need surgery? Will my medication needs change? 

2. What benefits are available in 2019? 

Now that you have an idea of what services you may need, the next step is to determine what benefits 

the plans provide in 2019. If you are already enrolled, please review the “How We Have Changed 

for 2019” section of your 2019 FEDVIP brochure and Section 2 “Changes for 2019” of your 2019 

FEHB plan brochure for any benefit changes. 

Do not rely solely on this fact sheet. 

Always refer to the individual plan brochures before making your final decision. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FSAFEDS 

• Should I enroll in a health care account and/or a dependent care account? How much should I 

contribute to my FSAFEDS account(s)? 

FEDVIP/FEHB 

• Are there plan limitations (i.e., number of visits or dollar maximums) which will result in out-ofpocket expenses? 

• Are any services I may need (such as chiropractic care or Lasik surgery) not covered? 

• What is my share of the cost of prescription drugs? (FEHB only) 

• What deductibles, copays, and coinsurances must I pay? 

• Do I have enough coverage for extensive dental work? 

• Do I have enough coverage for glasses, exams, contact lenses, or other vision services? 

• Is my FEHB plan terminating or reducing coverage in my service area for the next contract year? 

If so, do I need to choose another health plan? 

3. How much will it cost? 

Now that you have an idea of what services you may need and what types of benefits are provided by 

FSAFEDS, FEDVIP, and/or FEHB plans, the third consideration is cost. 

Enrolling in FSAFEDS is free to you. You just have to decide how much to contribute from your 

salary, which you’ll get back when you incur eligible expenses. You can contribute a minimum of 

$100 to a maximum of $2,650 per participant for a health care account and/or $5,000 per household 

for a dependent care account. If you haven’t spent all the funds in your health care FSA by December 

31st, you can carry over up to $500 into another health care FSA into the subsequent year. 

Look at the 2019 premiums for the FEDVIP and/or FEHB plan you are already enrolled in or 

considering enrolling in. You can find the premiums in the 2019 FEDVIP and FEHB brochures and 

on our website at www.opm.gov/insure. 

4. What do I do now? 

Now that you have considered these questions, you are on your way to making more informed 

decisions about your benefit choices for 2019. If you want to participate in FSAFEDS for 2019, you 

must make a new election. If you are satisfied with your FEDVIP plan and/or FEHB plan, you do not 

have to do anything. Your FEDVIP and/or FEHB enrollment(s) will continue for 2019. If you are not 

satisfied with your current enrollment status, please visit our website and your human resources office 

and look at the following resources to assist you in making decisions. 

• FSAFEDS brochures at www.FSAFEDS.com 

• FEDVIP brochures at www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/dental-vision/plan-information 

• FEHB brochures at www.opm.gov/FEHBbrochures 

• OPM’s plan comparison tool at www.opm.gov/fehbcompare 

• Another plan comparison tool - Checkbook at www.checkbook.org/newhig2/hig.cfm 

Do not rely solely on this fact sheet. 

Always refer to the individual plan brochures before making your final decision.