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2017

Open Season Checklist for 2018 Plan Year 

Open Season runs from November 13 through December 11, 2017. 

The 2018 premiums will be available at www.opm.gov/insure in early October.

The 2018 Plan Information section at www.opm.gov/insure will be available by the first week in November.

Federal Flexible Spending 

Account Program (FSAFEDS)

Federal Employees Dental and 

Vision Insurance Program 

(FEDVIP)

Federal Employees Health Benefits 

Program (FEHB)

Materials 

You May 

Need 

 Access to www.FSAFEDS.com

 Access to 

www.opm.gov/healthcareinsurance/

 Want to read more about this 

Program? Go to 

www.opm.gov/healthcareinsurance/fastfacts.

 Dental or vision plan brochure 

 Access to 

www.opm.gov/healthcareinsurance/

 Access to www.BENEFEDS.com and 

your password

 Want to read more about this 

Program? Go to 

www.opm.gov/healthcareinsurance/fastfacts.

 Health plan brochure 

 Access to www.opm.gov/healthcareinsurance/

 Your password for electronic 

enrollment systems (if required by 

your agency) 

 Want to read more about this

Program? Go to

http://www.opm.gov/healthcareinsurance/fastfacts

Getting 

Started 

 Estimate what your annual 

health/dependent care outof-pocket expenses run each 

year.

 If you have predictable dental or 

vision expenses for you or your 

family, first see whether your 

health insurance plan covers them.

 Check to see if your current health 

plan is leaving the Program next year 

or if its service area is changing.

 Check premium you will pay next 

year for your current health plan.
Open Season runs from November 13 through December 11, 2017. 

The 2018 premiums will be available at www.opm.gov/insure in early October.

The 2018 Plan Information section at www.opm.gov/insure will be available by the first week in November.

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FSAFEDS FEDVIP FEHB 

Getting 

Started 

(Cont.)

 Check if your health, dental, 

or vision insurance coverage 

will be different next year.

 Review the FSAFEDS Eligible 

Expense Listing at

www.FSAFEDS.com for an 

extensive list of eligible 

expenses. 

 Use the FSAFEDS calculator 

at www.FSAFEDS.com to 

help determine how much to 

set aside. 

 Check the premium you will pay 

next year.

 Review your current plan’s benefit 

brochure to see what changes were 

made for covered services and 

supplies. See if your out-of-pocket 

costs are changing. 

 Determine what enrollment type best 

meets your needs. 

 Review your current health plan’s 

2018 brochure to see what changes 

were made for covered services and 

supplies. See if your out-of-pocket 

costs are changing. 

 Determine what is the best type of 

health plan for you – Fee-for-Service

Plan, Health Maintenance 

Organization Plan, High Deductible 

Health Plan, or Consumer Driven 

Health Plan.

Reviewing 

Your 

Options 

 An FSAFEDS account will 

reimburse eligible health 

care expenses for you, your 

spouse, and your eligible 

dependents that are not 

covered or reimbursed by 

FEHB, FEDVIP, or other 

insurance, including 

reimbursing FEHB and 

FEDVIP copayments and 

deductibles (but not 

premiums). 

 You can quickly compare dental 

and vision plans by going to

www.opm.gov/FEDVIPcompare

and using our “Compare Plans” 

tool.You may also use a tool 

provided by Consumer’s 

Checkbook. 

http://www.checkbook.org/newhi

g2/hig.cfm

 You can quickly compare health 

plans by going to 

www.opm.gov/fehbcompare and 

using our “Compare Health Plans” 

tool. 

 You may also use a tool provided by 

Consumer’s Checkbook. 

http://www.checkbook.org/newhig2/

hig.cfm
Open Season runs from November 13 through December 11, 2017. 

The 2018 premiums will be available at www.opm.gov/insure in early October.

The 2018 Plan Information section at www.opm.gov/insure will be available by the first week in November.

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FSAFEDS FEDVIP FEHB 

Reviewing 

Your 

Options 

(Cont.)

 Dental and vision care are 

eligible expenses whether 

combined with FEDVIP 

coverage or not.

 The Dependent Care FSA 

reimburses eligible 

dependent care (nonmedical) expenses, covering 

expenses such as child care, 

before and after school care, 

and adult daycare.

 Add up the premium and out-ofpocket costs for the plans that 

interest you. Determine whether 

this amount is more or less than 

what you expect to receive in 

benefits. Know the annual limits 

on what the plan will pay you.

 Consider enrolling in an FSAFEDS 

account to reimburse you for your 

out-of-pocket dental and vision 

costs.

 Consider enrolling in an FSAFEDS 

account to reimburse you for your 

out-of-pocket health costs. 

If You 

Want to 

Make a 

Change 

 You must re-enroll during 

Open Season – your FSA 

enrollment does not 

automatically renew from 

year to year. Re-enroll 

at www.FSAFEDS.com or call 

1-877-372-3337. 

 You may enroll or make changes to 

your enrollment online at

www.BENEFEDS.com. You cannot 

do this through your agency’s selfservice system or with a 

registration form. You will need 

your user ID and password or 

create a new account. You may 

also call BENEFEDS at 1-877-888-

3337.

 Most agencies offer two ways of 

making changes during Open 

Season:

1. Through the agency’s online selfservice system. You will need 

your password to log in.

2. By submitting a Health Benefits 

Election Form, SF 2809. Make 

sure you know where to turn in 

this form.

Check with your agency to see what 

it requires.
Open Season runs from November 13 through December 11, 2017. 

The 2018 premiums will be available at www.opm.gov/insure in early October.

The 2018 Plan Information section at www.opm.gov/insure will be available by the first week in November.

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FSAFEDS FEDVIP FEHB 

If You Do 

Not Want 

to Make a 

Change 

 If you do not enroll, then you 

will not participate for the 

next plan year.

 You must re-enroll during 

the Open Season – your FSA 

enrollment does not 

automatically renew from 

year to year. Re-enroll 

at www.FSAFEDS.com or call 

1-877-372-3337. 

 If you are satisfied with your dental 

or vision insurance benefits and the 

price you will pay next year, you do 

not have to do anything. Your 

enrollment will automatically 

continue.

 If you are satisfied with your health 

insurance benefits and the price you 

will pay next year, you do not have 

to do anything. Your enrollment will 

automatically continue.