Tribal 

FastFacts

What to Consider During 

the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Open Season 

for Tribal Employees (November 11 – December 9, 2019) 

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

under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program for the upcoming calendar year. The 

FEHB Open Season for Tribal Employees will be held every year from the Monday of the second full 

work week in November to the Monday of the second full work week in December. This year, Open 

Season will run from Monday, November 11, 2019 through Monday, December 9, 2019. 

If you are a tribal employee in a position that makes you eligible for FEHB, you can decide to enroll in 

the FEHB Program; change your FEHB enrollment from Self Only to Self Plus One or Self and Family

and from Self and Family to Self Plus One or Self Only; change your FEHB enrollment from one 

FEHB plan or option to another; or cancel your existing FEHB enrollment. Note that if you are not 

participating in premium conversion, (i.e., paying your share of FEHB premiums with pre-tax dollars), 

you may decrease or cancel your enrollment at any time. You may make changes during Open Season 

even if you have been enrolled in an FEHB plan for less than one year. 

The FEHB Open Season for Tribal Employees is an annual opportunity for you to consider whether 

your current health plan will be the best choice for you during the upcoming 2020 calendar year. It is 

an opportunity for you to look at: 

• benefit changes including changes in deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, or other out-ofpocket costs, 

• changes in plans’ premium rates, and 

• service area changes if enrolled in an HMO. 

You will continue to be covered by your present health insurance plan, unless your plan is 

dropping out of the FEHB or reducing its service area. However, your benefits, premiums, or 

coverage options may change. 

We recommend that you evaluate your current FEHB enrollment status and we have listed some basic 

questions to ask yourself. Please carefully consider all of the following questions as they are equally 

important: 

1. What are the expected health care needs for me and/or my family for 2020? 

• Am I expecting a new baby?

• Do I need surgery?

• Will my medication needs change?

Do not rely solely on this fact sheet. Always refer to the individual plan brochures before making 

your final decision.
2. What benefits are available in 2020? 

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

• Are there any services I may need (such as chiropractic care or acupuncture) that are not 

covered?

• What is my share of the cost of prescription drugs? 

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

The next step is to determine what benefits the FEHB plans provide in 2020. If you are already 

enrolled, please review the “Changes for 2020” section of your 2020 FEHB plan brochure for any 

benefit changes. 

 

3. How much will it cost?

The third consideration is cost. Look at the 2020 premiums for the FEHB plan you are already 

enrolled in or considering enrolling in. You can find the premiums in the 2020 FEHB brochures and 

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

4. What do I do now? 

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

decision about your FEHB benefit choices for 2020. If you are satisfied with your FEHB plan, you 

do not have to do anything. Your FEHB enrollment will continue for 2020. However, if you do 

nothing during this Open Season and you are later unhappy with your 2020 FEHB premiums or 

benefits, you cannot change your FEHB enrollment until the next Open Season unless you experience 

an FEHB qualifying life event. 

If you are not satisfied with your current FEHB enrollment status, please look at the following 

resources OPM provides to assist you in making decisions: 

• FEHB Brochures at www.opm.gov./fehbbrochures 

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

• Health Benefits Election Form, the Standard Form 2809, at 

www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf2809.pdf 

• Guidance for you on how to complete the SF 2809 to enroll, change, or cancel your FEHB 

enrollment at www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/tribal-employers/referencematerials/#FormGuidance 

If you have any questions, please contact your Tribal Benefits Officer.

Do not rely solely on this fact sheet. Always refer to the individual plan brochures before making 

your final decision.