United States 

Office of 

Personnel Management

The Federal Government’s Human Resources Agency 

Benefits Administration Letter 

Number: 11-401 Date: July 29, 2011 

Subject: 2011 Federal Benefits Open Season: Announcement 

Welcome to the first in our series of 2011 Open Season Benefits Administration Letters (BAL). 

This BAL provides general information about this year’s Federal Benefits Open Season, which 

runs from Monday, November 14, 2011 through Monday, December 12, 2011. Please ensure 

your employees are aware of the dates of Open Season, how to make changes, and which 

changes they can make. 

On April 19, 2010, OPM issued a proposed regulation on miscellaneous FEHB Program changes 

in the Federal Register (Vol. 75, No. 74 page 20314). One proposed change was to make the 

Federal Benefits Open Season dates November 1st through November 30th of each year. The 

final regulation (Federal Register Vol. 75, No. 236 page 76615) does not change the dates of 

Open Season. The dates of the Federal Benefits Open Season will continue to be from the 

Monday of the second full workweek in November through the Monday of the second full 

workweek in December. 

ELECTRONIC BROCHURES 

In our Going Green initiative, we are encouraging the use of electronic health plan brochures 

over the paper brochures. Agencies have responded positively to this effort and have shared our 

desire to help lower administrative costs and conserve natural resources. Remember that copies 

of all FEHB plan brochures are on our website at www.opm.gov/FEHBbrochures. 

OPEN SEASON OPPORTUNITIES 

During the annual Open Season, employees can take the actions listed below for the Federal 

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

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

1.	 Enroll in a flexible spending account – a health care and/or dependent care account, 

under the FSAFEDS Program. Unlike with other programs, employees MUST reenroll in 

FSAFEDS each year to participate. Enrollments DO NOT carry over year to year. 

2.	 Enroll in, change, or cancel an existing enrollment in a dental plan under the FEDVIP 

Program. 
3.	 Enroll in, change, or cancel an existing enrollment in a vision plan under the FEDVIP 

Program. 

4.	 Enroll in, change, or cancel an existing enrollment in a health plan under the FEHB 

Program. 

UPCOMING BALS 

Through the BENEFITSINFO Listserv, you will receive BALs on the following topics in the 

upcoming months: 

1.	 Federal Benefits Open Season: 2011 Rider Information - We will inform you how to 

order the Guide to Federal Benefits. Anticipated Issue Date: First week of August 

2.	 2011 Federal Benefits Open Season: Ordering and Distribution of Material -We will 

inform you how to order and distribute Open Season materials including Programspecific materials. Anticipated Issue Date: Early September 

3.	 2011 Federal Benefits Open Season: Conducting the Open Season - We will provide you 

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

Season actions, effective dates, and agency actions. This BAL will also include the 

Federal Benefits FastFacts: The 2011 Federal Benefits Open Season is Coming! and 

Federal Benefits FastFacts: What to Consider During Open Season. Anticipated Issue 

Date: Mid-September 

4.	 2011 Federal Benefits Open Season: Significant Events - We will provide information on 

significant events affecting certain plans which you must communicate to your 

employees. Upon the announcement of the 2012 premium rates, we will release this 

BAL. Anticipated Issue Date: Late-September (if there are any subsequent changes, we 

will issue a follow-up BAL in October) 

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

www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/bals/index.asp. 

PRE-OPEN SEASON MATERIALS 

The items below are pre-Open Season materials to help employees consider and assess the 

various choices available to them as they make their Open Season benefits decisions. Please 

distribute these materials to employees and post them on your agency’s intranet in midSeptember. 

1.	 Open Season Checklist - a list of items to help enrollees get ready for Open Season 

2.	 Open Season Resources – a list of resources to help enrollees find specific benefits 

information 

3.	 Frequently Questioned Services – a list of services that OPM often receives inquiries on 

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as to how, or if, the items are covered under our benefit Programs 

4.	 Circle ‘Round Your Benefits – a diagram to help enrollees understand how the three 

programs that participate in Open Season (FSAFEDS, FEDVIP, and FEHB) work 

together 

Please note that 2012 Plan information will be posted on our website, 

www.opm.gov/insure/openseason, beginning in early November. 

WHERE TO GO FOR MORE INFORMATION 

Visit our website at www.opm.gov/insure to learn more about these Programs. We will post 

FEHB and FEDVIP premium rates for 2012 in early October. You will find specific Federal 

Benefits Open Season information on this website beginning in early November. 

If you have specific questions, please contact your agency’s benefits officer. If you do not know 

who this person is, please go to http://apps.opm.gov/abo/ where you will find a list of agencies 

and their Headquarters Benefits Officers. 

 Sincerely, 

John O’Brien 

Director 

Healthcare and Insurance 

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