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# Special Notices

# Notices

## Announcing the Postal Service Health Benefits Program (PSHB)

The Postal Service Health Benefits Program (PSHB) is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) which will provide health insurance to eligible Postal Service employees, Postal Service annuitants, and their eligible family members starting in 2025. The PSHB Program coverage will replace Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) Program coverage for these groups.

## Federal Retirees and CFC Deduction via Federal Annuity Notice

Thank you to Federal civilian retirees who pledged to your favorite charities through the 2021 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).  Your contributions continue to make a difference to countless people here and around the world. The number of Federal retirees choosing to donate through the CFC continues to grow and demonstrates your continued public service long after your Federal career has ended. 

**Due to reporting deadlines established by the Department of the Treasury, monthly deductions will not start on February 1st.  Instead, the first CFC deduction in the 2022 calendar year will be from your March 1st check and continue through February 2023.   If you have any questions about the CFC, please log in to your CFC account at cfcgiving.opm.gov to submit a request.  If you need immediate assistance, call 800-797-0098.

## Temporary Closure of The Retirement Information Office

As a precautionary measure and for the protection of our customers, The Office of Personnel Management has closed the Retirement Information Office located at OPM Headquarters, 1900 E St NW, Washington, DC, until further notice.

For all retirement questions, you may call Retirement Services at 888-767-6738 or email Retire@opm.gov.

Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

# Archives

## You have reached a collection of archive material

The content available is no longer being updated and as a result you may encounter hyperlinks which no longer function. You should also bear in mind that this content may contain text and references which are no longer applicable as a result of changes in law, regulation and/or administration.

## The 2020 FEHB open season will run from November 9, 2020 through December 14, 2020.

**If you are satisfied with your current health plan, you do not need to do anything.**

## Please Note:

If you are changing to a Self Plus One or Self and Family enrollment, you will be required to list all eligible dependent name(s), date of birth and social security number (SSN) so that this information is accurately reported to the Health Insurance carrier.

In some cases, the enrollee share of FEHB premiums for the Self Plus One enrollment type will be higher than the Self and Family enrollment type. Enrollees who wish to cover one eligible family member are free to elect either the Self and Family or Self Plus One enrollment type. Check the premiums on our website at www.opm.gov/fehbpremiums

Visit the Open Season Online website for Federal Retirees and Survivor Annuitants to request open season plan information, access our self-service tools to make an open season change and make other retirement related changes.

It's quick and easy to request health benefit changes and plan information.
                - Go to Open Season Online at  https://retireefehb.opm.gov
                - Call Open Season Express at 1-800-332-9798
                - Write to us at:  FEHB Open Season Processing Center  P.O. Box 5000  Lawrence, KS 66046-0500

For General Open Season information, click the above link to use Live Help or send a secure webmail message.

For information on comparing health plans visit http://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/compare-plans.

For information on the Federal Employees Dental & Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) visit the secure enrollment website www.benefeds.com or call 1-877-888-3337, TTY 1-877-889-5680

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## Retirement Services Customer Service

COVID-19 has not affected Retirement Services’ ability to process applications or deliver timely payments.  We understand the importance of the payments and services we provide and are standing by to help. We ask that you continue to use our electronic self-service options and information available on Services Online or email us at retire@opm.gov whenever possible. Thank you for your patience.

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## FEHB Open Season 2019

The 2019 FEHB open season will run from November 11, 2019 through December 9, 2019.

**If you are satisfied with your current health plan, you do not need to do anything.**

**Please note:** If you are changing to a Self Plus One or Self and Family enrollment, you will be required to list all eligible dependent name(s), date of birth and social security number (SSN) so that this information is accurately reported to the Health Insurance carrier.

In some cases, the enrollee share of FEHB premiums for the Self Plus One enrollment type will be higher than the Self and Family enrollment type. Enrollees who wish to cover one eligible family member are free to elect either the Self and Family or Self Plus One enrollment type. Check the premiums on our website at www.opm.gov/fehbpremiums

Visit the Open Season Online website for Federal Retirees and Survivor Annuitants to request open season plan information, access our self-service tools to make an open season change and make other retirement related changes.

It's quick and easy to request health benefit changes and plan information.
                Go to Open Season Online at 
retireefehb.opm.gov
Call Open Season Express at 1-800-332-9798
Write to us at:
FEHB Open Season Processing Center
P.O. Box 5000
Lawrence, KS 66046-0500
Note:
 This mail box will close December 9.

For General Open Season information, click the above link to use Live Help or to send a secure webmail message.

For information on comparing health plans visit www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/compare-plans.

For information on the Federal Employees Dental & Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) visit the secure enrollment website www.benefeds.com or call 1-877-888-3337, TTY 1-877-889-5680.

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## FEHB Open Season 2017

The 2017 FEHB open season will run from November 13, 2017 through December 11, 2017.

Please note: If you are changing to a Self Plus One or Self and Family enrollment, you will be required to list all eligible dependent name(s), date of birth and social security number (SSN) so that this information is accurately reported to the Health Insurance carrier.

Visit the Open Season Online website for Federal Retirees and Survivor Annuitants to request open season plan information, access our self-service tools to make an open season change and make other retirement related changes. To access the open season website go to https://retireefehb.opm.gov. In order to access the website, you must register by using your CSA/CSF claim number and the last four digits of your SSN. During the registration process you will create a user id and password for the Open Season Online website. Once you access https://retireefehb.opm.gov, you can also chat with a Customer Service Representative using Live Help or send a web mail message which will be answered by a Customer Service Representative. We have upgraded our secure site, if you have difficulty accessing Open Season Online and are using an older browser such as Internet Explorer 6 or lower, please consider upgrading your browser to the latest available version. You can also dial our toll-free Open Season Express number (interactive voice response system) at 1-800-332-9798.

We may experience high call volumes during Open Season. It may be beneficial to make your Open Season selection using our Online website. Whether you choose to use the Open Season Online website or contact us by phone you will be able to make an Open Season change, request health plan information and/or make other retirement related transactions such as updates for home/email addresses and dependent information.

OPM Retirement Services now offers a mobile website for the Federal Employee Health Benefit Open Season. This enhancement brings all of the features of the website to the palm of your hand. The mobile website will be available during the enrollment period at https://retireefehb.opm.gov/mobile. Remember to visit Services Online at www.servicesonline.opm.gov for an easy and secure way to manage your retirement account. Services Online cannot be used to make open season changes.

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## New FEGLI premium rates as of January 1, 2016

Effective the 2/1/16 payment for the month of January, OPM has announced the new FEGLI premium rates for employees and retirees. Premiums for employees' basic insurance will not change and most rates for Option A, B and C will decrease. The older age band rates for Options A, B and C will increase along with premium rates for retirees basic insurance with 50% reduction and for the no reduction rates.

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## RS Open Season Virtual Town Hall

Retirement Services held an Open Season Virtual Town Hall on December 8, 2015 to discuss Open Season changes.

The link to the webcast is https://youtu.be/eszw0J2axsY

Retirement Services will work to answer as many FEHB Open Season questions for retirees as possible within the allotted timeframe at benefits@opm.gov. Remember that Open Season sign up ends on December 14, 2015.

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## FEHB Self + One for Annuitants

The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 establishes a Self Plus One enrollment type in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. Coverage under a Self Plus One enrollment will be available beginning in January 2016. The first opportunity to enroll in Self Plus One will be during the annual Federal Benefits Open Season beginning in November 2015. Read more

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## Defense of Marriage Act

On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. As a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will now be able to extend certain benefits to Federal employees and annuitants who have legally married a spouse of the same sex, regardless of the employee’s or annuitant’s state of residency. OPM is currently in the process of updating and revising the website to reflect this change, and will be updating this information as soon as possible. Please check back in the coming weeks for updates.

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## Entitlement to Enhanced Formula with Annuity Recalculation

If you are receiving a disability or survivor annuity based wholly or in part on service listed below, you may be entitled to have your annuity recalculated using an enhanced formula for that service. Your annuity may increase if you are receiving a disability annuity or a survivor annuity based on service in any of the following positions under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS):
                - Law Enforcement Officer
                - Firefighter
                - Nuclear Materials Courier performed with the Department of Energy on or after October 1, 1977
                - Customs and Border Protection Officer on or after July 6, 2008
                - Member of the Capitol Police
                - Member of the Supreme Court Police
                - Congressional Employee
                - Air Traffic Controller

See chart for a list of qualifying law enforcement officer service.

The amount of an annuity benefit is typically based on the amount of creditable service an individual performs and the average pay of the individual. The amount of creditable service performed may not always affect the amount of disability and survivor annuities, especially when those benefits are based on the guaranteed minimum annuity provisions of the law. For example, a CSRS disability annuity may be based on a guaranteed minimum equal to 40 percent of the individual's average pay if the annuity based on the actual amount of service performed by the individual would be less than 40 percent of the average pay.

This recalculation is due to changes in interpretation of the applicable statutes that have evolved over time. If the recalculation results in an annuity benefit higher than the benefit you are receiving, we will adjust your annuity to the higher amount. We will also compare the total amount of annuity we have paid you since your annuity began based on our original computation with the total amount of annuity we would have paid you under the revised computation, and pay you any additional amount of annuity you may be due. If the recalculation does not result in a higher annuity benefit, we will so notify you and no change will be made to your annuity.

If you have any questions about this notice or would like to request a review of your case, please email us at edsa@opm.gov. You may also call us at 1(888) 767-6738.

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## Employee groups that are "law enforcement officers" for the purpose of retirement under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS)

In general, the term law enforcement officer in the retirement statutes means an employee "the duties of whose positions are primarily the investigation, apprehension, or detention of persons suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the United States, per 5 U.S.C. §8331(20) and 5 U.S.C. §8401(17). The statutory definition of law enforcement officer also includes an employee who moves directly to a supervisory or administrative law enforcement officer position from a frontline or "primary" law enforcement officer position (i.e., a position the primary duties of which are "investigation, apprehension, or detention of persons suspected or convicted of offenses against the criminal laws of the United States..."), per definitions of primary and secondary positions at 5 CFR 831.902 and 5 CFR 842.802.

Because law enforcement officer coverage is determined on a position-by-position basis, it is not possible to produce a definitive list of occupations that are covered as law enforcement positions. The attached list provides a general listing of covered law enforcement officer and non-covered law enforcement officer's occupations but it is not all inclusive.

If you have any questions as to whether or not your service was covered under the LEO provisions; please email us at edsa@opm.gov You may also call us at 1(888) 767-6738.

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## Covered Law Enforcement Officers Occupations

Positions that typically qualify as Law Enforcement Officer Positions under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS)
                - Border Patrol agents;
                - Correctional Officers or Prison Support Staff working for Bureau of the Prisons, and Federal Prison Industries, Inc.; employees of the Public Health Service assigned to the Bureau of the Prisons, or Federal Prison Industries, Inc.; or civilian employees in the field service at the Army or Navy disciplinary barracks or at confinement facilities operated by any of the armed forces who are engaged in the detention of prisoners (i.e., Prison Correctional Officers, and employees in frequent direct contact with prisoners);
                - Criminal Investigators;
                - Customs Investigators;
                - Deputy U.S. Marshals;
                - FBI special agents;
                - Federal Probation and Parole Officers;
                - Instructors at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center(FLETC) (covered as secondary LEO positions);
                - Law Enforcement Park Rangers;
                - Office of the Inspector General investigators in various agencies;
                - Park Police (Only if covered under FERS);
                - Secret Service Agents (Only if covered under FERS);
                - Secret Service Uniformed Division (Only if covered under FERS);
                - TSA Federal Air Marshals;
                - U.S. Marshals.

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## Non - Covered Law Enforcement Officer's Occupation

Positions that typically do not qualify As Law Enforcement Officer Positions under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS)
                - Assistant U.S. Attorneys;
                - Bureau of Engraving and Printing Police;
                - DEA Diversion Investigators;
                - DHS Federal Protective Service;
                - DOD Police;
                - GPO Police;
                - Guards at Government buildings or other facilities;
                - IRS Revenue Officers;
                - Mint Police;
                - Secret Service Special Officers;
                - VA Police.

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