United States Office of Personnel Management

The Federal Government’s Human Resources Agency

Tribal Benefits Administration Letter

Number: 22-701 Date: September 6, 2022

Subject: 2022 FEHB Open Season for Tribal

Employees Announcement

Welcome to the first in our series of 2022 Open Season Tribal Benefits

Administration Letters (TBALs). This TBAL provides general information 

about this year’s Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Open Season for

Tribal Employees. The annual Open Season is held every year from the

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

second full workweek in December. This year, Open Season runs from 

Monday, November 14, 2022, through Monday, December 12, 2022. 

Open Season Opportunities

During Open Season, eligible tribal employees have the opportunity to make

decisions about their FEHB benefits for the upcoming calendar year (2023).

During the annual Open Season, eligible tribal employees can:

• Enroll in the FEHB Program (employees only, retirees not eligible)

• Change their enrollment from/to Self Only, Self Plus One or Self and

Family coverage

• Change their enrollment to another FEHB plan or plan option

• Cancel an existing enrollment in a health plan under the FEHB Program

Tribal employees are entitled to make changes during Open Season even if 

they have been enrolled less than one year. If tribal employees who are 
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Tribal Benefits Administration Letter 22-701

currently enrolled in an FEHB plan do nothing during Open Season, their

FEHB enrollments will continue automatically as long as their plan continues 

to participate in the FEHB Program. Open Season enrollment changes take

effect on January 1, 2023. 

Pre-Open Season Materials (Attachment)

Attached to this Tribal Benefit Administration Letter (TBAL), you will find a

list of Helpful Resources to help tribal employees consider and assess the

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

decisions. You are responsible for providing these to your tribal employees.

Please distribute this attachment to tribal employees in mid-September.

Additional resources are available on our Open Season website. 

Upcoming Tribal Benefit Administration Letters (TBALs) 

Through the TRIBALPROGRAMS Listserv, you will receive TBALs on the

following topics and in the upcoming months:

• TBAL 22-702 - 2022 FEHB Open Season for Tribal Employees:

Ordering and Distributing Materials and Conducting the Open

Season- Provides information on how to order and distribute FEHB

Open Season materials including Program-specific materials.

Information on employee counseling, carrier contacts, Open Season

actions, effective dates, and tribal employer actions can be found on

our website.

• TBAL 22-703 - 2022 FEHB Open Season for Tribal Employees:

Significant Plan Changes - Provides information on significant

changes affecting certain FEHB plans (such as plan terminations) which

must be communicated to tribal employees. This TBAL also clarifies the

actions that the Tribal Benefits Officer must take in certain situations

such as when a tribal employee enrolled in a terminating plan or plan

option fails to change plans during Open Season. Subsequent changes

will be issued in a follow-up TBAL as appropriate.

The 700 series is dedicated to the FEHB Open Season for Tribal Employees

and the TBALs can be found on the Tribal Programs website. 
Tribal Benefits Administration Letter 22-701

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Timeline of Open Season Events

What Anticipated Issue Date 

BAL 22-702 Early – Mid September

2023 rates announced and 

posted on OPM website

Late September

BAL 22-703 Early – Mid October

Open Season information 

posted on OPM website

Early November

Where to Go for More Information

Visit our website at www.opm.gov/tribalprograms to learn more about the

FEHB Program.

If you are not already receiving the TRIBALPROGRAMS Listserv, please

subscribe by sending an email to tribalprograms@opm.gov. In the body of

the email, please indicate that you would like to be added to the listserv and

include your first and last name.

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

you are a Tribal Benefits Officer and have questions, please contact the

Tribal Desk at tribalprograms@opm.gov or 202-606-2530.

Sincerely,

Laurie E. Bodenheimer

Associate Director 

Healthcare and Insurance