United States 

Office of 

Personnel Management 

The Federal Government’s Human Resources Agency

Benefits Administration Letter

Number: 15-210 Date: October 22, 2015

Subject: Self Plus One in the 2015 Open Season

PURPOSE 

The purpose of this Benefits Administration Letter (BAL) is to provide you with information 

and materials to distribute to your employees during the 2015 Federal Benefits Open Season 

(Open Season) regarding the new Self Plus One enrollment type. 

BACKGROUND 

As a result of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, the Self Plus One enrollment type will be 

available beginning in January 2016. The first opportunity to enroll in Self Plus One will be 

during the annual Open Season, which runs from Monday, November 9, 2015 through Monday, 

December 14, 2015. 

COMMUNICATION 

In advance of and during the 2015 Open Season, agencies are encouraged to create a 

comprehensive communications strategy for educating employees about the new Self Plus One 

enrollment type. This communications strategy should employ the following methods. 

Send all agency emails to your employees 

Agencies are encouraged to send all agency emails in late October, mid-November, and early 

December. Sample language is provided in Attachment 4. 

Advertise on your intranet and/or agency newsletter 

We urge you to incorporate the following messages, which emphasize the importance of 

reviewing FEHB enrollment choices available for plan year 2016, into your intranet, newsletter, 

or employee blog messaging before and during the upcoming Open Season: 

 Shop around for the Right FEHB Plan in 2016 

 Use the Plan Comparison Tools: Is Self Plus One the Right Choice for you in 2016? 

 Just you and your child? Or Just you and your spouse? – consider Self Plus One. 
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 Self Plus One is new this year—you will not be automatically enrolled: Take Action! 

 Currently enrolled in two Self Only plans? — consider Self Plus One. 

 Enrollment in Self Plus One is voluntary—review your options for 2016. 

Consider using the flyer, logo, or table tent insert files provided in Attachments 2, 6, and 1. 

Consider posting the FAQs and FastFacts for employees to reference. You should also link to 

OPM’s website www.opm.gov/selfplusone as a resource for more information. 

Post flyers throughout your work locations 

A flyer is provided in Attachment 2. Please display this flyer throughout your physical 

workspace. Suggested locations include on community bulletin boards, in your HR office, in 

break rooms and/or shared kitchen spaces, in the cafeteria, and in elevators and stairways. You 

may also want to distribute this flyer to managers and supervisors throughout your building and 

ask them to display them prominently. The flyer includes a fillable section where you can provide 

contact info for your agency’s HR office. 

Utilize table tents in your cafeteria or other shared workspaces 

A table tent insert is provided in Attachment 1. If you have table tents in your cafeteria, please 

display these inserts throughout Open Season. 

Distribute FAQs and FastFacts to HR personnel and call center staff

Ensure that your HR and/or call center staff are educated about the new Self Plus One enrollment 

type by distributing the attached FAQs (Attachment 5), FastFacts (Attachment 3) and be sure to 

include a link to www.opm.gov/selfplusone. Make sure they have are familiar with the following 

Benefits Administration Letters related to the Self Plus One enrollment type: 

- BAL 14-203: Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: Self Plus One 

Enrollment 

- BAL 14-213: Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: Self Plus One 

Enrollment 

- BAL 15-208: Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: Self Plus One 

Operational Issues 

- BAL 15-209: Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: Self Plus One and 

Survivor Annuitants 

ATTACHMENTS 

Attached are Open Season materials specific to Self Plus One that will help you in developing 

your communications strategy. You are responsible for providing these educational materials to 

your employees. These materials are: 

 Attachment 1: Table tent insert—use this in table tents on cafeteria tables. 

 Attachment 2: Flyer – use this throughout your physical work locations and on your 

agency’s intranet.

 Attachment 3: FastFacts – use this to educate your HR personnel and distribute to 
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employees. You can also link to this on your agency’s intranet. 

 Attachment 4: Sample language for all agency emails. Please send these emails in late 

October, mid-November, and early December. 

 Attachment 5: FAQs—use this to educate your HR personnel and link to this information 

on your agency’s intranet. 

 Attachment 6: Self Plus One logo—use this on your agency’s intranet. 

MORE INFORMATION 

Please visit our website at www.opm.gov/selfplusone to learn more about the Self Plus One 

enrollment type. 

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 to find a list of agencies and their 

headquarters benefits officers. 

 

Sincerely, 

 John O’Brien

Director 

 Healthcare and Insurance