What to do When Your Health Plan is Terminating Coverage in 

Your Area or Leaving the Federal Employees Health Benefits 

(FEHB) Program 

The following are four ways your FEHB plan may change. You may need to take an enrollment 

action depending on the type of change. 

1. Plan leaves FEHB Program entirely. 

2. Plan reduces its service area and eliminates its enrollment code. 

3. Plan reduces its service area and keeps its enrollment code. 

4. Plan eliminates an option (such as Standard or High). 

Questions to Consider: 

How will I know if my enrollment is affected? 

You should have received a letter from your plan stating that it is either no longer participating in 

the FEHB Program, that it is no longer providing coverage in your area (and is eliminating or 

keeping the enrollment code), or that it is eliminating an option. See our Open Season website for 

additional information. You can contact your Human Resources (HR) office with additional 

questions. 

What should I do if my enrollment is affected? 

You may need to change your enrollment to another plan during Open Season, or during a time 

period set by OPM. 

My plan is leaving the FEHB Program entirely. What happens if I don’t 

change to another plan? 

As a Federal employee, annuitant, or Tribal employee, if your plan is leaving the FEHB Program

and you do not change your enrollment, your employing agency will enroll you in the lowest-cost 

nationwide plan option as determined by OPM. Follow the instructions in the letter you receive 

from your plan or contact your HR office. See ourOpen Season website for additional information. 

My plan is reducing its service area and eliminating my enrollment code. 

What happens if I don’t change to another plan? 

If you are a Federal employee, annuitant, or Tribal employee and you do not change plans, you 

will be automatically enrolled into the lowest-cost nationwide plan option available as 

determined by OPM. See our Open Season website for additional information. 
My plan is reducing its service area where I live or work but not eliminating 

my enrollment code. What happens if I don’t change to another plan? 

You will only be covered in your area for emergency care services in the new plan year. You must 

travel to the plan’s remaining service area to receive full coverage for your care. 

My plan is eliminating my option. What happens if I don’t change to a 

remaining option or to another plan? 

You will be automatically enrolled into one of the plan’s options that remain. If only a High 

Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) remains, you will be automatically enrolled into the lowest-cost 

nationwide plan option as determined by OPM. Please refer to the letter you receive from your 

plan for more information or contact your HR office. 

If my High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) is terminating coverage in my 

service area or is leaving the FEHB Program, what happens to my Health 

Savings Account (HSA) or my Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)? 

If you wish to continue contributing to your HSA, you must enroll in another HDHP. If you do not 

enroll in another HDHP, you are not eligible to make contributions to your HSA, but you may 

request withdrawals for qualified medical expenses. You should check Internal Revenue Service

(IRS) guidance on use of HSA dollars for non-qualified medical expenses. You should contact your 

plan’s HSA fiduciary before making decisions regarding your HSA. 

Any unused HRA credits will be forfeited once the new plan you’ve elected becomes effective. 

How do I change my enrollment to another plan? 

If you are a Federal employee, use your agency’s online self-service system such as Employee 

Express, PostalEASE, MyPay, Employee Personal Page, EBIS, etc. If you need additional help, 

contact your HR office. 

If you are a Tribal employee, contact your Tribal Employer. 

If you are a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employees Retirement System 

(FERS) retiree, call Open Season Express at 1.800.332.9798 or access Open Season Online. 

If you receive an annuity from another retirement system, please read more about health benefits 

after retirement. 

When does coverage under my current plan or option end and coverage 

under my new plan or option begin? 

Your current plan or option will continue to provide benefits until the effective date of the new 

plan or option you’ve elected during Open Season or during the time period provided by OPM. 

There will be no gap in coverage. Open Season enrollment changes take effectthe first day of your 

first full pay period in January of the following year. 
What are my rights if I’m pregnant or I have a chronic or disabling 

condition? 

Under the Patients’ Bill of Rights, enrollees who are in any trimester of a pregnancy or who are 

seeing a specialist for a chronic or disabling condition have a right to continued treatment 

through the end of post-partum care or treatment for up to 90 days of care, as applicable,

following notice that a health plan is leaving the FEHB Program. 

How can I compare the different health plans available to me? There are 

several resources available to help you compare plans: 

Use the Plan Comparison Tool 

Consult Consumers’ Checkbook 

Review and compare available health plan Brochures 

Where can I find Health Plan Brochures and Information? 

Federal employees and annuitants 

Tribal employees 

How do I find out if my doctor participates with the health plan? 

Access to provider directories are available on our plan information webpage . 

Alternatively, you can call the plan directly. 

I have supplemental coverage (i.e. dental) offered through my current FEHB 

plan. What happens to that coverage?

If your plan is terminating coverage in the service area or leaving the FEHB Program, any 

supplemental dental and/or vision coverage that you have through your FEHB plan will also 

terminate. The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) offers dental 

and vision insurance for eligible Federal employees and retirees. Tribal employees are not eligible 

for FEDVIP. For more information, please read more about dental and vision insurances. 

Where can I go for more information on Open Season? 

Federal employees can visit the Open Season page

Tribal employees can visit the OPM Tribal Employees Open Season page

The Open Season website will provide updated information by early November. 

Who can I contact with additional questions? 

If you have additional questions, you can contact your health plan directly or your local HR office 

or Tribal employer.