FEDERAL BENEFITS OPEN SEASON

INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYEES

OPEN SEASON

RUNS FROM

MONDAY, 

NOVEMBER

13, 2023

Through 

MONDAY

DECEMBER

11, 2023

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

2 

3 

4 

7 

8 

WHAT’S NEW IN 

2024? 

FEHB 

MAKE 

ELECTIONS 

FEDVIP 

FSAFEDS 

RESOURCES 9 

OPEN SEASON AND YOU 

If you are eligible for benefits, open season is your annual opportunity to 

assess your health care needs and to make any necessary changes to 

your health, dental, and vision insurance for 2024. It is also the 

time to establish your 2024 flexible spending accounts for health 

care and dependent care. 

HEALTH, DENTAL AND VISION 

As a Federal employee, you have two excellent features to your health 

benefits: (1) choice of employer-sponsored insurance plan; and, (2) no 

restriction on pre-existing conditions. With these two incentives, you 

have enormous control over the cost and coverage of your benefits. Take 

advantage of them! If you will be facing known health care costs next 

year, pick a plan that provides great coverage for it. Maybe you need 

dental work next year; consider getting the supplemental dental 

coverage. If your family needs glasses, maybe the vision insurance will 

end up saving you money. There are tools available to help you choose a 

health plan. (See page 3 for links to them.) 

If you make no changes, your current enrollment in the Federal 

Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Federal Employees Dental and 

Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) will continue; be sure that you 

check the 2024 plan brochure for any changes in coverage or premiums. 

Once open season closes on 12/11/2023, you will no longer be able to 

make changes or to enroll in these three programs until the next open 

season (unless you have a qualifying life event). Don’t miss this chance! 

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT 

Take the time to review your last year’s medical expenses. Did you 

underestimate your out-of-pocket health and dependent care costs and 

put aside too little in your flexible spending account? Did you 

overestimate your health care costs? If so, you may need to adjust the 

amount of your flexible spending account next year. There is a calculator 

available to help you determine how much money to set aside. (See page 

8 for a link to it.) 

TO PARTICIPATE IN 2024 YOU MUST REENROLL ANNUALLY. 

If you choose not to participate, you are missing out on potential tax 

savings. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEDERAL BENEFITS OPEN SEASON 

WHAT’S NEW IN 2024? 

PLAN CHANGES 

HEALTH BENEFITS: Some health plans have dropped out of the FEHB program 

for 2024. If the plan you are currently enrolled in will not be participating 

next year, you must enroll in a different plan or you will be enrolled 

automatically in the GEHA Indemnity Benefit Plan – Elevate Option (the 

lowest-cost nationwide plan option for 2024 as determined by OPM). 

If you are notified that your plan is dropping out of the FEHB program, be 

sure to review the 2024 premiums at https://www.opm.gov/healthcareinsurance/healthcare/plan-information/premiums before you make your 

election in order to fully understand the cost and coverage of your plan. 

VISION AND DENTAL BENEFITS: There are no new plan options in FEDVIP. Be 

sure to review the 2024 premiums at https://www.opm.gov/healthcareinsurance/dental-vision/plan-information/plan-premiums/ before you 

make your election in order to fully understand the cost and coverage of 

your plan.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT: For 2024, Flexible Spending Account enrollments 

can carry over excess funds up to a specified dollar amount from one plan

year to the next when you re-enroll in a Heath Care FSA.

EMPLOYEE TOOLS 

VIRTUAL BENEFITS FAIR: If you cannot make it to a Benefits Fair in person, you 

may use the online marketplace for OPM-sanctioned Federal employee 

benefit programs and carriers. The Virtual Benefits Fair is available 24/7 

during the entire Open Season. You can access this fair by registering here

(https://www.benefeds.com/learn/fedvip/webinars) and confirming your 

email address, and setting a secure password. All benefit programs will 

be represented with at least some carriers. 

Live chats with carrier will be available to answer questions and obtain 

specific information on:

• Tuesday, November 14, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST

• Tuesday, November 21, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST

• Thursday, November 30,2023, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST

• Thursday, December 07, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST

HUMAN RESOURCES OPEN SEASON HELP: The Human Resources Office has

designated point of contacts(POC) to assist employees from each 

District and Program Area. To locate your POCs, please access the OHR

Portal (https://ohrportal.fsis.usda.gov/portal/find-contacts), go to 

"Who to Contact", select your District or Program, and then select

Benefits services. You may also email FSISHR1@usda.gov or call the 

Employee Services Section Helpdesk at 1-877-374-7471, Monday -

Friday, 7:00AM to 3:30PM.

OPEN SEASON

PLAN CHANGES

DEADLINE FOR

CHANGES IS

MIDNIGHT

EASTERN TIME

ON 

12/11/2023

OPEN SEASON

FEHB ELECTIONS

ARE EFFECTIVE

ON SUNDAY

1/14/2024

(PAY PERIOD 1/2024) 

2 
 

 

FEDERAL BENEFITS OPEN SEASON 

FEDERAL EMPLOYEE’S HEALTH BENEFITS 

CHOOSING A HEALTH PLAN 

When there are so many choices available to you, selecting a health plan can seem daunting, but 

there are several tools available that can help make this important decision easier. Some of these 

sites may not be updated by OPM until Open Season begins on 11/13/2023. 

OPM’s Plan Search Tool (https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/

compare-plans/) is used to find and compare all the plans that are available to you. This tool 

provides side-by-side comparisons of the plans, including benefits, premiums, and quality indicators. 

The tool can help you narrow down your choices. 

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to two or three plans, read the brochures. All the carriers 

are required to format their brochures identically, which makes it easier for you to compare their plan 

details. Don’t skip this step because the brochure is where you find out exactly what is and is not 

covered by the plan as well as specifics about deductibles, geographic coverage, and any required 

membership fees. 

Before making your final decision, be sure to check the provider directories on the health carrier’s 

website for the doctors and clinics covered by the plan. Click here for links to the FEHB Plan 

brochures and websites (https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/

plans/). 

ELIGIBILITY 

Eligible family members for the FEHB program are: 

• Your current spouse;

• Children under age 26 (including adopted and stepchildren)*; and

• Disabled children over age 26 incapable of self-support because of a physical or mental

disability that began before age 26.

A Foster Child may be covered under your FEHB enrollment under certain conditions; see required 

statement to attach to SF-2809 under: BAL 20-203 Attachment #5, Appendix 2 (https://

www.opm.gov/retirement-services/publications-forms/benefits-administrationletters/2020/20-203a5.pdf). If you are adding a foster child to your plan, do not use myEPP to make 

your election. Submit the SF-2809 and the required supporting documentation to the HR Benefits 

Team. 

*Grandchildren are NOT considered eligible family members unless they qualify as your Foster Child.

DEADLINE 

The deadline for open season elections is Monday, December 11, 2023. Please take action early 

during the open season period. Your health benefits enrollment change must be processed 

through the NFC EPP or received by the Benefits Section by midnight Eastern Time December 11, 

2023. 

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FEDERAL BENEFITS OPEN SEASON 

MAKING AN ELECTION 

HOW TO MAKE 

AN ELECTION 

If you are retiring 

on or before 

January 13th, 2024

DO NOT use 

myEPP 

Please submit a 

hard copy 

SF-2809 

(https://www.opm.gov/

forms/pdf_fill/sf2809.pdf)

NOTE: SCAN OR

PRINT A COPY OF 

YOUR COMPLETED 

MYEPP 

ENROLLMENT FORM 

EMAIL OR FAX YOUR 

SF-2809 TO OUR 

OFFICE 

SEE NEXT PAGE 

You are permitted to make only one health insurance election during open 

season. Please make sure you have decided on a plan that is right for you 

and your family prior to completing the election process. 

There are two ways to make an election: 

1. National Finance Center’s Employee Personal Page (myEPP)

(https://www.nfc.usda.gov/epps/index.aspx)

2. Form SF-2809 (https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf2809.pdf) –

Submit form to the HR Benefits team by email OR fax

HOW TO MAKE A FEHB ELECTION 

National Finance Center's myEPP (Recommended)

We highly recommend using the National Finance Center’s myEPP to 

make your health benefits election or change. Please see Appendix A for

myEPP example.

• Go to www.nfc.usda.gov/epps and click on “I Agree.” You may use

your USDA eAuthentication to enter this system or your username

and password login.

• Once you have entered the myEPP system, click on the “Health

Insurance” link found in the light green box on the left side of the

page under "Personal Info". Your current health insurance will be

shown as well as the “Self Service” button in the upper right-hand

corner of the screen.

• Click on the “Self Service” button to make your change. You will need

the 3-digit code of the health plan you are enrolling in (found on the

front page of the plan brochure), and if you are enrolling in a self plus

one or self and family plan, you will need the name, SSN, date of

birth, address and zip code of each of your eligible family members.

• Review the information carefully before submitting it.

• VERY IMPORTANT: Print a copy of your myEPP enrollment for yourself

when you are finished. This is your proof of enrollment until you

receive ID cards from your health plan.

NOTE: If you are retiring on or before January 13, 2024, DO NOT USE myEPP

to process your open season change. Instead, complete the SF-2809 and 

write at the top: “RETIRING ON (DATE).” Submit the SF-2809 to your servicing

Benefits Specialist. Your form will be sent to the Office of Personnel 

Management to process with your retirement application (See instructions

on next page for using the SF-2809 for elections.) 

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FEDERAL BENEFITS OPEN SEASON

If you are unable to access myEPP due to not having access to a computer or due to extenuating 

circumstances, you may complete a Health Benefits Election Form SF 2809(https://www.opm.gov/

forms/pdf_fill/sf2809.pdf) and submit it to the Benefits Section for manual processing. You must use

the current version of the form (November 2019). Older versions of the form are invalid. You will 

need Acrobat Adobe Reader 8 or later to use this fillable form. Please view Appendix B on page 18 of 

this document for an example of a completed open season election prior to submitting your form and

insure that you have properly completed it. This will help avoid processing delays.

Send the last two pages of the SF-2809 to us by emailing FSISHR1@USDA.GOV OR fax it to us at (833) 

840-9217. Remember to KEEP A COPY of the sent email OR the fax confirmation as proof of your

timely submission.

Please DO NOT SUBMIT the SF 2809 by email AND fax. Sending a form by fax AND email WILL CAUSE 

UNNECESSARY DELAYS IN PROCESSING THE ELECTION OF COVERAGE.

MEMBER ID CARDS

You will receive health plan identification cards directly from your health carrier.

If you do not receive your ID card by the beginning of February, please contact 

the carrier directly.

If you have minor medical expenses, you may need to pay out-of-pocket for 

covered services and then request reimbursement from your health plan. If you

have major medical expenses, such as an emergency room visit or 

hospitalization, contact the Benefits Section.

Also, DO NOT send your SF-2809 form to any other office.

INSURANCE PREMIUMS LOWER TAXABLE INCOME

Health insurance premiums are automatically deducted on a pretax basis, thereby reducing your

taxable income.

If you have waived participation in the pretax program in the past, you may wish to change to pretax

premium deductions during open season.

For more information, see: www.opm.gov/insure/health/reference/premconversion/index.asp. 

Changing your pretax status during open season is a very clear cut process. Simply log into myEPP,

select “Health Insurance – Make changes” and switch premiums to “Pretax.”

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FEDERAL BENEFITS OPEN SEASON

Information you

provide by

enrolling in the

Federal

Employees Health

Benefits Program

may also be used

for computer

matching with 

Federal, State, or

local agencies’

files to determine

whether you

qualify for

benefits,

payments, or

eligibility in the

FEHB program,

Medicare, or 

other government

benefits

programs.

THE DOWNSIDE TO CANCELING FEHB

If you choose to cancel your enrollment, you should be aware of the

following consequences:

• You must continue to be in compliance with the individual shared

responsibility provision of the Affordable Care Act.

• Without a FEHB self plus one or self-and-family enrollment, your

survivors will not be able to continue to receive health coverage if you

should die, even if they are eligible for a survivor annuity.

If you want to continue FEHB coverage into retirement, you must be

enrolled in the program for the five years of service immediately before

retiring or, if less than five years, for all service since your first

opportunity to enroll. (TRICARE coverage counts toward this

requirement, but you must be enrolled in a FEHB plan on the date you

retire in order to continue coverage.) An annuitant who has FEHB

coverage only has to pay the employee share of the premium, so you

may be forfeiting a great benefit.

EFFECT OF NON-PAY (LEAVE WITHOUT PAY - LWOP) STATUS

If you enter a non-pay status, you are responsible for the employee

share of your health insurance premiums and you will be billed by the

National Finance Center for any pay periods of missed premiums. There

are exceptions for active military duty. Go to: Non-Pay Status/LWOP

(https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/referencematerials/reference/leave-without-pay-status-and-insufficient-pay/).

LEAVING FEDERAL SERVICE

If you leave Federal employment, you may be eligible for Temporary

Continuation of Coverage (TCC) which continues your FEHB enrollment

for up to 18 months. TCC is also available for up to 36 months for

dependents who lose their eligibility as family members under your

FEHB enrollment. This includes a spouse who loses coverage because of 

divorce and children who lose coverage because they reach age 26. TCC

enrollees must pay the total plan premium (employee and government

shares) plus a 2% administrative charge and must enroll within specific

time frames.

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FEDERAL BENEFITS OPEN SEASON

FEDVIP OPEN SEASON

DENTAL & VISION INSURANCE

The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program

(FEDVIP) offers supplemental insurance for dental and vision

expenses not covered by your FEHB or other health plan. Since

FEDVIP plans are purchased on a group basis, you receive

competitive premiums and you are not subject to limitations on

pre-existing conditions.

FEDVIP enrollments automatically continue from one year to the

next just like FEHB enrollments. Open season is the time to enroll,

cancel, or change your FEDVIP coverage. 

To find FEDVIP plan information, go to OPM’s FEDVIP webpage

(https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/dental-vision/).

FEDVIP premiums are paid through payroll deduction using 

pretax dollars. This means your taxable income will be lower. 

You are responsible for the full premium; the government does 

not pay a share of this supplemental insurance. For more 

information, navigate here for Dental and Vision Premiums

(https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/dental-vision/planinformation/plan-premiums/).

There is no 5-year enrollment requirement for FEDVIP coverage so 

when you retire, your FEDVIP enrollment will 

automatically continue into retirement. 

FEDVIP ENROLLMENT

To enroll, change, or cancel your enrollment in a FEDVIP plan, visit 

the BENEFEDS website at www.BENEFEDS.com or call

(877) 888-3337. The FEDVIP plans will send confirmation of open

season enrollments to enrollees by mid-January.

BENEFEDS representatives are available to assist you and can be

reached at (877) 888-3337 or TTY (877) 889-5680. You can also 

email them using this link (https://www.benefeds.com/contact).

7 

FEDVIP

Open season elections 

are effective 

January 1, 2024

FEDVIP

enrollments

cannot be

processed

through

myEPP or

Human 

Resources.

You must enroll 

through

BENEFEDS.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FEDERAL BENEFITS OPEN SEASON

FSAFEDS 

Enrollments Can 

Carry Over Up to 

$610 From Year to 

Year. 

BUT

IN ORDER TO USE

THOSE FUNDS, 

YOU MUST 

REENROLL.

You will have from 

1/1/2024 to 

12/31/2024 to

use that money.

FSAFEDS 

enrollments

cannot be

processed 

through NFC 

EPP or

by

Human

Resources.

You MUST

enroll through

FSAFEDS.

FSAFEDS OPEN SEASON

FEDERAL FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS

FSAFEDS can help you save money by allowing you to set aside pretax

funds to pay for eligible out-of-pocket dependent-care and health-care

expenses:

• The Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA)

reimburses non-medical expenses associated with child care or

adult day care. 

• The Health Care Flexible Spending Account (HCFSA) reimburses

eligible health care expenses.

• Employees covered by a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP)

with a Health Savings Account (HSA) may enroll in a Limited

Expense HCFSA (LEX HCFSA) for their eligible dental and vision

expenses.

• The maximum limit is subject to change and will be 

published by FSAFEDS. Carry over amounts can vary from 

year to year.

THE FSAFEDS CALCULATOR

The FSAFEDS CALCULATOR (https://www.fsafeds.com/support/

savingscalculators) can help employees determine how much money 

to set aside. The minimum election for the flexible spending 

accounts is $100. If employees enroll in FSAFEDS during open

season, they will have from January 1, 2024, through December 31,

2024, to spend their FSAFEDS account. Employees can carryover up

to $610 to the 2024 plan year, only if they enroll in FSA during Open

Season this year. Any amount over $610 not used will be forfeited. 

For a list of frequently asked questions about the program, go to the

FSAFEDS FAQs (https://www.fsafeds.com/support/

savingscalculators).

FSAFEDS ENROLLMENT 

Enroll in FSAFEDS (https://www.fsafeds.com/enroll/open-season) 

online or by phone at (877 372-3337. 

FSAFEDS representatives are available Monday through Friday,

9:00am to 9:00pm EST. Call (877 372-3337 or (866)-353-8058 (TTY) 

for assistance. 

FSAFEDS OPEN SEASON ELECTIONS ARE EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2024. 8 
 

 

 

 

FEDERAL BENEFITS OPEN SEASON

CONTACT INFORMATION

FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT:

Federal Employee Group Health Benefits (FEHB) at www.opm.gov/insure

FEDVIP (Dental & Vision) at www.benefeds.com or (877) 888-3337

Flexible Spending Accounts at www.fsafeds.com or (877) 372-3337

FINAL REMINDERS

Open Season runs from 

Monday, November 13, 2023 through 

Monday, December 11, 2023. 

You are permitted to make only one election for FEHB during the 

open season. Please make sure your decisions are right for you 

and your family prior to completing the election process.
APPENDIX A

APPENDIX A
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX B

APPENDIX B
11/13/2023-12/11/2023.

833-840-9217

11/13/2023

APPENDIX B