Open season for federal employee health insurance is set to start in November, but some feds will have to make decisions on at least two other insurance plans by Sept. 30.
For beneficiaries in the Federal Long Term Care Insurance and the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance programs, changes will be coming this fall, in addition to expanded feedback options and health service in the Federal Employee Health Benefits plan. Here's a look at what's on deck.
FLTCIP's premiums rise, but not without critique
The seven-year contract for the long-term care plan was completed this past spring, with insurance provider John Hancock raising premiums an average of 83 percent, in some cases as high as 126 percent. Federal employees enrolled in the plan have until Sept. 30 to decide whether they will reduce their coverage for lower costs.
The Office of Personnel Management said in a statement that the rate spikes were caused by more updated information related to projected policy costs.
"The data indicating a potential long-term funding shortfall for FLTCIP enrollees was first identified in the June 2014 status report after which time John Hancock undertook to further refine the pricing assumptions. It is new experience from data that we are now seeing that is driving the change in future claims projections and the subsequent need to increase premiums."
Virginia Democratic Reps. Gerry Connolly and Don Beyer have requested more information about how the rates are determined and what OPM is doing to help beneficiaries to mitigate the costs.
OPM opens life insurance enrollment for first time since 2004
The FEGLI plan has been around since 1954, but hasn't had an open season in 12 years. OPM said it would open up coverage for federal employees wanting to enroll, starting Sept. 1.
The plan includes an option for eligible family members and coverage will go into effect for new enrollees on Oct. 1, 2017.
Federal employees looking to retire and maintain FEGLI benefits must have five years of coverage in the insurance plan.
The enrollment period for the FEGLI plan will run from Sept. 1-30.
Feds will get to rate more of FEHB in 2016
OPM is giving federal employees a broader voice in how their insurance plan is being run this year.
As part of its Performance Plan Assessment, is expanding employee feedback in the FEHB with 19 performance measures for satisfaction with their coverage.
OPM opened FEHB feedback in its assessment plan in 2015 with three performance measures, but acting Director Beth Cobert said in March that the goal was to increase employee engagement by figuring out what works for feds when it comes to health insurance.
"Sixty-seven percent of [2015 Federal Benefit Survey] respondents to the survey said that the availability of health insurance through FEHB influenced their decision to take a federal job. And 78 percent said that the availability of FEHB influences their decision to stay with their job," she said. "Very simply, if don't have the highest quality and inclusive FEHB benefits then we risk our ability to attract and retain a high-quality federal workforce."
The move came alongside an announcement that OPM would be adding Applied Behavior Analysis benefits for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder as part of its FEHB coverage in 2017.
FEHB open season will run from Nov. 14 to Dec. 12.
