We’re coming on the start of a new year, a year in which some of you switched from one health benefits plan or option to another. So you may be wondering when that change actually takes place. I’m here to tell you.
If you are an employee, that change in coverage occurs at the beginning of the first pay period in 2007. For nearly all of you that’s January 7. From that point forward, you will be under your new plan or option, and premium deductions will be taken out of your pay check accordingly. If you are a retiree, your new coverage and premium deductions will begin on January 1.
Employees and retirees sometimes wonder what happens if they are in the middle of being treated for a health problem when the change to another plan or option occurs. The answer is simple. All services or benefits you receive up to midnight before the change occurs are paid by your former plan or option; all those occurring after midnight will be handled by your new plan or option. While the billing and payment of those bills can be relatively seamless, that will only happen if you let your providers know of the change.
If you have switched to a new health insurance plan, that plan will provide you with an ID card, usually within 30 days from the date they receive notice of your enrollment change. If you need services before you receive your new card, you will have to contact your plan. If you don’t have a phone number handy, go to www.opm.gov/insure/07/planinfo.asp. Select Open to All (if you’re in a national plan that is open to all) or click on a specific state then click on the plan’s website to learn how to contact them.
If you have just retired, there are a few things to keep in mind. For one, your premiums will be deducted from your annuity in 12 equal payments, instead of from your salary in 26 biweekly ones. For another, you will no longer be able to pay your FEHB premiums with pretax money, so even if those premiums were the same, your health benefits coverage will cost you more.
