Open Season Coming Up

Starting next Monday (November 10) and running through December 8 the government is conducting its annual benefits open season enrollment period, affecting the FEHB, FEDVIP and flexible spending account programs. The open season is when eligible persons can enroll, change plans or change levels of coverage. For most employees and retirees, most of the focus is on FEHB, where the enrollee share of premium rates is increasing by about 8 percent on average for the 2008 plan year. However, there is substantial variation within that average and several popular plans are increasing their premiums at a higher rate.