Open Season Coming Up

Starting on Monday (November 13) and running through December 11 is the annual open season for enrolling in the FEHB or changing levels of coverage or for changing plans or switching among plan options. On average, premiums will go up 1.8 percent for 2007 over 2006, a moderation in price that reflects several administrative changes—including reducing the plan’s monetary reserves in response to lower than expected claims rates in recent years—as well as the effects of enrollee movement among plans, and other factors. Underlying inflation in the health care sector also has moderated, officials say.