OPM Promises to Monitor Program

In its comments on the GAO report, the Office of Personnel Management said it recognizes that “some are concerned that this kind of health plan may attract only the healthiest enrollees, thus leading to increased premiums for enrollees who remain in traditional health plans.” It noted, though, that the concept is still relatively new in the FEHB and that such plans cover less than half of one percent of the program enrollment population. FEHB enrollees “have many different kinds of health plans to choose from, and we do not anticipate any enrollee harm accruing to individual enrollees as a result. Nonetheless, OPM will continue, as always, to monitor enrollment shift and take appropriate action to eliminate or minimize any adverse effects.”