Possibility of Belated Enrollments

Although the open season for enrolling in the FSA program has ended, the Office of Personnel Management has said that those who did not enroll for “legitimate reasons” and who still would like to do so should call the carrier, SHPS, Inc. at (877) 372-3337 to speak with a benefits counselor about their chances of enrolling. While the plan year already has started at most agencies, it is due to begin September 1 at agencies including Defense, Energy, NASA, National Security Agency, National Science Foundation, Office of Management and Budget and the Executive Office of the President. Meanwhile, NSA has said it will pay the participation fees on behalf of its employees. That leaves the Social Security Administration as the only large agency not paying those costs currently; SSA has said it will pay them starting in January. Veterans Affairs, which will not begin its program until January, has not announced whether it will pay the fees.