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Alabama Bulletin No. AL360-7-4


Date:  November 20, 2006

Subject:  PER -  Federal Employees Health Benefits Open Season

Purpose:  To provide information concerning the Health Benefits Open Season.

Expiration Date:  December 11, 2006

Health Benefits Open Season material is now available at http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/ for the “Open Season” which ends December 11, 2006. Any employee enrolled in a plan offered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program has the opportunity to change his/her enrollment during this open season. Any eligible employee (permanent full-time or permanent part-time) who is not enrolled can enroll at this time. Changes enrolled employees may make are:

a. From one plan to another. 
b. From one option to another in the same or a different plan 
c. From self only to self and family

We want to caution you against dual enrollments under the Health Benefits Program. This occurs when a Federal Employee is covered under his/her own enrollment and the enrollment of a member of his/her family who also is a Federal employee. Normally, this is not permitted unless a need exists to protect the interest of the children who otherwise would lose coverage as family members. No person (employee or family member) is entitled to receive benefits under more than one enrollment in the program.

Each employee should have received or will be receiving a copy of his/her plan’s brochure directly from the carrier (unless the plan is terminating). Anyone enrolled in a plan that is terminating should select a new plan during the open season.

Anyone who decides to change enrollment must do so no later than December 11, 2006, by entering his/her changes in My EPP (Employee Personal Page) at www.nfc.usda.gov. 

In addition, this year the Office of Personnel Management has announced the addition of a new benefits program called FEDVIP-the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program. FEDVIP is an employee pay-all program (you pay 100% of the premium). Under this new program, employees can choose to enroll in dental insurance and/or vision insurance to help pay for their dental and/or vision expenses. FEDVIP is separate from the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. Read more about FEDVIP at http://www.opm.gov/insure/DentalVision/index.asp. 
 

/s/

RAY E. DONALDSON
Assistant State Conservationist

Dist: E
 

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