Federal Employee Health Insurance Benefits
The federal government offers several types of health-care coverage to eligible employees and their dependents. Each program offers a wide variety of coverage options. The Office of Personnel Management provides several brochures explaining the different coverage options and the costs.
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Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB)
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The FEHB Program provides several coverage options, and if you participate in the plan for at least five years before retiring, you can receive similar benefits under the program after retirement.
Most new federal employees can receive coverage by enrolling in FEHB, and coverage is effective on the first pay date after enrollment. Premiums are automatically deducted from pre-tax dollars through payroll deduction.
The FEHB program uses an "open-season" enrollment plan. Employees choose the specific types of coverage, such as lower deductibles with higher premium amounts, HMOs, or fee-for-service plans. There is no pre-existing health condition exception and no waiting period. Every plan within the FEBH program offers coverage internationally.
The FEHB program may be combined with other health-care options described below.
Federal Employees Dental and Vision Program (FEDVIP)
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The FEDVIP program administers dental and vision coverage for all federal employees eligible for FEHB program coverage.
Employees pay the premium, but unlike the FEHB program, there is no federal agency contribution. Similar to the FEHB program, however, contributions to the dental/vision program are automatically deducted through payroll on a pre-tax basis.
The FEDVIP program is separate from the FEHB pllan but is part of the "open-season" enrollment period. New employees who may be eligible for coverage have 60 days to enroll beyond open-season.
Several health-care plans are available under FEDVIP, with different coverage options. FEDVIP also doesn't exclude pre-existing medical conditions. Several family coverage options are available.
There is no five-year requirement for continuing FEDVIP coverage into retirement.
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Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS)
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The FSAFEDS program is a savings plan that allows federal employees to pay for health-care expenses with pre-tax dollars, such as amounts paid to cover the deductibles and premiums required for participation in the FEHB and FEDVIP programs. The program allows contributions for eligible dependent medical expenses.
This program is also available during "open-season." However, unlike the FEHB and FEDVIP programs, it is not available to retired federal employees, but retirees can submit reimbursement claims for expenses accrued before retiring.
Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP)
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The FLTCIP program provides health-care coverage for some long-term health-care services, such as nursing home care, hospice facilities, or in-home care. It also covers long-term-care nurses. that. Unlike the other government benefits, there is a rolling enrollment period, and eligible employees may apply at any time. Premium amounts are based upon the type of benefits chosen and may be paid by automatic payroll deduction or through direct invoicing. However, some people with pre-existing conditions may not be covered, and all eligibility coverage questions should be directed to the Office of Personnel Management.
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