The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced the dates and options for the 2025 federal benefits open season.
The Federal Benefits Open Season for the 2026 plan year runs from November 10 through December 8, 2025.
NEW: 2026 FEHB Premium Rate Charts Now Available
During the federal benefits open season, eligible federal employees and retirees can enroll in, change, or cancel coverage for the:
• Federal Employees Health Benefits Program;
• Postal Service Health Benefits Program;
• Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP); and
• Federal Flexible Spending Account Program, or FSAFEDS (active employees only).
Health, dental, and vision enrollment will automatically continue from year to year unless a participant chooses to make a change during Open Season. However, FSAFEDS requires re-enrollment each year for eligible employees who wish to continue participation in the next plan year.
The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, which includes the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program, provides health insurance benefits to approximately 8.2 million federal employees, U.S. Postal Service employees and their eligible family members, as well as certain Tribal employees and their eligible family members.
Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program
Most FEHB health plans will see benefits and premium changes for the year 2026. OPM announced that the 2026 FEHB premiums will increase on average 12.3 percent during 2026 over what they were during 2025. Some plans are dropping out of the program and others are changing their service areas or coverage options. Employees and retirees are advised to check OPM’s Benefits Administration Letters for significant plan changes.
Federal employees and retirees are also advised to review their health insurance coverage for themselves and their families for this year in order to decide which health insurance plan best meets their medical needs for 2026. The 2026 FEHB premiums may be viewed here.
During the annual FEHB open season, any employee or retiree eligible to participate in the FEHB may enroll, change health plans or options, cancel their FEHB enrollment, and change participation in premium conversion (waive or begin participation in premium conversion is for employees only). Note that if an employee or a retiree does not change his or her 2025 FEHB plan, then enrollment in that plan continues automatically into 2026.
Key 2026 Federal Benefit Changes
OPM announced several changes in the federal benefits for employees and retirees. A summary of them is below.
2026 Changes to FEHB and PSHB
• Removed coverage for medical or surgical modification of sex traits, including gender transition procedures, for all ages.
• Required coverage for FDA-approved HIV PrEP drugs and related monitoring, with no cost sharing.
• HMO plans in states with IVF mandates were required to propose benefits that met those mandates, resulting in an expansion of coverage for the Federal family. OPM also requires, at a minimum, retrieval and cryopreservation of sperm and eggs, along with storage costs for at least one year, for individuals with iatrogenic infertility from non-elective procedures.
• Behavioral health access continues to expand. Carriers must broaden networks and allow out-of-network care when wait times are excessive.
• Opioid safety: Carriers must continue to provide at least one opioid rescue agent at no cost, with expanded education on safe usage.
• Anti-obesity care: Carriers must continue to cover FDA-approved medications, including at least one GLP-1 and two oral options, plus behavioral and nutritional programs.
2026 Changes to FEDVIP (Dental and Vision)
• Dental carriers must now offer two routine exams and one emergency exam per year.
• Several carriers have added preventive benefits for children under three and pregnancy wellness coverage.
• One vision carrier expanded to 100% diabetic coverage in-network, while another added coverage for orthoptic training for eye-movement disorders.
2026 Changes to FSAFEDS
• Allows eligible federal employees and eligible uniformed service members to save pre-tax funds for qualified health and dependent care expenses.
• The program is sponsored by OPM and governed by IRS rules.
FEHB Plan Offerings for 2026
According to OPM, under both the FEHB and PSHB Programs, participants can choose from a broad variety of plan types including Fee-for-Service plans, Health Maintenance Organizations, Consumer-Driven Health Plans, and High-Deductible Health Plans.
In 2026, OPM will offer:
• 47 carriers and 132 plan options in FEHB;
• 17 carriers and 75 plan options in PSHB; and
• Fewer than a dozen dental and vision carriers through FEDVIP.
There are six FEHB plans (8 options) that will not be available in 2026:
• NALC Health Benefit Plan CDHP
• NALC Health Benefit Plan Standard
• Health Alliance HMO Standard
• AvMed Health Plan HDHP
• AvMed Health Plan Standard
• Independent Health High
• Blue Care Network of Michigan High
• Priority Health High
There is one PSHB plan (two options) that will not be available in 2026:
• GEHA Indemnity Benefit Plan Elevate Plus
• GEHA Indemnity Benefit Plan Elevate
According to OPM, participants in those plans must select a new plan during Open Season, or they’ll be automatically transitioned into a designated default plan:
• For FEHB, the default plan is GEHA Benefit Plan-High Option.
• For PSHB, the default plan is Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan – FEP Blue Focus.
• In FEDVIP, the Health Partners Dental Plan will no longer be offered. Enrollees must select a new dental plan to maintain coverage in the 2026 Plan year.
Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program
Federal employees and retirees can supplement their health insurance coverage by choosing separate dental and/or vision insurance coverage that will hopefully reduce their out-of-pocket costs for dental and vision care. The program is called the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).Employees and retirees can include family members (spouses and children under the age of 22) on their FEDVIP insurance.
There is no requirement that an employee or a retiree be enrolled in an FEHB program health plan in order to enroll in the FEDVIP. Participating dental and vision providers may be different from FEHB program health care providers. Coverage in FEDVIP will continue into retirement automatically unless an employee disenrolls from the FEDVIP during the annual FEDVIP open season.
Those employees and retirees who are enrolled in a FEHB program health plan which offers some dental and vision benefits will have primary coverage for dental and vision expenses through their FEHB plan and have secondary coverage for their dental and vision benefits if they are enrolled in a FEDVIP dental and/or vision insurance plan.
Unlike the FEHB program in which the federal government pays on average 72 to 75 percent of an employee’s or retiree’s FEHB program premiums, employees and retirees pay the full cost of the FEDVIP premiums.
Those employees and retirees who are enrolled in a FEDVIP plan for 2025 will automatically have those enrollments continue into 2026, although benefits and premiums may change. Employees and retirees should make sure that their plan is still participating during 2026. FEDVIP plan information for 2026 should be available at www.benefeds.gov in early November.
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Employees can save money through lower tax withholdings. An employee can fund his or her FSA through pre-tax contributions from gross salary. The FSA can be used to pay health care out-of-pocket or dependent care expenses.
There are three accounts which to choose: (1) A dependent care account; (2) a health care account; and (3) a limited expense health care account. Employees can be reimbursed for the employee’s out-of-pocket FEHB program health plan expenses or non-FEHB program health care expenses. This includes deductibles. copayments and coinsurance. Employees who are enrolled in a health care account or a limited expense health care account can also be reimbursed for out-of-pocket FEDVIP expenses, or other dental and vision insurance expenses.
Information about the FSAFEDs program may be obtained at www.fsafeds.com. Enrollment is done on www.fsafeds.com.
OTHER INFORMATION FROM OPM
Which federal benefits programs participate in the open season?
During the annual open season, federal employees can enroll, change plans or plan options, change enrollment type, or cancel their enrollment for the:
- Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program
- Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
Employees can also re-enroll or newly enroll in the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS).
The Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program and the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) do not participate in the annual open season.
Options During 2025 Federal Benefits Open Season
FEHB – Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
What are my options during the 2025 FEHB open season?
- Enroll
- Change plans
- Change plan options
- Change enrollment type (to Self, Self Plus One, or Self and Family)
- Cancel coverage
What if I do nothing?
Your current coverage will automatically continue. You do not need to take any action if you are satisfied with your current FEHB plan. However, you must change plans if your plan has ended coverage in your area or your plan is terminating participation in the FEHB Program.
What is the effective date of enrollment or change?
The first day of the first pay period that begins on or after January 1, 2025 and which follows a pay period during any part of which you (if an employee) are in pay status.
FEDVIP – Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program
What are my options during open season?
- Enroll
- Change plans
- Change plan options
- Change enrollment type (to Self, Self Plus One, or Self and Family)
- Cancel coverage
What if I do nothing?
Your current coverage will automatically continue. You do not need to take any action if you are satisfied with your current FEDVIP plan.
What is the effective date of enrollment or change?
January 1, 2026
FSAFEDS – Federal Flexible Spending Account Program
What are my options during open season?
- Enroll/Reenroll in Health Care FSA (HCFSA), Limited Expense Health Care FSA (LEX HCFSA), and Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA)
What if I do nothing?
Your election will not automatically continue. You must reenroll to continue your account(s) for the next benefit year.
NOTE: A condition of being eligible to carry over unused funds from this plan year’s HCFSA or LEX HCFSA is re-enrolling in either of these two plans in the subsequent year. DCFSAs are ineligible for carryover.
What is the effective date of enrollment or change?
January 1, 2026
Preparing for 2026 Federal Benefits Open Season
OPM provided some sample questions to help enrollees review their benefits and needs for health care coverage:
What are my and/or my family’s expected health care needs for 2026?
Questions while reviewing your FEHB plan: Am I expecting a new baby? Do I need surgery? Will my medication needs change? Does my plan provide a pharmacy mail order option for prescriptions?
Questions while reviewing FEDVIP: Do I need routine dental care? Will I need a crown or root canal? Does my child need braces? Do I need glasses and/or contact lens? Am I considering laser vision correction surgery?
Questions while reviewing FSAFEDS: Do I have out-of-pocket expenses I need to consider, such as deductibles, copays, day care, elder care, or over-the-counter drugs and medicines? Does my child need braces or use acne treatment? Do I plan to send my children (under 13) to in-home care or summer camp?
