Open Season Starts Today: What to Do Before December 14

Open Season runs November 9 through December 14. Here is your to-do list, and what happens if you do nothing.

Source: OPM, Federal Benefits Open Season Highlights, 2027 Plan Year.

Your to-do list

• 1

  Check your plan's status and its 2027 rate

  Look up your plan in OPM's FEHB Plan Comparison Tool and check the 2027 premium rates. Compare both the Self Plus One and Self and Family lines. OPM says enrollees who want to cover one eligible family member may choose either, and in some plans Self and Family costs less.

• 2

  Check your doctors and prescriptions

  Use each plan's provider directory and drug list. For 2027, OPM says all FEHB and PSHB carriers will require documented participation in an evidence-based intensive behavioral therapy program before and during treatment with anti-obesity medications.

• 3

  Retirees on Medicare

  See how each plan you are considering works with Part B. FFEBA's FEHB vs. Medicare tool can help.

• 4

  Adding a family member?

  Ask your agency benefits office which documents it needs.

• 5

  Re-enroll in FSAFEDS

  Sign up at FSAFEDS.gov if you want a flexible spending account in 2027. It does not carry over.

• 6

  Make your changes by December 14

  Employees make health changes through their agency's enrollment system or HR office, and dental and vision changes through BENEFEDS. Annuitants can find instructions on OPM's Open Season page.

If you do nothing

Program	What happens	Takes effect
FEHB	Coverage continues at 2027 rates. If your plan is leaving, OPM moves you to a default plan.	Jan 10, 2027 for non-postal employees; Jan 1 for annuitants
PSHB	Coverage continues at 2027 rates. If your plan is leaving, OPM moves you to a default plan.	Jan 1, 2027
FEDVIP (dental and vision)	Enrollment continues automatically.	Jan 1, 2027
FSAFEDS (flexible spending account)	Ends. You have no FSA in 2027 unless you re-enroll.	Jan 1, 2027

Rates change even if you change nothing. The enrollee share of FEHB premiums rises an average of 10.9% in 2027, and PSHB rises 8.2%.

Re-enroll in FSAFEDS

FSAFEDS is the one program that does not carry over. Active employees who want a health care or dependent care FSA for 2027 must make a new election, and new this year, health care FSA participants can choose a Visa FSA card or keep paperless reimbursement. Elections start January 1, 2027, and FFEBA's FEDVIP and FSAFEDS guide covers the details.

Some plans are leaving

Nine FEHB options are gone for 2027: Independent Health Standard and HDHP, Blue Care Network of Michigan Southeast High, UHC Choice Primary West High, UHC Choice Plus Primary West High, and Health Net of California Northern High and Southern Standard, Basic, and High. In PSHB, UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus Primary Postal East is leaving.

If you do nothing, FEHB enrollees in those plans are placed in Compass Rose Standard, and PSHB enrollees in FEP Blue Focus. There is no guarantee that your doctors are in the default plan's network or that your prescriptions are covered, so check before relying on it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources: OPM, Federal Benefits Open Season Highlights, 2027 Plan Year; OPM, news release announcing the 2026 Federal Benefits Open Season (September 30, 2026); OPM Open Season page; OPM FEHB Plan Comparison Tool; OPM Flexible Spending Accounts pages; FSAFEDS.gov.