United States Department of Agriculture
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Open Season
Benefits Open Season:
November 12 through December 10, 2018
This is your annual opportunity to review and:
- Change your enrollment in the Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) program,
- Change your enrollment in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), and
- Enroll in the Federal Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAFEDS) for health care and/or dependent care for 2018.
Are you eligible for employee benefits?
What’s new this year?
Health Benefits: Some health plans have dropped out of the FEHB program for 2019. If the plan you are currently enrolled in will not be participating next year, you must enroll in a different plan or you will be enrolled automatically in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan FEP Blue Focus (the lowest-cost nationwide plan option for 2019 as determined by OPM) for 2019.
Be sure to review this list as well as the 2019 premiums before you make your election to be sure that you fully understand the cost and coverage of your plan via the OPM Open Season web site.
Virtual Benefits Fair:
If you cannot make it to a Benefits Fair in person, this year there is an online marketplace for OPM-sanctioned Federal employee benefit programs and carriers. The Virtual Benefits Fair is available 24/7 during the entire Open Season. You can access this fair by registering online at https://www.ltcfeds.com/meet_us/webinars.html, confirming your email address, and setting a secure password. All benefit programs will be represented with at least some carriers.
Human Resources Open Season Phone Line:
The Human Resources Office has an Open Season phone line available for questions. Please call 612-336-3615 for assistance.
Helpful Links
- Open Season Information for APHIS, AMS and FAS employees
- Open Season Information for MSPB employees
- Significant Health Plan Changes for 2018
- OPM's FEHB Program and the Affordable Care Act
- OPM's Open Season Website
- FEHB premium costs (click on Non-U.S. Postal Rates)
- FEDVIP Premium costs
- Plan Comparison Tool
- Use your E Authentication ID and password to access the NFC Employee Personal Page to make your FEHB enrollment changes.
- If you are not able to use the NFC Employee Personal Page to make your FEHB enrollment change, complete the SF-2809 and fax the last two pages of the form to 612-336-3545. Example of completed SF-2809
- For Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), choose your plan and process your enrollment. If you would like to drop your FEDVIP enrollment, you must also process your request through the BENEFEDS website during open season!
- Federal Employees Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAFEDS), choose your plan and process enrollment. If you were enrolled in 2017 and want to be enrolled in 2018, you MUST process your new enrollment through the FSAFEDS web site during open season!
- Open Season Instructions for Administrative Support Offices in APHIS, AMS and FAS
- Open Season Instructions for Administrative Support Officers in MSPB
Questions? Contact your servicing Benefits Specialist
Additional Resources
- Fast Facts: What to Consider During Federal Benefits Open Season
- Circle 'Round Your Benefits - How to get the most value from the programs
- Health Care Reform FEHB Fast Facts
- Health Insurance Marketplace Notice to Federal Employees
- New Health Insurance Marketplace Coverage Options and Your Health Coverage