Health Insurance

The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) allows employees to choose among various types of insurance plans: Preferred Provider Organizations/Fee-for-Service (PPO or FFS), Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO), and High Deductible Plans. PPO and FFS offer nationwide coverage and no referrals are needed to see a specialist. HMOs have regionally based coverage, but offer lower bi-weekly premiums. High Deductible Plans give you the ability to put aside pre-tax money into a Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for medical expenses, but have a higher deductible.

The FEHB does not place limitations on enrollments due to pre-existing conditions; however, employees should carefully review the plans to ensure they select the best coverage for their needs. Employees may change their insurance plan each year during the open season. A comparison guide and plan brochures are available at opm.gov/insure.