OPM announces lowest FEHB premium increase in 20-plus years
- By Sherkiya Wedgeworth
- Sep 26, 2018
The Office of Personnel Management announced that Federal Employees Health Benefits Program premiums will increase by 1.3 percent in 2019, the lowest increase since 1996.
Under the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program, the overall average premium for dental plans will increase by 1.2 percent, and the overall average premium for vision plans will decrease by 2.8 percent.
The government contribution toward FEHB premiums will increase by 1.2 percent, and the enrollee share of FEHB premiums will increase on average by 1.5 percent in 2019.
The federal benefits open season begins Nov. 12 and runs through Dec. 10 this year, and OPM Director Jeff Pon is encouraging participants to “choose wisely.”
“These low premium increases testify to OPM’s ongoing commitment to ensure the quality and affordability of insurance benefits,” Pon said in a press release, where the agency also announced that for the first time this year, FEDVIP will also be open to certain TRICARE-eligible members of the uniformed service and their families.
“While this announcement is welcome news for federal employees and retirees, they should continue to carefully review their plan choices to find the plans and enrollment options that best meet their healthcare needs. I urge them to take advantage of the information available to them to choose wisely this open season.”
Read the full announcement here.