Benefits Newsletter: November, 2024

The Benefits Open Season will begin on November 11 and will run through December 9, 2024. Did you know that the Open Season happens only once a year?  Unless you experience a Qualifying Life Event during the year, the Open Season is your only opportunity to enroll, cancel your enrollment, or make a change to your enrollment for the participating programs.  This is the time to review and update your benefits, if needed.  Don’t miss out on this important opportunity. 

Last year, NIH employees lost an estimated $5.8 million in annual leave. Don’t let your leave disappear! Please donate your unused “Use-or-Donate” annual leave to the NIH Leave Bank by January 11, 2025!

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the NIH Leave Bank, a significant milestone celebrating a decade of unwavering support and community. Over the past ten years, the Leave Bank has seen continuous growth, with a remarkable 186% increase in program participation, rising from just a few thousand employees in 2014 to over 12,000 today. This growth highlights the increasing recognition of the Leave Bank's vital role as a lifeline for NIH employees facing personal or family medical emergencies.

A Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is an employee benefit that allows you to set aside money, on a pre-tax basis, for certain health care and dependent care expenses.  There are three types of FSA accounts:  1) Health Care FSA (HCFSA); 2) Limited Expense Health Care FSA (LEX HCFSA); and 3) Dependent Care FSA (DCFSA).  If you make an FSA election for the 2025 plan

Family members eligible for coverage under your “Self Plus One” or “Self and Family” enrollment are your spouse and children under age 26*, including legally adopted children, recognized natural children, and stepchildren.  (*A child age 26 or over is also an eligible family member if he/she is incapable of self-support because of

myPay is the self-service system that allows you to make a number of employee elections, such as changes to your home address, TSP contributions, direct deposit of pay, allotments, tax withholdings, and Open Season health benefits elections.  When entering elections into myPay, carefully read the important information contained on the entry pages.  If you move to or from Maryland, you must complete a state tax form

Do you have questions about the terms on your LES?  You can view the LES terms and definitions. Additionally, you can view the LES overview video.  You can access your LES in

You may reduce or cancel your FEGLI coverage at any time by completing the Life Insurance Election Form, SF 2817, and submitting it to your Benefits Contact.  If you want to reduce life insurance, sign only for the coverage you want to keep.  You cannot elect coverage that yo