The Federal Benefits Open Season Begins On Monday, November 11!

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. 

For detailed information, view the Open Season Announcements. 

The following three programs are participating in this year’s Open Season for the 2025 plan year: 

  • Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program - To enroll, cancel, or change your FEHB enrollment, you must use myPay*.   Open Season elections will be effective on January 12, 2025.  Upon making your election, be certain to print the confirmation for your record.  Your current enrollment will automatically continue into next year, if you do not take any action, unless you are enrolled in a plan that is terminating an enrollment option.  (*Exception: If you will be retiring between now and January 11, 2025, do not use myPay to make your Open Season change. Instead, you must submit a hardcopy Health Benefits Election Form, SF 2809, along with your retirement paperwork to your Benefits Specialist.)
  • Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) - To enroll, cancel, or change your FEDVIP enrollment, you must use the BENEFEDS Portal or call 1-877-888-3337 (TTY: 1-877-889-5680).  Open Season elections will be effective on January 1, 2025.  Your current enrollment will automatically continue into next year, if you do not take any action. 
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Program - To enroll in an FSA for 2025, you must use the FSAFEDS website or call 1-877-372-3337 (TTY: 1-866-353-8058).  Please note that your current enrollment will not automatically continue into next year. If you want an account in 2025, you must enroll during the Open Season. Open Season elections will be effective on January 1, 2025.

If you have questions, please notify your Benefits Contact or AskBenefits@nih.gov.

Open Season Fairs

Do you have questions about the 2025 plans? There will be three In-Person Benefits Open Season Fairs that will be available to NIH employees.  No registration is required. 

NOVEMBER 6, 2024
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
NIH Shady Grove Campus 
Cafeteria
9609 Medical Center Drive 
Rockville, MD 20850

NOVEMBER 12, 2024
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
NIH Main Campus 
Natcher Atrium, Building 45
9000 Rockville Pike 
Bethesda, MD 20892

NOVEMBER 14, 2024
11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
NIH Baltimore Campus 
Biomedical Research Center Atrium
251 Bayview Blvd., Suite 100
Baltimore, MD 21224

In addition to the in-person fairs, there will also be a Virtual Benefits Open Season Fair.  Any time during the Benefits Open Season (November 11 – December 9), you will be able to log into the Virtual Fair to review 2025 plan brochures, visit individual plan booths, watch instructional videos, and register for educational webinars.  There will also be live chat dates when the participating plan representatives will be available to answer your questions.  The live chats will be held November 14, 21 & 26, and December 3.  

To attend the Virtual Fair and chat with plan representatives, registration is required. 

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