The Benefits Open Season runs November 11 through December 9, 2024!
This is your annual opportunity to enroll, cancel, or change your health, dental, and/or vision insurance. It’s also your opportunity to enroll or re-enroll in the Flexible Spending Accounts Program. Unless you experience a qualifying life event during the year, the Open Season is your only opportunity to enroll, cancel, or make a change for the participating programs.
The following three programs are participating in this year’s Open Season for the 2025 plan year:
- Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program
- Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Program
If you do not submit an FEHB or FEDVIP election during the Open Season, your current enrollment will automatically continue into 2025, subject to any changes identified in the plan brochures. If you are currently enrolled in an FSA for 2024, your current enrollment will not automatically continue into next year. To participate in an FSA for 2025, you must re-enroll during the Open Season.
NOTE: If you are enrolled in a FEHB and/or FEDVIP “Self and Family” enrollment and you are covering only one eligible family member, you should consider changing to a “Self Plus One” enrollment, if the premium is less.
2024 Benefits Fairs
| Virtual Benefits Fair: | Live Chat Dates: |
|---|---|
| November 11 - December 9, 2024 | November 14 | November 21 | November 26 | December 3 |
There will be a Virtual Benefits Open Season Fair with four Live Chat dates. To attend the Virtual Fair and chat with plan representatives, registration is required. Representatives from the participating plans will be available to take your questions during the live chat days.
| In-Person Benefits Fair: | NIH Shady Grove Campus |
|---|---|
| November 6, 2024 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM |
Cafeteria 9609 Medical Center Drive Rockville, MD 20850 |
| In-Person Benefits Fair: | NIH Main Campus |
|---|---|
| November 12, 2024 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM |
Natcher Atrium, Building 45 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 |
| In-Person Benefits Fair: | NIH Baltimore Campus |
|---|---|
| November 14, 2024 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM |
Biomedical Research Center Atrium 251 Bayview Boulevard, Suite 100 Baltimore, MD 21224 |
In addition to the virtual fair, there will also be in-person fairs. These fairs are open to all NIH employees. No registration is required.
| Benefit | Resources |
|---|---|
| Health Insurance (FEHB) |
To start, stop or change your enrollment, use MyPay *
For additional information, refer to the Health Insurance Open Season Announcement. |
| Dental & Vision Insurance (FEDVIP) |
To start, stop or change your enrollment, use BENEFEDS Portal. You may call 1-877-888-3337 (TTY: 1-877-889-5680).
For detailed information, refer to the Dental and Vision Insurance Open Season Announcement. |
| Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) |
Enroll on the FSAFEDS website. You may also call 877-372-3337 (TTY: 1-866-353-8058). If you are currently enrolled in an FSA, your current enrollment will not automatically continue. To participate in 2025, you must re-enroll during the Open Season. Helpful Resources: For detailed information, please refer to the FSA Open Season Announcement. |
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Questions? AskBenefits@nih.gov Note: If you wish to meet with a member of our staff, please schedule an appointment with your Benefits Specialist. Bethesda Office: Building 31, Room 1B37; 301-496-2404 |
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* 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.
Other Federal Benefits Not Participating in Open Season
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): You may start, stop, or change your TSP contributions at any time via myPay.
Life Insurance (FEGLI): You may enroll and increase (OPM) coverage under limited circumstances. You may decrease or waive coverage at any time by completing an SF-2817 and forwarding it to your Benefits Specialist.
Long Term Care Insurance (FLTCIP): The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has suspended the acceptance of new applications for coverage in the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) to allow OPM and the FLTCIP administrator time to thoroughly assess the benefit offerings and establish sustainable premium rates that reasonably and equitably reflect the cost of the benefits provided. The suspension period began on December 19, 2022, and will remain in effect for 24 months, unless OPM decides to end or extend the suspension period.