The Office of Personnel Management has released details about changes federal employees can expect for plans under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program (FEHB) in 2018.
FEHB will offer 262 health plan choices government-wide for 2018.
Open Season runs from November 13 – December 11, 2017 this year. Federal employees have the opportunity to make decisions about their benefits during this time which includes options available to them under the FEHB.
New Plans
One new plan will be offered next year:
- Blue Open Access POS High option (codes QM1, QM3, QM2) in Atlanta, GA metro area counties of: Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Lamar, Meriwether, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, and Walton; and Athens, GA area counties of: Clarke, Madison, Oconee, and Oglethorpe
New Plan Options
The following new plan options will be offered in 2018:
- Health Net of California is adding a Basic option (codes T41, T43, T42) in Northern California.
- Humana Health Plan, Inc. is adding a Basic option in Denver, CO (codes RZ1, RZ3, RZ2); Colorado Springs, CO (codes R21, R23, R22); Chicago, IL (codes RW1, RW3, RW2); and North Western Illinois (codes AB1, AB3, AB2).
- Humana Employers Health Plan of Georgia, Inc. is adding a Basic option in Atlanta, GA (codes Q71, Q73, Q72); Macon, GA (code RJ1, RJ3, RJ2); and Columbus, GA (codes RM1, RM3, RM2).
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States is adding a Basic option (codes T71, T73, T72) in Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia and the Baltimore, MD area.
- Medical Mutual of Ohio (formerly Health Span Integrated Care) is adding a Basic option (codes UX1, UX3, UX2) in Northeast Ohio
- Humana Health Plan of Texas, Inc. is adding a Basic option in San Antonio, TX (codes QX1, QX3, QX2); Austin, TX (codes QY1, QY3, QY2); Corpus Christi, TX (codes Q21, Q23, Q22); and Houston, TX (codes Q61, Q63, Q62).
- Scott & White is adding a Basic option in Central and West Texas (codes A81, A83, A82); and North Texas (codes P81, P83, P82).
Plan Terminations
Six plans will be leaving the FEHB in 2018:
| State | Plan Name | 2017 Enrollment Code | General Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois | A21, A23, A22 | Chicago Illinois Area |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Blue HMO Preferred | Q11, Q13, Q12 Q14, Q16, Q15 | All of New Mexico |
| Ohio | Paramount Health Care | N81, N83, N82 | Northwest Ohio |
| Texas | Aetna Whole Health | ES1, ES3, ES2 | Houston Area |
| Texas | United Healthcare Benefits of Texas, Inc. | GF1, GF3, GF2 | San Antonio Area |
| Virginia | Aetna Whole Health | J91, J93, J92 | Newport News Area |
| Virginia | Innovation Health Plan | LQ1, LQ3, LQ2 | Northern Virginia |
| Wisconsin | Aetna Whole Health | F71, F73, F72 | Milwaukee Area |
Enrollment in the terminating plans is approximately 3,104 contracts.
OPM said that in most cases, the plan is making a business decision based on enrollment, penetration in the market place, and overall margin/profitability as reasons for terminating. OPM can also initiate a termination if it determines that a plan is no longer able to meet its contractual obligations to the FEHB Program.
Enrollees in these terminating plans must make a positive election into another FEHB plan during Open Season or they will be enrolled in the Standard Option of the GEHA Benefit Plan (the lowest-cost nationwide plan option for 2018 as determined by OPM).
If you have questions about your specific plan options or situation, be sure to contact your agency’s human resources department for assistance.
The document below from OPM includes details on all FEHB plan changes for 2018.
