The Government Employees Health Association (GEHA) announced this week that the Office of Personnel Management has selected it to be the exclusive carrier of two new health plans under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB).
The two new plans fall under the Indemnity Benefit Plan (IBP) contract, one of the types of health benefits plans for which OPM may contract per U.S. Code 8903. GEHA was selected after a competitive process and chosen based on the ability to provide meaningfully different benefits choices for federal employees.
The new plans will be rolled out in 2020 and will be an available option to federal employees during the annual benefits selection process this fall. GEHA is working with OPM to introduce the plans and educate federal employees about their new options. GEHA said that more details on the new plans will be forthcoming in the next few months.
“The Elevate plans are specifically designed to help members achieve the health they need to live the lives they want,” said Darren Taylor, GEHA president and CEO.
Edward M. DeHarde, Assistant Director, Federal Employee Insurance Operations at OPM, added, “GEHA will fill a slot that has been vacant for 30 years in the FEHB Program and increase the availability of nationwide health plan offerings for federal employees and annuitants.”
The 2019 FEHB Open Season runs from Monday, November 11 – Monday, December 9, 2019.