The annual Benefits Open Season will run from Nov. 9 through Dec. 14. During this period, civilian employees have the opportunity to make elections or changes in three benefits programs:

Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB)

Employees may enroll in a health plan, change from one plan or option to another (i.e., high/standard, self only/self and family), or cancel their FEHB enrollment during the open season. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has posted the 2010 FEHB guides at http:// www.opm.gov/insure/health/ planinfo/guides/index.asp.

Individual health plan brochures are available at http:// www.opm.gov/insure/health/ planinfo/index.asp

2010 FEHB Plan Rates can be viewed at http:// www.opm.gov/insure/health/ rates/index.asp.

Significant Plan Changes – IMPORTANT – OPM Benefits Administration Letter #09-405 announced significant plan changes (plans that will be leaving the FEHB program, new plans added, plan mergers, etc. This information can be found at http:// www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/ bals/bal09.asp#404.

Employees who wish to make a change to their FEHB coverage must do so through the Army Benefits Center-Civilian (ABC-C) website at https://www.abc.army.mil or by telephone at 1-877-276- 9287.

Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)

During the open enrollment period, employees may enroll in supplemental dental and/or vision coverage, change from one plan or option to another or cancel their enrollment.

To learn more, visit the OPM FEDVIP Homepage at http://www.opm.gov/insure and the BENEFEDS website at www.BENEFEDS.com.

OPM has posted the 2010 FEDVIP Rates at http:// www.opm.gov/insure/ index.aspx (under Dental and Vision, click on “Premiums”) and the plan brochures at the following links:

FEDVIP Dental Brochures

http://www.opm.gov/insure/ dental/planinfo/index.asp

FEDVIP Vision Brochures

http://www.opm.gov/insure/ vision/planinfo/index.asp

For questions regarding the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program, please contact the customer service representatives at 1(877) 888-3337. Employees who wish to elect the dental and/or vision insurance must do so through the BENEFEDS Portal (www.BENEFEDS.com).

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

A FSA allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars for out-of-pocket health care and dependent care expenses, thereby reducing the amount you pay in taxes. Employees may choose either a health care FSA for out-of-pocket medical expenses such as copays, overthe counter medications, etc., and/or a dependent care FSA for child and/or adult daycare expenses. Employees who had an FSA account in 2009 must reenroll for 2010 if they wish to continue this benefit.

The FSAFEDS program brochure has been updated at https://www.fsafeds.com/ forms/OPM-FSA-OVTF-10- 031.pdf. FSAFEDS will have an on-line video available on 9 November 2009 at www.fsafeds.com. To learn more or to enroll, employees must contact FSAFEDS at www.fsafeds.com or by phone at 1-877-FSAFEDS (372- 3337).