The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced today that the 2026 Federal Benefits Open Season, for coverage that begins in the 2027 plan year, runs from November 9 through December 14, 2026.
Get an email alert when OPM releases the 2027 plan comparison tools (early Nov.)
Enter your email here and we’ll send you an alert as soon as the 2027 FEHB plan comparison tools are available from the Office of Personnel Management
During open season, eligible federal employees and annuitants can enroll in, change, or cancel coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program, and the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). Eligible employees can also make elections for the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS).
OPM has already posted 2027 premium rates. The 2027 FEHB premium rates page has the plan-by-plan charts, and the FEHB plan comparison tools page will cover OPM’s online comparison tool when it launches in early November.
Key dates for the 2026 open season (2027 plan year)
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| September 30, 2026 | OPM posts 2027 premium rates and plan information |
| Early November 2026 | Full plan brochures and OPM’s plan comparison tool become available |
| November 9, 2026 | Open season begins |
| December 14, 2026 | Open season ends |
| January 1, 2027 | FEDVIP and FSAFEDS elections take effect |
When FEHB and PSHB changes take effect
The effective date depends on who is making the change. OPM lists these dates for 2027:
| Action | FEHB non-Postal employees | FEHB compensationers (OWCP) | PSHB enrollees | Annuitants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enroll, change enrollment, or change premium conversion election | January 10, 2027 | January 24, 2027 | January 1, 2027 | January 1, 2027 |
| Cancel coverage | January 9, 2027 | January 23, 2027 | December 31, 2026 | December 31, 2026 |
In the table, OWCP stands for the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs. The dates come from OPM’s Federal Benefits Open Season Highlights for the 2027 plan year.
What happens if no action is taken
Health, dental, and vision enrollment continues from year to year unless a participant makes a change during open season. FSAFEDS is different: it does not continue automatically, so employees who want a flexible spending account in 2027 must enroll again.
The exception is an enrollee whose plan is leaving the program or no longer serves the enrollee’s area. Those enrollees must choose a new plan.
Plans leaving the program in 2027
Nine FEHB plan options will not be available in 2027:
- Independent Health Standard
- Independent Health HDHP
- Blue Care Network of Michigan – Southeast High
- UHC (Choice Primary West) High
- UHC (Choice Plus Primary West) High
- Health Net of California (Northern) High
- Health Net of California (Southern) Standard
- Health Net of California (Southern) Basic
- Health Net of California (Southern) High
Enrollees in those plans must select a new plan during open season. Anyone who does not will be enrolled automatically in the designated default plan, Compass Rose Standard.
One PSHB plan is also leaving: UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, Inc. (Choice Plus Primary Postal East). Its enrollees must choose a new plan or will be moved to the default, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan FEP Blue Focus. The PSHB plan’s service area is listed in OPM’s open season highlights.
For 2027, OPM will offer 45 carriers and 118 plan options in FEHB, and 17 carriers and 65 plan options in PSHB. FEDVIP will have 11 dental carriers with 21 plan options and five vision carriers with 10 plan options. Not every plan is available in every area.
2027 premiums at a glance
| Program | Average increase in enrollee share | Overall average premium increase | Government contribution increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEHB | 10.9% (12.3% in 2026) | 9.3% (10.2% in 2026) | 8.6% (9.2% in 2026) |
| PSHB | 8.2% (11.3% in 2026) | 6.7% (9% in 2026) | 6.0% (8.0% in 2026) |
FEDVIP premiums rise by an average of 1.0% for dental plans and 1.6% for vision plans. These are program-wide averages, and the change for an individual plan can be higher or lower. For the maximum government contribution and plan-level rates, see the 2027 FEHB premium rates page.
New: proof of eligibility for added family members
Beginning with this open season, anyone adding a new family member to an FEHB or PSHB plan must submit supporting documentation so OPM can verify the person’s eligibility. The requirement comes from the FEHB Protection Act of 2025 (Section 90101 of Public Law 119-21). OPM explains the process on its family member eligibility verification page, and employees can also ask their employing office benefits officer.
Key benefit changes for 2027
OPM highlights these changes across FEHB and PSHB plans:
- Anti-obesity medications: Plans continue to cover at least one glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) anti-obesity medication and at least two oral options. For 2027, every carrier will require documented participation in an evidence-based intensive behavioral therapy (IBT) program before and during treatment, and plans are expected to cover 12 to 22 IBT sessions per year depending on progress.
- Vaccines: Carriers were directed to remove provider-based monetary incentives tied to pediatric and prenatal vaccine uptake. Plans must continue to fully cover vaccinations delivered by in-network providers and recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
- Non-pharmaceutical interventions: OPM expects a coordinated medical-benefit approach to nutrition and lifestyle counseling, physical therapy, and similar services for diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and pain management. Prior authorizations and network barriers are to be removed where doing so is cost-effective.
- Maternal health: All enrollees receive in-network coverage without cost sharing for perinatal depression preventive interventions recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Certified midwives are to be listed in plan provider directories.
- Digital therapeutics and incentives: Plans may cover FDA-approved or cleared digital therapeutics, and wellness incentives have expanded to all members. Coverage varies by plan, so the plan brochure is the place to check.
- Prescription drug pricing: Plan materials will include information on the TrumpRx cash-pay initiative.
For FEDVIP, a new Compare Dental Service Costs Tool on BENEFEDS will let enrollees with a FEDVIP account compare estimated out-of-pocket costs for 75 common dental services across all 11 dental carriers. Several dental carriers added coverage for preventive, restorative, and anesthesia services, and one vision carrier raised its contact lens maximums.
For FSAFEDS, a Visa FSA Card is new for 2027. Participants in a Health Care FSA or Limited Expense Health Care FSA can choose the debit card or continue with paperless reimbursement.
PSHB enrollees will also see a redesigned enrollee portal in the Postal Service Health Benefits System, scheduled to launch during open season, with a more streamlined process for reporting qualifying life events.
Options during open season: FEHB and PSHB
Eligible employees and annuitants can enroll, change plans, change plan options, change enrollment type (Self Only, Self Plus One, or Self and Family), or cancel coverage. Employees can also start or stop premium conversion, which lets premiums be paid with pre-tax dollars. The FEHB program overview and, once they launch, the plan comparison tools can help narrow the choice.
Options during open season: FEDVIP
FEDVIP offers dental and vision coverage separate from FEHB, and enrollment in FEHB is not required. Enrollees pay the full premium, unlike FEHB, where the government pays most of the cost. FEDVIP enrollment continues automatically unless changed, and open season changes take effect January 1, 2027. See the FEDVIP overview for how dental and vision coverage coordinates with an FEHB plan.
Options during open season: FSAFEDS
Employees can enroll or reenroll in a Health Care FSA, a Limited Expense Health Care FSA, or a Dependent Care FSA. Elections do not carry over from one year to the next, and enrollment takes effect January 1, 2027. Details are at FSAFEDS.com and on the FSAFEDS overview page.
The Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program and the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) do not take part in the annual open season.
Questions to ask before choosing a plan
OPM suggests starting with expected health care needs for 2027, for the enrollee and any covered family members.
- FEHB: Is a new baby, surgery, or a change in prescriptions likely? Does the plan offer a pharmacy mail-order option?
- FEDVIP: Is routine dental care, a crown, a root canal, or braces likely? Are glasses, contact lenses, or laser vision correction on the list?
- FSAFEDS: What deductibles, copayments, dependent care, or elder care expenses are expected for the year?
Retirees weighing FEHB against Medicare coverage can check current Medicare premiums. OPM also publishes plan changes in its Benefits Administration Letters, and full open season information is on OPM’s open season page.