Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
(FEHBP): Available Health Insurance Options

Annie L. Mach
Analyst in Health Care Financing
November 6, 2012
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RS21974
CRS Report for Congress
Pr
epared for Members and Committees of Congress

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

Summary
FEHBP is generally available to employees, annuitants, and their dependents. Eligible individuals
may elect coverage in an approved health benefits plan for either individual or family coverage.
For the 2013 plan year, there are about 230 different plan choices, including all regionally
available options. As a practical matter, an individual’s choice of plans is often limited to 10 to 15
different plans, depending on where the individual resides. While enrollees have a range of
choices, they typically decide which options best match their needs, the amount of their wages
they will contribute to health insurance, and how risk-averse they are to potential out-of-pocket
costs.
While most federal employees or annuitants reaching age 65 are automatically entitled to
Medicare Part A, Medicare-eligible employees may also voluntarily choose to enroll in Medicare
Part B and Part D. For individuals covered under a FEHBP plan as an annuitant, Medicare is the
primary payer and FEHBP is the secondary payer. As a secondary payer, FEHBP could cover a
share of Medicare deductibles and coinsurance for any services that are covered by both plans,
and FEHBP would continue to reimburse for its covered services that are not covered by
Medicare.
FEHBP is administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which is statutorily
given the authority to contract with qualified carriers offering plans and to prescribe regulations
necessary to carry out the statute, among other duties. Some of OPM’s additional duties include
coordinating the administration of FEHBP with employing offices, managing contingency reserve
funds for the plans, and applying sanctions to health care providers according to the prescribed
regulations.

Congressional Research Service

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

Contents
FEHBP Basics .................................................................................................................................. 1
Eligibility ................................................................................................................................... 1
Election of Coverage and Plan Choices .................................................................................... 3
Plan Facts................................................................................................................................... 3
Premiums ............................................................................................................................. 3
Benefits ............................................................................................................................... 5
FEHBP Carriers ............................................................................................................................... 6
FEHBP Plans ................................................................................................................................... 7
High-Deductible Plans Combined with Tax-Advantaged Accounts .......................................... 8
Consumer-Driven Health Plans ........................................................................................... 9
High-Deductible Plans with an HSA or HRA ..................................................................... 9
Flexible Spending Accounts and Their Role in FEHBP .......................................................... 10
Medicare and FEHBP .................................................................................................................... 11
Affordable Care Act and FEHBP ................................................................................................... 12
ACA Provisions in Effect for Plan Year 2013 ......................................................................... 12
ACA Provisions Not Yet in Effect ........................................................................................... 15
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 16

Figures
Figure 1. Top 10 Parent Organizations, by Covered Policy Holders, 2012 ..................................... 7

Appendixes
Appendix A. OPM’s Role in FEHBP ............................................................................................. 17

Contacts
Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 24
Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................... 24

Congressional Research Service

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

FEHBP Basics
The statute governing the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) is found in Title
5 of the U.S. Code, Chapter 89. The program is administered by the Office of Personnel
Management (OPM), which is statutorily given the authority to contract with qualified carriers
offering plans and to prescribe regulations necessary to carry out the statute, among other duties.
(See Appendix A for a description of OPM’s role in FEHBP.)
The federal government is the largest employer in the United States, and FEHBP is the largest
employer-sponsored health insurance program. FEHBP covers about 8 million individuals,
providing an estimated $45 billion annually in health care benefits.1 The participation rate among
eligible enrollees is about 90% (85% of eligible individuals enroll in FEHBP as the primary
policy holder, and another 5% are covered as a family member).
Eligibility
Eligible enrollees include current federal employees, Members of Congress and congressional
staff,2 the President, annuitants, and eligible family members.3 Newly hired employees have 60
days from their entry on duty date to sign up for an FEHBP plan.4 Part-time workers are also
eligible for coverage, but generally they are required to pay a larger share of premiums than full-
time employees.5
In order to be eligible for FEHBP in retirement, an individual (1) must be entitled to retire on an
immediate annuity under a retirement system for civilian employees (including FERS MRA + 10
retirements)6 and (2) must have been continuously enrolled (or covered as a family member)
under FEHBP for the five years of service immediately before the date the annuity starts, or for
the full period(s) of service since their first opportunity to enroll (if less than five years). The five-

1 OPM, “2012 Open Season – Fact Sheet,” available from OPM.
2 As discussed later in this report, beginning in 2014, FEHBP will no longer be available to Members of Congress and
certain staff, who will then be eligible to enroll in health plans through ACA-created health insurance exchanges.
3 Section 8901 of the FEBHP statute lists all of the eligibility groups, including for example, certain employees first
employed by the government of the District of Columbia before October 1, 1987, among others. Additionally,
eligibility information is provided on the OPM website at http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/reference/handbook/
fehb06.asp#elighb.
4 For newly hired employees, FEHBP coverage begins on the first day of the first pay period that begins after the
employee’s agency receives the employee’s enrollment request.
5 Certain temporary federal employees may also be eligible for FEHBP. For example, temporary employees who have
completed one year of continuous service are eligible, and such employees pay the total premium amount.
Additionally, in July 2012 OPM extended FEHBP eligibility to temporary federal firefighters (77 Federal Register
42417, July 19, 2012). For more information about coverage for temporary federal firefighters, see
http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/firefighters/index.asp.
6 A separating Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) employee who is eligible for an immediate annuity under
the minimum retirement age and 10 years of service (MRA + 10) provision may receive the benefits immediately or
may postpone receiving an annuity to lessen the age reduction applicable to persons under age 62. If the individual is
eligible for an MRA+10 annuity and is not applying for the annuity at the time of separation, he or she may reenroll in
FEHBP when the annuity begins. However, if the individual applies for an immediate annuity under the MRA + 10
provisions and later decides to postpone the annuity starting date he or she would not be able to enroll in FEHBP.
Individuals retiring under the Civil Service Retirement System, who qualify for an immediate annuity, must retire on an
immediate annuity and cannot postpone receiving the annuity (and therefore cannot postpone receiving FEHBP).
Congressional Research Service
1

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

year requirement period can also include coverage under the Uniformed Services Health Benefits
Program (also known as TRICARE) as long as the individual was covered under FEHBP at the
time of retirement.7
Eligible family members include a spouse (including a valid common law marriage), children
under age 26, and continued coverage for qualified disabled children aged 26 years or older who
are incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical disability that existed before age
26.8 Under the Civil Service Retirement Spouse Equity Act of 1984, certain former spouses (of
federal employees, former employees, and annuitants) may qualify to enroll in a health benefits
plan under FEHBP.9
TRICARE and Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs
(CHAMPVA) eligible FEHBP annuitants, survivors, and former spouses may suspend their
FEHBP enrollment and then return to FEHBP during the open season, or return to FEHBP
coverage immediately if they involuntarily lose this non-FEHBP coverage. Annuitants or former
spouses who are enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B may suspend FEHBP enrollment to enroll in
a Medicare Advantage plan (basically, a Medicare HMO or regional preferred provider
organization [PPO]), with the option to re-enroll in FEHBP during open season, or sooner, if they
involuntarily lose coverage or move out of the Medicare Advantage plan’s service area.
Federal employee reservists who are placed in a leave without pay status when called to active
duty for more than 30 days can keep their FEHBP coverage for up to 18 months. The reservist is
responsible for paying the enrollee share of the premium during the first 12 months, and the
agency pays the agency’s share.
Finally, certain individuals may be eligible to temporarily continue their FEHBP coverage after
their regular coverage ends, under Temporary Continuation Coverage (TCC). TCC is similar to
COBRA10 coverage offered to individuals in the private sector. Federal employees and family
members who lose their FEHBP coverage because of a qualifying event, such as job loss (except
for gross misconduct), may be eligible for TCC. TCC enrollees may initially enroll in any FEBHP
plan and may also change plans during open season, but they must pay the full premium for the
plan they select (that is, both the employee and government shares of the premium) plus a 2%
administrative charge. In general, TCC coverage is available to separating employees and their
families for up to 18 months after the date of separation. Children aging out of their parent’s plan
(at age 26) and former spouses can continue TCC for up to 36 months.

7 OPM has the authority to waive the five-year requirement when it determines that it would be against equity and good
conscience to not allow an annuitant to be enrolled in FEHBP (P.L. 99-251). For more information, see
http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/reference/handbook/FEHB22.asp.
8 See the “ACA Provisions in Effect for Plan Year 2013” section of this report for more information about children’s
eligibility up to age 26.
9 For more information about FEHBP eligibility, see the “Eligibility” section in CRS Report R42741, Laws Affecting
the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)
, by Annie L. Mach and Ada S. Cornell.
10 For more information on COBRA, see CRS Report R40142, Health Insurance Continuation Coverage Under
COBRA
, by Janet Kinzer.
Congressional Research Service
2

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

Election of Coverage and Plan Choices
FEHBP eligible persons may elect coverage in an approved health benefits plan through the
“individual” or the “family” options.11 For the 2013 plan year, FEHBP offers enrollees a choice of
14 plan choices that are available government-wide (although four are only open to certain types
of employees, e.g., State Department employees). In total, there are about 230 different plan
choices, including all regionally available options. In addition, many plans offer a choice of a
standard option, high option, and/or a high-deductible plan. As a practical matter, depending on
where an enrollee resides, his or her choice of plans and options is limited to about 10 to 15
different plans. Plan details for all FEHBP plans are available on the website of the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM)—http://www.opm.gov. Since 2007, those eligible for FEHBP
(whether or not they are actually enrolled) are also eligible to enroll in the Federal Employee
Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), which provides supplemental dental and vision
insurance.
Plan Facts
Participation in FEHBP is voluntary, and enrollees may change plans during designated annual
“open season” periods. Individuals who are eligible for, but not enrolled in, FEHBP may also
enroll in a plan during open season. The open season for the 2013 plan year is from November 12
to December 10, 2012. Special enrollment periods are also allowed for those with a qualifying
special circumstance, such as marriage. Enrollees are not subject to pre-existing condition
exclusions.
Premiums
The government’s share of premiums is set at 72% of the weighted average premium of all plans
in the program, not to exceed 75% of any given plan’s premium. The government’s contribution
to a plan for a part-time worker is generally prorated.12 The maximum annual government
contribution for 2013 is $4,962 for self-only coverage and $11,049 for family coverage. The
percentage of premiums paid by the government is calculated separately for individual and family
coverage, but each uses the same formula. Annuitants and active employees pay the same
premium amounts, although active employees have the option of paying premiums on a pre-tax
basis. The enrollee’s share of premiums will rise by an average of 3.7% in 2013, a larger increase
than the 3.5% increase in 2012. While some plans had no increases in premiums, others had
double-digit premium increases. However, looking only at premium increases may not give a
complete picture of plan changes from one year to the next, as plans may also make changes in
benefits or cost-sharing.

11 In 2012, approximately 53% of policy holders in FEHBP were enrolled through the family option (CRS analysis of
“FEHBP OPM Headcount Totals, 2012” data from OPM).
12 Part-time workers (working 16 to 32 hours a week) hired on or after April 8, 1979, are entitled to a partial
government contribution in proportion to the number of hours they are scheduled to work in a pay period. Part-time
workers hired before April 8, 1979 who have continued to serve on a part-time basis without a break in service are
eligible for the full government contribution. Additionally, part-time employees who work less than 16 hours or more
than 32 hours per week are entitled to the full government contribution. The amount of the prorated government
contribution for a part-time employee is the ratio of scheduled part-time work hours to full-time hours (usually 80 hours
per biweekly pay period) multiplied by the government contribution for full-time employees enrolled in that plan. The
part-time employee pays the difference between the total premium and the prorated government contribution.
Congressional Research Service
3

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

Setting Premiums
With regard to setting premium rates, the statute governing FEHBP allows OPM to contract with
carriers on either an experience-rated basis or a community-rated basis. The premiums for
experience-rated FEHBP plans are based on the claims of the plan’s federal enrollees.
Experience-rating in FEHBP is retrospective, with gains and losses carried forward in the next
year’s premium.
Community-rated plans are those whose payment is based on a per member per month capitation
rate. Community-rating in FEHBP is prospective, and it has several different forms. Traditional
community-rated (TCR) plans set the same rates for all groups in a community, regardless of the
health risks and characteristics of any specific group. Alternatively, community-rating by class
allows for rate adjustments among groups based on the age and sex distribution of each group.
Adjusted community-rating allows for the use of experience of a particular group to influence the
premiums for that group.13 Community-rated plans in FEHBP do not vary rates for enrollees
based on the enrollees’ characteristics; rather, community-rated plans use the various forms of
community-rating to set a rate that considers some characteristics of its FEHBP enrollees but
applies the same rate to all FEHBP enrollees.
All TCR community-rated plans in FEHBP use the similarly sized subscriber group (SSSG)
method to set premiums. SSSGs are a carrier’s two employer groups that have a subscriber
enrollment closest in size to the FEHBP subscriber enrollment (as of the date specified by OPM
in rate instructions); use any rating method other than retrospective experience-rating; and meet
the criteria specified in the rate instructions by OPM. Using the SSSG method, the premiums of
FEHBP TCR community-rated plans are compared to the premiums of SSSGs to ensure that
FEHBP receives the lowest available premiums.
Previously, non-TCR community-rated plans in FEHBP also used the SSSG method to set
premiums; however, on April 2, 2012, OPM issued a final rule that established a new rate-setting
method for all non-TCR community-rated plans.14 Beginning in plan year 2013, the new method
requires all non-TCR FEHBP community-rated plans to meet a FEHBP-specific medical loss
ratio (MLR).15 In 2013, the FEHBP-specific MLR target is 85%.
An MLR is the ratio of plan incurred claims, including any expenditures that improve the quality
of health care, to a plan’s total premium revenue. The FEHBP-specific MLR is analogous to the
MLR defined in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, P.L. 111-148, as

13 U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Carrier Handbook: Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, March
2003, http://www.opm.gov/carrier/handbook/carrier_handbook.pdf.
14 77 Federal Register 19522, April 2, 2012. TCR plans set the same rates for all groups in a community, regardless of
the health risks and characteristics of any specific group. In TCR, healthier groups subsidize less healthy groups by
design, and the TCR plans cannot adjust premiums for any specific group. Because of this, OPM believes it is
inappropriate to impose the new rate-setting methodology on TCR plans. Currently, the only plans that use TCR are in
states that require TCR.
15 Non-TCR community-rated plans had the option of using the new MLR methodology in plan year 2012.
Congressional Research Service
4

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

amended),16 which FEHBP plans are also subject to. The ACA MLR provision requires that
health insurance issuers, beginning in 2011, meet an MLR of 85% for large group plans.17
The FEHBP MLR can be different from the ACA MLR, and all non-TCR community-rated
FEHBP plans will be subject to both MLRs (all other FEHBP plans are only subject to the ACA
MLR). FEHBP carriers will report the same categories of information for the FEHBP MLR as
they do for the ACA MLR, but the FEHBP MLR calculation will only be based on the FEHBP
population. Each year OPM will put forth the FEHBP MLR at least 12 months prior to the
beginning of the plan year to which the MLR applies.18
If a plan falls below the FEHBP MLR threshold, the plan must pay a subsidization penalty into a
newly created Subsidization Penalty Account. All plans will pay into the account and the funds
will be annually distributed on a pro-rata basis to the contingency reserves of all non-TCR
community-rated plans.
OPM explains that this methodology change is a way to update the outdated and possibly flawed
SSSG method. In recent years, FEHBP carriers have cited that there is too much risk and
uncertainty in the SSSG method, particularly because employers have moved away from offering
fully-insured products to employees, and the number of appropriately-sized employer groups with
which to compare using the SSSG method has decreased. In recent years, FEHBP has
experienced a decrease in the number of HMOs that are willing to participate in FEHBP, partly
due to problems with the SSSG method. According to OPM, the change to use a FEHBP-specific
MLR is an attempt to minimize the risk and uncertainty in the community-rating method, and
thus mitigate risks and barriers to entry into FEHBP for community-rated plans.
Benefits
Although there is no core or standard benefit package required for FEHBP, the statute requires
that all plans cover basic hospital, surgical, physician, and emergency care. OPM may prescribe
reasonable minimum standards for health benefit plans. FEHBP follows the guidelines on
preventive care for children recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. FEHBP
guidelines on preventive care for adults are based on accepted medical practice.19 OPM requires
plans to cover certain special benefits including prescription drugs (which may have separate
deductibles and coinsurance); mental health care with parity of coverage for mental health and
general medical care coverage; child immunizations; and limits on an enrollee’s total out-of-
pocket costs for a year, called the catastrophic limit. Generally, once an enrollee’s covered out-of-
pocket expenditures reach the catastrophic limit, the plan pays 100% of covered medical expenses

16 For more information about the ACA MLR, see CRS Report R42735, Medical Loss Ratio Requirements Under the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA): Issues for Congress
, by Suzanne M. Kirchhoff and Janemarie
Mulvey.
17 As noted in the “ACA Provisions in Effect for Plan Year 2013” section of this report, the ACA MLR provision is
unlikely to have a meaningful impact on FEHBP carriers, because they exist in a competitive program where they are
expected to keep premiums down and their profits are regulated and can be reduced for defective pricing or use of
defective cost or pricing data.
18 The final rule (77 Federal Register 19522, April 2, 2012) allowed OPM to put forth the FEHBP-specific MLR at
least eight months prior to plan year 2013.
19 Since 2011, all FEHBP plans have covered ACA-required preventive care services without imposing cost-sharing
requirements. However, plans may limit waiving cost-sharing to services performed by providers in their network. This
is further discussed in the “ACA Provisions in Effect for Plan Year 2013” section of this report.
Congressional Research Service
5

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

for the remainder of the year. Plans must also include certain cost-containment provisions, such as
offering preferred provider organization (PPO) networks in fee-for-service plans and hospital pre-
admission certification.
Additionally, since 2011, all plans offer tobacco cessation benefits in compliance with the U.S.
Public Health Service’s 2008 clinical guidance on tobacco cessation. Enrollees do not pay co-
payments for the following benefits: (1) seven FDA-approved medications and (2) four
counseling sessions per an attempt to quit smoking (with two covered attempts per year).
Beginning in 2013, plans may choose (but are not required) to cover Applied Behavior Analysis
(ABA) for children with autism.20
FEHBP Carriers
The law defines a FEHBP “carrier” to be a voluntary association, corporation, partnership, or
other nongovernmental organization engaged in providing, paying for, or reimbursing the cost of
health services, in consideration of premiums or other periodic charges payable to the carrier.21
Each carrier contracts with OPM after a negotiation process that begins with OPM issuing its
annual “call letter” asking for benefit and rate proposals.22 Carrier contracts are at the legal entity
level and not the parent organization. Therefore, a parent organization, such as Kaiser
Permanente, may have multiple carrier organizations within FEHBP.23 As illustrated in Figure 1,
FEHBP enrollment is concentrated among a few parent organizations, with the vast majority of
enrollment concentrated in the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) plans.24
Approximately 93% of all policy holders in FEHBP are enrolled in the top 10 parent
organizations (by number of enrolled policy holders) shown in Figure 1.

20 Previously, ABA was considered an educational intervention rather than a medical therapy, and it could not be
covered under FEHBP.
21 5 USC §8901.
22 U.S. Office of Personnel Management, “FEHB Program Carrier Letter (All Carriers),” Letter No. 2012-09: March
29, 2012. See the Appendix A for discussion of contract cycle and Annual Call Letters.
23 A “parent organization” is a company that owns all or enough of another firm to control its management. The
controlled firm is considered a subsidiary of the parent company. In some cases, the parent organization is the FEHBP
carrier (e.g., GEHA). In other cases, the parent organization may have multiple FEHBP carriers. For example, Kaiser
Permanente (KP) has the following subsidiary FEHBP carriers: KP of Georgia, KP of Colorado, KP of Hawaii, KP
Mid-Atlantic, KP of Northern California, KP Northwest, KP of Southern California, and KP of Ohio.
24 The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) includes both the non-profit national carriers operated by the
BCBSA and the nonprofit local carriers typically organized at the state level. BCBSA does not include the for-profit
Wellpoint-Anthem carriers that use the Blue Cross Blue Shield marketing name. Approximately 97% of all individuals
enrolled in the BCBSA plans are enrolled in plans offered by the non-profit national carriers.
Congressional Research Service
6

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

Figure 1. Top 10 Parent Organizations, by Covered Policy Holders, 2012
(In Thousands)
Blue Cross Blue Shield
2,598
Association
GEHA
296
Kaiser Permanente
238
Mail Handlers
158
Aetna
131
National Association of Letter
117
Carriers
American Postal Workers Union
101
UnitedHealth Group
66
EmblemHealth
34
Rural Carriers Benefit Plan
30
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
Thousands

Source: CRS analysis of “FEHBP OPM Headcount Totals for 2012” data from OPM.
Notes: The numbers in this figure represent enrol ment of policy holders; the numbers do not include
enrollment of dependents.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) includes both the non-profit national carriers operated by the
BCBSA and the non-profit local carriers typically organized at the state level. BCBSA does not include the for-
profit Wel point-Anthem carriers that use the Blue Cross Blue Shield marketing name. Approximately 97% of al
individuals enrolled in BCBSA plans are enrolled in the plans offered by the non-profit national carriers.
FEHBP Plans
An FEHBP health benefits plan is a group insurance policy or similar group arrangement
provided by a carrier to provide, pay for, or reimburse expenses for health services. The FEHBP
statute25 specifies three types of participating plans that are currently offered:26
• The government-wide service benefit plan is the fee-for-service benefit plan
that pays providers directly for services (this slot has always been filled by Blue
Cross and Blue Shield, BCBS).27 As of 2010, BCBS no longer offers a high-
deductible plan, just the standard and basic options, as described below.

25 5 USC §8903.
26 The statute also specifies that OPM may contract with an indemnity benefit plan, which is a government-wide plan
offering two levels of benefits. Aetna offered the indemnity benefit plan under FEHBP from the program’s creation
through 1989. Since then, OPM has not contracted with an insurer to offer the indemnity benefit plan.
27 The Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) plan that occupies this slot is the non-profit national carrier; the non-profit local
(continued...)
Congressional Research Service
7

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

Employee organization plans are fee-for-service plans, such as the American
Postal Workers Union (APWU) plan. All persons eligible to enroll in FEHBP
may choose any employee organization plan, subject to small annual membership
dues. These plans also include options for high-deductible plans.
Comprehensive medical plans are the local Health Maintenance Organizations
(HMOs). Availability of these plans varies, depending on where the individual
resides. These plans also include options for high-deductible plans.
Deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance amounts vary across plans. Many plans offer two or
more options with different premiums and levels of coverage. Even within individual plans,
enrollees are offered a lower deductible and coinsurance amount if they choose to use services,
such as a physician or hospital provider, in the plan’s network. Examining the premiums,
deductibles, copayment, and coinsurance amounts for physician office visits in the Blue Cross
and Blue Shield (BCBS) plans provides an example of this variation. For 2013, BCBS offers both
a Standard option (its more generous plan) and a Basic option.
Under the Standard BCBS option, in 2013, an enrollee’s share of monthly premiums increased by
about 0.4% over 2012 rates to $186.14 for individual coverage and by about 0.8% to $433.63 for
family coverage. The 2013 calendar year deductible is $350 per person with a family deductible
of $700 (neither deductible increased from 2012). Enrollees receiving services from a “preferred”
provider are responsible for a $20 copayment for a primary care physician office visit and $30 for
a specialist physician office visit, with no requirement to first meet the deductible. For an office
visit with a participating physician, enrollees are responsible for 35% of the plan’s allowed
amount, after meeting the deductible. For an office visit with a non-participating physician,
enrollees are responsible for 35% of the allowed amount, after meeting the deductible, plus all of
the difference between the allowed amount and the physician’s actual charge (“balance billing”).
Preventive services are not subject to cost-sharing when provided by preferred providers only, but
the plan has cost-sharing for preventive services provided by participating and non-participating
providers.
Under BCBS’s Basic option, in 2013, an enrollee’s monthly premiums increased about 5% over
2012 rates to $127.99 for individual coverage and $299.70 for family coverage. There is no
calendar-year deductible. Enrollees pay a $25 copayment for an office visit to a preferred primary
care provider and a $35 copayment for an office visit to a preferred specialist. The Basic option
operates similarly to an HMO, in that enrollees may use only preferred providers to receive
benefits, except in special circumstances such as emergency care. Preventive services are not
subject to cost-sharing.
High-Deductible Plans Combined with Tax-Advantaged Accounts
In 2003, FEHBP began offering high-deductible plans coupled with tax-advantaged accounts that
could be used to pay for qualified medical expenses. These plans are believed to help control
costs by exposing enrollees to more risk for their health care expenditures. FEHBP first offered
this arrangement by combining a consumer-driven health plan (CDHP) with a Health

(...continued)
carriers that operate under the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) are not considered government-wide
service benefit plans. For more information about the BCBSA, see http://www.bcbs.com/about-the-association/.
Congressional Research Service
8

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA). In 2005, FEHBP expanded this option to include a high-
deductible health plan (HDHP) with either a Health Savings Account (HSA) or an HRA. Both the
employee organization plans and the comprehensive medical plans offer CDHPs and HDHPs,
described below.
Consumer-Driven Health Plans
For example, those choosing APWU’s CDHP 2013 plan are provided with an HRA (referred to as
a Personal Care Account, or PCA, in the APWU plan), which the plan funds in the amount of
$1,200 for individuals and $2,400 for families. PCA funds are not taxable. Unused balances of a
PCA may be carried over, with a limit of $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for families, but
balances are forfeited when an enrollee leaves the plan.
In APWU’s CDHP, all eligible health care expenses (except in-network preventive care) are paid
first from the PCA. Eligible expenses include basic medical, surgical hospital, prescription drug
and other services covered under the high-deductible plan, as well as dental and vision services
(with a limit of up to $400 per year for self and $800 for family). Once the enrollee has spent the
annual amount contributed by the plan to the PCA (i.e., $1,200 or $2,400), enrollees must pay the
deductible for the traditional health coverage ($600 for individuals and $1,200 for families).
Members who have exhausted their PCA must use their own funds to pay the deductible.
However, members who have built up the balances in their PCA over time may use any excess
funds to meet their deductible.28 Once the deductible has been satisfied, the plan starts covering
services, with copayments and coinsurance amounts similar to those found in traditional health
plans.
Enrollee monthly premiums in 2013 increased 6% over 2012 rates to $94.58 for individual
coverage and $212.77 for family coverage. While enrollees may use either in- or out-of-network
providers, the PCA funds will go further for in-network providers. For example, amounts over the
plan allowance for out-of-network services do not count toward reducing the deductible.
In 2013, in addition to APWU’s nationally available CDHP, two other plans, Aetna and Humana,
also offer a CDHP. Although widely available, neither of these plans is nationally available.
While these three plans are similar in many ways, there are some significant differences,
including (1) the amount the plans place in the HRA, (2) the carryover amount, (3) rules for when
the plan begins to cover medical expenses, (4) the catastrophic limit amount, and (5) availability.
For example, Aetna’s Medical Fund (similar to the PCA) is funded by the plan in the amount of
$1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for families with no limits on carryover amounts, provided the
enrollee remains in the plan.
High-Deductible Plans with an HSA or HRA
Since 2005, FEHBP has offered several HDHP plans paired with either an HSA29 or HRA,
available both nationally and regionally for 2013. FEHBP’s HRAs coupled with the HDHP are

28 For example, for individual coverage, if the PCA balance is $2,000, the individual could use $1,200 from the fund to
pay for services and another $600 from the fund to meet the deductible. The enrollee would then qualify for coverage
under the health care plan while still retaining a PCA balance of $200.
29 For more information on HSAs, see CRS Report RL33257, Health Savings Accounts: Overview of Rules for 2012, by
Janemarie Mulvey.
Congressional Research Service
9

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

similar to HRAs offered with CDHPs, in that they (1) cannot exclude FEHBP-eligible
individuals, (2) can only be used for medical expenses, (3) are not subject to tax, (4) are funded
solely by the plan, (5) do not earn interest, and (6) are forfeited when an enrollee leaves the plan.
The rules for FEHBP HSAs coupled with an HDHP are very different. HSAs are only available to
certain individuals: those who are not enrolled in Medicare, not covered by another health plan,
not claimed as a dependent on someone else’s federal tax return, and those who have not received
Department of Veterans Affairs health benefits in the past three months. Enrollees may add
additional funds to their HSA, as long as the plan’s and the enrollee’s combined contributions do
not exceed the federal limit (for 2013, the limit is $3,250 for self-coverage and $6,450 for family
coverage).30 Enrollees over age 55 can make a “catch-up” contribution, in the amount of $1,000
in 2013. The plan’s contribution to the HSA is tax-free, an enrollee’s contribution is tax-
deductible (an above-the line deduction, not limited to those who itemize), and any interest
earned is tax-free. All unused funds, as well any interest, may be carried over each year without
limit. In addition to qualified medical expenses, in 2013, HSA funds may also be used for non-
medical expenses, subject to the income tax and an additional penalty for those under 65.31 Each
month, the plan automatically deposits a portion of the FEHBP HDHP premiums into an HSA or
HRA. Individuals enrolled in an HDHP who are not eligible for an HSA, as of the first day of the
month, have their funds credited to an HRA. Plans place the same amount into an enrollee’s HRA
as they do into an HSA.
Examining GEHA’s HDHP provides an example of premiums, deductibles and HSA/HRAs for
these types of plans. For individual coverage in 2013, the employee’s share of the monthly
premium is $104.96, the deductible is $1,500, the plan will place $62.50 per month in the
HSA/HRA, and those in the HSA may contribute another $2,500 annually (the difference
between the amount contributed by the plan and the federal self-coverage limit). For family
coverage in 2013, the employee’s share of the monthly premium is $239.74; the deductible is
$3,000; the plan places $125 per month into the HSA/HRA; and those with an HSA may
contribute another $4,950 annually (the difference between the amount contributed by the plan
and the federal family coverage limit). Enrollees over age 55 may also make “catch-up”
contributions. For 2013, GEHA’s HDHP premiums increased 5% for individual coverage and
family coverage from the 2012 amounts. Neither deductibles nor annual HSA/HRA contributions
made by the plan changed from the 2012 amounts.
Flexible Spending Accounts and Their Role in FEHBP
Active federal employees (not annuitants) may participate in the federal Flexible Spending
Accounts (FSA) program, consisting of a Health Care FSA and a Dependent Care FSA.32
Contributions to an FSA are voluntary, with accounts funded solely by an employee from his or
her pre-taxed salary, thereby reducing taxable income. The government does not make any
contribution to the FSA. Funds in a Health Care FSA (HCFSA) can be used to pay for qualified
medical expenses that are not reimbursed or covered by any other source. Qualified medical
expenses include coinsurance amounts, copayments, deductibles, dental care, glasses, and hearing

30 http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/faqs/Taxes/Pages/Health-Savings-Accounts—2013-Indexed-Amounts.aspx.
31 As discussed in the “ACA Provisions in Effect for Plan Year 2013” section of this report, ACA changed the penalties
for withdrawing funds from HSAs beginning in 2011.
32 For more information on FSAs, see CRS Report RL32656, Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts, by Janemarie
Mulvey.
Congressional Research Service
10

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

aids.33 The FSA program provides a complete list of covered and non-covered medical expenses:
http://www.fsafeds.com.
Employees choosing to participate in an HCFSA must contribute at least $250 and no more than
$2,500 per year to an account,34 and the total pledged contribution for the year is available at the
start of the year. One significant limitation of the HCFSA is that funds can only be carried over
for 2½ months after the end of the plan year (for example, 2012 contributions to the HCFSA may
be used to reimburse expenses incurred during calendar year 2012 continuing through mid-March
2013). Unused funds are forfeited. During the annual FEHBP open season, employees may
voluntarily make an election for an HCFSA amount to be set aside in the upcoming year.
Employees eligible for FEHBP (even those not currently enrolled) may elect an HCFSA. Under
Internal Revenue Code rules, only current employees and not annuitants are eligible to contribute
to an HCFSA.
Individuals who are enrolled in either a CDHP or HDHP coupled with an HRA may also enroll in
the HCFSA, as long as they are not annuitants. Individuals enrolled in an HSA may also enroll in
a limited expense HCFSA (LEX HCFSA) that can be used to cover qualified dental and vision
care. Individuals may weigh the pros and cons of the LEX HCFSA coupled with an HSA against
a standard HCFSA, choosing the one that best fits their needs, especially if they have a large
expense that can only be covered by the standard HCFSA, such as a hearing aid. On the other
hand, HSA funds can be carried over from year to year, and some of the funding in the HSA
comes from the plan.
Medicare and FEHBP
Most federal employees or annuitants reaching age 65 are automatically entitled to premium-free
Part A of Medicare, Hospital Insurance (HI), because they or their spouse paid Medicare payroll
taxes for at least 40 quarters (10 years). Federal workers and their employer each pay 1.45% of
earnings for Medicare payroll taxes. Medicare Part B Supplementary Medicare Insurance (SMI)
and Part D prescription drug coverage are voluntary, and qualified individuals choosing to enroll
must pay a monthly premium. Generally, individuals who do not enroll in Parts B or D during
their initial eligibility period are subject to a penalty if they enroll at a later date. However, for
Part B, individuals covered by an FEHBP plan either through their own or a spouse’s active
employment (not annuitant coverage) may wait until either they or their spouse retires to enroll
without incurring a delayed enrollment penalty. Upon retirement, individuals must enroll in Part
B or be subject to a late enrollment penalty if they enroll at a later date. For Part D, the
prescription drug coverage included in FEHBP plans is determined to be at least actuarially
equivalent to Part D, on average. Therefore, if an individual maintains FEHBP coverage and at a
later date decides to enroll in Part D, there is no late enrollment penalty.35 Annuitants or former
spouses enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B may suspend FEHBP enrollment to enroll in a

33 As discussed in the “ACA Provisions in Effect for Plan Year 2013” section of this report, ACA changed the
definition of qualified medical expenses, beginning in 2011.
34 As discussed in the “ACA Provisions in Effect for Plan Year 2013” section of this report, ACA established a
contribution limit of $2,500 for FSAs, beginning in 2013. Previously, the maximum annual contribution amount was
$5,000.
35 The same rules for Medicare late enrollment penalties also apply to those with coverage through a private-sector
employer.
Congressional Research Service
11

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

Medicare Advantage plan (e.g., a Medicare HMO or regional PPO), with the option to re-enroll in
FEHBP during open season, or sooner, if they involuntarily lose coverage or move out of the
Medicare Advantage plan’s service area.
For individuals who are covered under an FEHBP plan through annuitant coverage (not active
employment), any Medicare coverage they have would be the primary payer and FEHBP would
be the secondary payer. As the secondary payer, FEHBP could cover a share of Medicare
deductibles and coinsurance for any services that were covered by both Medicare and the plan.
Enrollees may have to pay a share of the cost-sharing or deductibles. Additionally, the plan would
continue to provide reimbursement for its covered services that were not covered by Medicare.
For retirees (or spouses) over the age of 65 who do not have either Medicare Parts A or B or both,
FEHBP plans are the primary payer, and the plan pays hospitals and physicians based upon
Medicare rates. For these individuals, the FEHBP benefit payment for inpatient hospital services
is equivalent to the Medicare payment (the amount of the payment before the Medicare
deductible, coinsurance, and lifetime limits are applied), reduced by any FEHBP deductible,
coinsurance, copayment, or readmission certification penalty. For these individuals, the FEHBP
payment for physician services is the lower of the Medicare Part B payment or the actual billed
charges. The payment is then reduced by any FEHBP deductible, coinsurance, or copayment that
is the responsibility of the retired individual. Hospitals may not collect, from either FEHBP or
enrollees, more than the amount determined to be equivalent to the Medicare payment. For
physician services, (1) Medicare participating providers may not collect from either FEHBP or
Medicare-eligible enrollees more than the total Medicare payment under the Medicare
participating physician fee schedule, and (2) Medicare nonparticipating providers may not collect
from FEHBP plans or Medicare-eligible enrollees more than the Medicare limiting charge
amount. (Under Medicare, nonparticipating physicians can balance bill up to 15% higher than the
fee schedule amount, but they are paid a slightly lower amount by Medicare.)
Affordable Care Act and FEHBP
FEHBP plans must comply with a number of ACA provisions. Some ACA provisions have no
meaningful effect on FEHBP as the plans already meet the requirements of the provision, while
other provisions confer new requirements on the plans. OPM has provided FEHBP plans with
guidance on how to implement ACA provisions; in some cases, OPM has expanded the scope of
ACA provisions. For example, OPM requires FEHBP plans to implement some ACA provisions
prior to their effective dates as specified in ACA. In the subsequent discussion, ACA provisions
that affect FEHBP are discussed according to whether they are effective by the 2013 plan year
(i.e., includes provisions effective earlier than the 2013 plan year) or at a later date.36
ACA Provisions in Effect for Plan Year 2013
ACA requires that adult children up to age 26 can remain/enroll on their parent’s plan, regardless
of the child’s marital status. ACA does not require a child to (1) reside with the parent, (2) be

36 Many of the ACA provisions discussed in this section are explained more generally with respect to their effect on the
private health insurance market in CRS Report R42069, Private Health Insurance Market Reforms in the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
, by Annie L. Mach and Bernadette Fernandez.
Congressional Research Service
12

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

financially dependent upon the parent, or (3) be a student. This provision became effective for
FEHBP plans beginning January 2011. FEHBP coverage of children includes married children
(but not a spouse or a child of the covered child), stepchildren (whether or not they live with the
enrollee in a parent-child relationship), and foster children. As a result of extending dependent
coverage to age 26, Temporary Continued Coverage (TCC) is available for three years when the
child ages out of FEHBP at age 26. Similarly, the opportunity for certain disabled children to
remain on their parent’s plan is tied to age 26.
ACA requires that new plans offer certain types of preventive care and screening with no out-of-
pocket costs. FEHBP plans have historically covered many of the preventive care services
specified in ACA, and since 2011, they have had to waive cost-sharing for these services.37 For all
preventive care as required by ACA, plans may choose to only waive cost-sharing when
beneficiaries use in-network providers, so that if beneficiaries use out-of-network providers, they
may still be responsible for cost-sharing under the terms and conditions of the plan.
ACA requires plans and/or plan sponsors (e.g., employers) to provide applicants and enrollees
with a summary of benefits and coverage (SBC) and a uniform glossary of terms. The SBC is
supposed to provide consumers with simple and straightforward information about a plan’s
benefits and coverage, and the uniform glossary of terms is intended as a resource to help
consumers understand common health insurance terms. OPM requires all FEHBP plans to
provide an SBC and a uniform glossary of terms for plan year 2013.38
ACA prohibits plans from establishing lifetime limits on the dollar value of essential health
benefits (EHB) for any participant or beneficiary.39 Additionally, ACA requires plans to establish
restricted annual limits on the dollar value of EHB prior to January 1, 2014, when annual limits
will be prohibited similar to lifetime limits. Historically, FEHBP plans have not imposed lifetime
limits, and OPM will continue to enforce this requirement. However, some FEHBP plans have
imposed annual limits on certain benefits, and beginning in plan year 2013, OPM expects all
FEHBP plans to eliminate annual limits on EHB.40
ACA includes requirements related to plans allowing individuals to participate in approved
clinical trials. FEHBP plans are expected to comply with the ACA coverage requirements for
clinical trials beginning in plan year 2013.
ACA prohibits plans from having pre-existing condition exclusions. This ACA provision is
already in effect for children under age 19, and will become effective for all individuals in 2014.

37 Beginning in 2013, FEHBP plans are also required to cover the additional preventive care and screenings for women,
as provided by ACA, without imposing cost-sharing requirements.
38 View the SBC template FEHBP plans must use at http://www.opm.gov/carrier/carrier_letters/2012/2012-22a1.pdf.
The uniform glossary of health coverage terms is available at, http://www.opm.gov/carrier/carrier_letters/2012/2012-
22a2.pdf.
39 ACA requires certain plans to cover the essential health benefits (EHB) beginning in 2014. ACA does not explicitly
list the benefits that comprise the EHB. Instead, the law identifies 10 broad benefit categories with must be included in
EHB. The Secretary of Health and Human Services was given the responsibility to define the EHB; to date, HHS has
issued guidance on defining the EHB, available at http://cciio.cms.gov/resources/files/Files2/12162011/
essential_health_benefits_bulletin.pdf.
40 Because the EHB have not yet been defined, OPM has indicated that it will work with plans to determine whether
annual limits can apply to specific benefits.
Congressional Research Service
13

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

FEHBP plans have always been prohibited from having pre-existing condition exclusions, so the
provision does not have a meaningful effect on FEHBP plans.
Another ACA requirement applicable to FEHBP plans involves the reporting of a medical loss
ratio (MLR), which is the ratio of plan incurred claims, including any expenditures that improve
the quality of health care, to a plan’s total premium revenue.41 Beginning in 2011, large group
plans, including FEHBP plans, must provide an annual rebate to each enrollee on a pro rata basis
if the ratio of the amount of premium revenue expended on clinical claims and health quality
costs, after applicable adjustment (e.g., for taxes and regulatory fees), is less than 85%.
FEHBP carriers exist in a competitive program where they are expected to keep premiums down
and their profits are regulated and can be reduced for defective pricing or use of defective cost or
pricing data.42 However, some carriers offering FEHBP plans may owe a rebate because the MLR
for a carrier is calculated on all of the carrier’s business in each market within a state. Carriers
who owe rebates are required to issue rebates directly to OPM. The rebate will be deposited into
the contingency reserve of the health plan and can be used to directly reduce the cost of the next
year’s health insurance premiums for the carrier’s FEHBP plan.43
ACA imposes some administrative requirements on employers, which affect federal agencies in
their role as an employer. For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2010, ACA requires
employers to provide the aggregate cost of applicable employer-sponsored coverage on an
employee’s W-2. The requirement was optional for employers in 2011 but became mandatory in
2012.44
Since 2011, ACA has modified the definition of qualified medical expenses, which affects FSAs,
HSAs, and HRAs; ACA does not allow over-the-counter (OTC) medicines to be covered by these
tax-advantaged accounts unless they are prescribed by a physician. The only exception is insulin.
Other currently eligible OTC items that are not medicines or drugs, such as bandages, will not
require a prescription. In addition, the law raises the penalty from 10% to 20% for those under 65
who make a non-qualified withdrawal from an HSA. FSAs may be used to pay for qualified
expenses for children who have not attained age 27 as of the end of the taxable year, regardless of
their financial dependence. Beginning in 2013, ACA will lower maximum allowed annual
contributions to an HCFSA under FEHBP from $5,000 to $2,500. The threshold will be indexed
to inflation in subsequent years.
Since May 1, 2012, eligible Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations
have been allowed to purchase FEHBP for their tribal employees. ACA requires that the tribe or
tribal organization pay the government’s share of the premium, at a minimum, with the enrollee
paying the remaining share. ACA only allows tribes and tribal organizations to purchase this
coverage for employees; coverage is not available to their annuitants.

41 For more information about the MLR, see CRS Report R42735, Medical Loss Ratio Requirements Under the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA): Issues for Congress
, by Suzanne M. Kirchhoff and Janemarie Mulvey.
42 U.S. Office of Personnel Management, “Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Call Letter No. 2010-06,” April
7, 2010. 48 CFR §1615.404-70 and §1615.407-1. See Appendix A for more detail on profit regulation.
43 U.S. Office of Personnel Management, “Medical Loss Ratio Rebates under the Affordable Care Act,” Benefits
Administration Letter No. 12-205, August 22, 2012.
44 See Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Notice 2012-9 for more details, http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/n-12-09.pdf.
Congressional Research Service
14

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

ACA Provisions Not Yet in Effect
Beginning in 2014, employers will be required to file a return providing the name of each
individual for whom they provide minimum essential coverage, the number of months of
coverage, and any other information required by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
They will also be required to provide notice to employees about the existence of ACA-created
health insurance exchanges, including a description of services provided by exchanges.45
Beginning in 2014, Members of Congress and congressional staff may only enroll in health plans
created under ACA, or offered through an exchange. Congressional staff, for the purpose of this
requirement, will be limited to those part-and full-time employees who are employed by the
official office of a Member of Congress (i.e., in a “personal office”).46
ACA includes a number of provisions to raise revenues, which may have an impact on FEHBP
plans. Beginning in 2018, ACA imposes a 40% excise tax on health insurers and health plan
administrators for coverage that exceeds certain thresholds. The thresholds are $10,200 for single
coverage and $27,500 for family coverage, and will be indexed to inflation in subsequent years.
Coverage for individuals who are retired and aged 55 to 64, and workers engaged in high-risk
professions, will be subject to higher thresholds ($11,850 single and $30,950 families). Looking
at just the health insurance FEHBP plan premiums for 2013 (even though the threshold is in effect
in 2018), all plans are below the threshold. However, adding in contributions to tax-advantaged
accounts could result in the excise tax applying to at least some of FEHBP plans and tax-
advantaged accounts. ACA will also impose an annual fee on health insurance plans based on
their market share, which could affect most FEHBP carriers.
ACA requires the Director of OPM to enter into contracts with health insurance issuers to offer at
least two multi-state qualified health plans (MSQHPs) through each exchange in each state
(without regard to statutes requiring competitive bidding).47 Such plans will provide individual or,
in the case of small employers, group coverage. While administering MSQHPs, the Director of
OPM cannot reduce financial or personnel resources to the functions of OPM related to the
administration of FEHBP. Enrollees in an MSQHP will be treated as a separate risk pool from
FEHBP. The Director can establish separate units or offices within OPM, to ensure that the
administration of MSQHPs does not interfere with the administration of FEHBP. The Director
can appoint additional personnel to carry out activities under this section, but must ensure the
MSQHP program is separate from FEHBP. Finally, FEHBP plans are not required to offer a
MSQHP.
Beginning in 2014, ACA includes a mandate for most individuals to have health insurance or
potentially pay a penalty for noncompliance. Individuals will be required to maintain minimum

45 For a complete description of all employer requirements, see CRS Report R41159, Summary of Potential Employer
Penalties Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)
, by Janemarie Mulvey.
46 As of the date of this report, regulations related to this ACA provision have not been promulgated; because of this, it
is difficult to determine how this provision will affect Members and congressional staff. For example, it is unclear
whether the employer’s (government’s) contribution to coverage will apply to coverage purchased outside of FEHBP.
47 For more information about exchanges, see CRS Report R42663, Health Insurance Exchanges Under the Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
, by Bernadette Fernandez and Annie L. Mach.
Congressional Research Service
15

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

essential coverage for themselves and their dependents. Enrollment in an FEHBP plan will satisfy
this requirement.48
Conclusion
FEHBP’s wide range of options allows enrollees to use their own authority to hold down their
health insurance costs, and because premiums are based on an average of all plan costs,
individual decisions ultimately affect all enrollees. Eligible enrollees typically weigh personal
factors, such as how much of their wages they are willing to contribute to health insurance and
how risk-averse they are to potential out-of-pocket costs. FEHBP-eligible individuals may revisit
their decision every year during the annual open season. Individuals who find themselves with
too much or too little risk, under- or over-coverage, and those whose health status changes, may
change plans each year. In the past, there has been little movement from one plan to another each
year. More than one-half of all FEHBP-eligible individuals are enrolled in a Blue Cross and Blue
Shield plan, and even those enrolled in other FEHBP plans tend to remain in their plan from year
to year.

48 For more information about the individual mandate, see CRS Report R41331, Individual Mandate and Related
Information Requirements under ACA
, by Janemarie Mulvey and Hinda Chaikind.
Congressional Research Service
16

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

Appendix A. OPM’s Role in FEHBP
FEHBP is offered under the authority of statute (Chapter 89 of title 5 of the U.S. Code) and is
administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in accordance with the statute and
its implementing regulations (5 CFR Part 89, and 48 CFR Chapter 16). The FEHBP statute
establishes the basic rules for benefits, enrollment, and participation in FEHBP among other
general requirements, while still allowing OPM wide authority in implementing regulations,
contracting with plans, establishing benefits, and administering FEHBP.
In general, OPM, the employing offices of agencies (such as the Department of Labor), and the
plans, each have defined roles in FEHBP. OPM is authorized to contract with insurance carriers;
approve qualified health benefits plans for participation in the program; negotiate with plans
about benefit and premium levels; determine the times and conditions for open seasons during
which eligible individuals may elect coverage or change plans; make information available to
employees concerning plan options; apply administrative sanctions to health care providers who
have committed certain violations; and administer the financing of the program. OPM is
responsible for maintaining the funds that hold contingency reserves for the plans and the fund
that receives premium payments from enrollees and employing agencies, from which premiums
are disbursed to participating plans.
OPM supervises all health insurance activities for annuitants. OPM determines whether retiring
employees or survivor annuitants meet the requirements to continue health insurance coverage;
takes the action necessary to terminate, accept, or continue enrollment; oversees the automatic
deduction of premiums from monthly annuity checks and credits the premiums, along with the
applicable government contribution, to the proper account; processes all enrollment changes;
notifies affected carriers of enrollment changes; and keeps enrolled annuitants advised of rate and
benefit changes within their plan.
The employing offices manage FEHBP for their employees according to OPM requirements,
administer open season, and are responsible for payroll withholdings and the government
contribution. The plans process and pay claims, print brochures according to OPM specifications,
and maintain data on enrollment, claims, and financial information. Plans assume the risk for
covering claims.
Annual Cycle of FEHBP Activity for OPM
OPM enters into an annual contract with carriers, following the negotiation process. Each spring,
the annual negotiation process begins when OPM sends all current and newly approved qualified
health plans an annual call letter to advise them on goals and procedures for negotiating contracts
for the following calendar year and to request participating plans to submit their benefit and rate
proposals for the next year. The call letter includes any changes in the services OPM seeks to
make available for federal workers and annuitants, as well as notification of services that OPM
discourages.
Next, OPM reviews proposals for rates (premiums) for the fee-for-service plans in relation to
many factors, including the cost of covered services, managed care initiatives, the plan’s past
experience, health care utilization patterns of the enrolled group, and health care cost inflation in
general. Pursuant to the negotiations, OPM and the plans (including both fee-for-service plans
and HMOs) agree to specific terms and conditions each party is obligated to meet in the next
Congressional Research Service
17

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

contract year. Descriptions of both covered and excluded services are incorporated into the final
contracts, and the plans print brochures describing the benefits and costs according to a standard
format specified by OPM. The brochures are binding statements of benefits and exclusions that
plans must follow as parties to FEHBP contracts. OPM then announces an open season (which
generally runs for one month, beginning in early November).
OPM prints and distributes to personnel offices and annuitants a guide describing the major
features and premiums for all participating plans. This guide includes the findings of surveys of
enrollee satisfaction with the different plans and includes information about the factors
participants should consider in making their selection. Personal advice is not provided, although
OPM’s Internet website provides information about how to select a plan (http://www.opm.gov/
insure). Employees are responsible for obtaining from their personnel office a copy of OPM’s
general guide and the detailed brochures of the specific plans in which they are interested.
Annuitants are responsible for obtaining detailed plan brochures by calling the individual carriers
and requesting that a brochure be mailed to them. Information about the different plans is also
available on OPM’s web page, http://www.opm.gov/insure.
Following is a summary of the annual cycle of OPM’s activities regarding plan contracts:
• End of March/early April—Call letter distributed to plans
• May 31—Plan responses due to OPM (electronic format)
• June through August—Contract negotiations
• September/October—Print and distribute OPM guides and plan brochures
• November/December—Open season
• Early December/January 1—Enrollment data distributed to plans
• Early January—Plan year starts
• March—Reconciliation of HMO premiums
OPM’s Annual Call Letters
Each spring, OPM issues a carrier letter to plans detailing the annual call for benefit and rate
proposals from FEHBP carriers and outlining its policy goals for the following calendar year. For
example, in the call letter for the 2013 contract year, OPM included the following statement:
Proposed benefit changes must be cost-neutral, with the exception of value-based and
required benefits, and all savings from managed care initiatives must accrue to the FEHB
Program.49
The effect of this statement is that plans may only introduce new benefits or increase coverage of
existing benefits if the costs for these benefits are cost neutral, unless the benefit change is
“value-based” and/or required. In the call letter OPM encourages plans to evaluate proposed

49 FEHB Program Carrier Letter, Letter No. 2012-09, March 29, 2012.
Congressional Research Service
18

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

changes based on their ability to promote effective care, rather than only evaluating proposed
changes based on their cost.50
It is not unusual for OPM to require that plans not increase premiums to cover the costs of new
benefits; however, there are exceptions to this limitation. One exception may occur when OPM
requires plans to offer a new benefit, such as the requirements to offer mental health parity for
out-of-network benefits in compliance with Subtitle B of Emergency Economic Stabilization Act
of 2008
, entitled the “Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction
Equity Act of 2008.”
Another example of OPM using its authority is the requirement that all plans include coverage of
prescription drugs, as first detailed in the annual call letter for the 1990 contract year. That letter
stated:
We believe at least minimum coverage for prescription drugs should be provided in all
FEHBP plans (both options if plan has more than one), as it is for hospital and medical
expense. We consider a minimum drug benefit as one with a deductible no greater than $600
and coinsurance of at least 50%.... Our decision on a mandatory minimum drug benefit will
be communicated to you during the negotiations.51
Subsequent annual call letters have expanded and modified OPM’s prescription drug
requirements for plans.
OPM’s Role with Employing Offices
Personnel offices in every federal agency manage participation in FEHBP for their employees
according to procedures prescribed by OPM. They administer the annual open seasons; adjust
coverage and payroll withholding when workers’ family or employment situations change and
when new workers enter. Agencies are responsible for withholding employee premium payments,
adding the government’s share (which is appropriated to agencies annually), and providing
documentation of these actions to OPM. They keep records and information on withholdings
from employee salaries and agency contributions, enrollment statistics, and other necessary data.
The government’s share of active workers’ FEHBP premiums is paid by the government agency
for which the employee works. The money for agency payments is appropriated annually to every
agency’s salary and expense accounts, and, for federal budget purposes, is categorized as
discretionary spending. The government’s share of nonpostal annuitants’ premiums is
appropriated annually to OPM and is categorized in the federal budget as direct, or mandatory
spending. The government’s share of premiums for all nonpostal enrollees is paid from general
revenues. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) pays the employer share of FEHBP premiums for its
workers and annuitants with funds taken in by the USPS from postal rate receipts, although the
postal unions and the USPS collectively bargain the cost-sharing ratio for active workers.52

50 Ibid.
51 FEHB Program Carrier Letter, March 30, 1989.
52 In FY2009 the USPS contribution to premiums was, on average, 81% of premiums while other federal government
agencies paid, on average, 72% of premiums.
Congressional Research Service
19

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

OPM’s Role with the Plans
FEHBP plans are required to allow eligible individuals to enroll during open season and other
special election periods and may not discriminate on the basis of health status, race, sex or age.53
The carriers process and pay claims, answer enrollee questions, respond to claims disputes, print
annual open season brochures according to the OPM-specified format, and maintain data
regarding enrollment, claims, and other financial information required by OPM. In addition,
carriers assume all insurance risk.
Contracts: The contracts OPM makes with FEHBP plans are made for at least one year and may
be made automatically renewable in the absence of notice by either party of intention to
terminate. OPM may terminate the contract of a carrier at the end of the year, if at no time during
the preceding two contract terms did the carrier have 300 or more enrolled employees and
annuitants, exclusive of family members. Each contract must contain a detailed statement of
benefits. Contracts must offer enrollees and their family members temporary extension of
coverage with an option to convert to a non-group contract, without requiring evidence of good
health. Plans that are discontinued, other than through a merger, may re-enter after three contract
years from the time they left the program.
Licensure: An FEHBP plan must be licensed to sell group health insurance under state law in
every area of a state in which it operates as an FEHBP plan. Nationwide plans must be licensed in
every state. HMOs must have an internal quality assurance program, and must credential and
periodically re-credential participating providers. OPM requires that each FEHBP plan submit
copies of its state license(s) with its application to participate in FEHBP; in addition, as part of
the plan’s contract with FEHBP the plan is required to inform OPM if a state has withdrawn, or
intends to withdraw, the plan’s license.
Quality: Each year FEHBP plans with 500 or more subscribers must mail the Consumers
Assessment of Health Plan Survey (CAHPS) to a random sample of plan members. For HMOs,
and Point-of-Service (POS) plans, the sample includes all commercial plan members, including
non-federal members. For Fee-for-Service (FFS)/Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans,
the sample includes federal members only. The CAHPS survey consists of a set of standardized
health plan performance measures that evaluate members’ satisfaction with their health plans.
Independent vendors certified by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA)
administer the surveys. OPM sets CAHPS requirements for the plans each year, which include
instructions to send OPM a copy of any survey results.
All plans must also complete quality assurance reports as well as fraud and abuse case reports and
submit the reports to OPM. Additionally, HMOs with more than 500 FEHBP enrollees must
complete the Health Plan and Employer Data Information Set (HEDIS), which includes clinical
performance measures based on information such as members’ medical records. Each year OPM
outlines the procedures for collecting the HEDIS measures; these measures help to compare how
well plans prevent and treat illness.
Provider Networks: OPM reviews applications for health benefit plans for evidence of a plan’s
ability to provide reasonable access to and choice of quality primary and specialty medical care
throughout the service area, specifically (1) in the individual practice setting, contractual

53 5 CFR §890.201.
Congressional Research Service
20

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

arrangements for the services of a significant number of primary care and specialty physicians in
the service area; and (2) in the group practice setting, compliance with statutes, preferably
demonstrated by full-time providers specializing in internal medicine, family practice, pediatrics,
and obstetrics/gynecology.
OPM’s Role with the Reserve Funds
A contingency reserve fund is maintained in the U.S. Treasury by OPM for all FEHBP plans.
OPM is authorized to levy a surcharge of up to 3% of a plan’s premium to establish and maintain
contingency reserves.54 The preferred minimum for each experience-rated plan’s contingency
reserve55 is 1½ times the sum of the plan’s average month’s paid claims plus the average month’s
administrative expenses and retention. Experience-rated plans may use their contingency reserve
funds to offset larger than anticipated claims, or, if the fund balance becomes larger than
necessary, it can be drawn down and used to offset a premium increase in the subsequent year.
Since January 1989, FEHBP fee-for-service plans have had their federal premium funds disbursed
throughout the year under a letter-of-credit arrangement whereby the plans draw down funds in
their accounts as claims are paid.
OPM maintains in the U.S. Treasury contingency reserve funds for community-rated plans,56 and
may charge up to 3% of a plan’s premium to establish and maintain the fund. However, unlike
that for experience-rated plans, the contingency reserve fund for community-rated plans can be
used only by OPM (not the plan) if OPM approves an adjustment during a “reconciliation”
process that usually takes place in the month of March. For instance, HMOs generally estimate
their rates in the spring and negotiate their contracts with OPM in August. The plan year begins
the following January. If there are changes in the program or in the community benefit package
between the time the plan estimated the rates and implementation of the plan in January, OPM
reconciles those changes with the previously established premiums and negotiates an adjustment.
(OPM allows adjustment only for specified reasons, excluding a plan’s underestimate of costs
based on group demographics.) Because payments to HMOs are not based on claims, the
government does not use the letter-of-credit draw-down approach to disburse funds to the plans,
but pays the plans specified amounts in installments throughout the year.
OPM’s Role with Setting Profits
The “service charge” (profit) paid to fee-for-service plans by OPM is calculated according to
detailed regulations.57 There is no guaranteed minimum amount, but the maximum is 1.1% of
projected incurred claims and administrative costs. OPM contract officers monitor plan
performance throughout a plan year and maintain data which are used to evaluate plan

54 5 CFR §890.503.
55 All fee-for-service plans (and a small number of comprehensive plans) are “experience-rated,” meaning the
premiums are based on the claims experience of the federal enrollees in the plan in preceding years. Experience-rate
plan premiums are based on claim experience of enrollees in previous years, administrative costs, and profit (limited to
1.1% of claims and administrative costs). There is little risk because they make up for losses with premium increases
the following year or by drawing down on contingency reserve.
56 Community-rated plans are basically the local HMOs, whose payment is based on comparable rates offered to other
plans in the community. Additionally, these plans may negotiate upgrades and/or required services. The profit for
community-rated plans may be larger than experience-rated plans, as well as the risk.
57 48 CFR §1615.4.
Congressional Research Service
21

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

performance and determine profit. Profit is based on six factors: (1) contractor performance
regarding such responsibilities as accurate and timely claims processing, handling of claims
disputes, and general beneficial innovations; (2) contract cost risk factors, including group size
(smaller enrollments receive credit for higher risk), and certain demographics and the plan’s
willingness to assume risk; (3) federal socioeconomic programs, such as programs to deter drug
abuse by considering the quality of the contractor’s policies and procedures and the extent of
unusual effort or achievement demonstrated; (4) capital investments (this is a general federal
acquisition factor but seldom applicable under FEHBP); (5) cost control, such as contractor-
initiated efforts to improve benefit design, cost-sharing, or innovative peer review procedures;
and (6) independent development of administrative systems that improve cost efficiency and for
which the contractor assumed the development costs.
Each of these profit factors is scored with regard to the plan’s performance in the previous year,
and the sum of the scores determines the profit percentage. The “profit” margins for FEHBP fee-
for-service plans are not large, but the plans in the program experience little risk because they
may make up losses experienced in the past year through increases in premiums in the following
year (or they may draw down surplus contingency reserves). Plan income in excess of that which
had been estimated when premiums were set for a given year may be carried forward and used to
limit premium increases in the following year.
For the community-rated plans, OPM negotiates with the HMO plans to receive a capitated
payment for each federal enrollee. The payment amount is based on comparable rates offered to
other plans in the community, plus negotiated upgrades to the community benefit package. HMOs
may compute their community rate using factors such as age and sex. During a reconciliation
process at the end of the contract year, OPM determines the appropriateness of the capitated
payments to each HMO, and settles with the HMOs accordingly. The profit rate HMOs receive
based on the community rate may be larger than that available to fee-for-service plans under
FEHBP.
Financing OPM’s Costs for Administering FEHBP
The only administrative costs of the federal government for FEHBP that can be identified
explicitly are the costs of OPM’s headquarters staff. For 2009, OPM employed about 191 FTEs
who are responsible for FEHBP.58 This staff includes the actuaries and employees who negotiate
with carriers, monitor plans and contracts, and generally oversee all aspects of program
administration. OPM adds a charge to each plan’s premium, limited to 1% of the premium, to
cover these administrative costs.59 Generally the charge is less than 1%. There is no separate
accounting for the costs associated with agency personnel who carry out administrative tasks
associated with FEHBP as well as the other pay and benefit programs for federal workers. Plan
carriers’ administrative costs are included in their premiums. To the extent that plans compete for
enrollees on basis of premiums, they have an incentive for administrative efficiency. However,
OPM does not ask for detailed administrative cost data, although it periodically audits certain
overhead charges.

58 The 2009 estimate of FTEs is most recent publicly-available estimate. FY2010, Office of Personnel Management
Congressional Budget Justification Performance Budget.
59 5 CFR §890.503.
Congressional Research Service
22

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

Other Administrative Roles/Activities
Data Warehousing: OPM is creating a new health information management system that will,
among other things, be used to collect, manage, and analyze health services data for FEHBP.60
Generally, OPM analysts will use the de-identified data for such analytic purposes as the
examination of health trends, development of risk adjustment methodologies, and oversight of
pharmacy pricing and negotiation. Data with personal identifiers may also be used within OPM,61
in accordance with applicable privacy standards, for the purposes of a congressional inquiry, for
judicial and administrative proceedings, and for investigations by law enforcement officials.62
Grievance and Appeals: All plan brochures include an explanation of the procedures enrollees
should follow if they disagree with a denial of coverage or payment. An enrollee must first submit
a written request to the plan for reconsideration within six months of the denial of coverage.
Within 30 days of receiving the request, the plan must approve the claim, request additional
information or provide a written statement explaining the denial.63
If the plan decides against the enrollee, a written appeal can be filed with OPM within 90 days of
the plan’s second denial. If OPM determines the enrollee is entitled to coverage, the plan must
provide or pay for the care. If OPM decides against the enrollee, he or she can appeal in federal
district court.
Sanctions: OPM may, and in some cases must, apply sanctions to health care providers.64 These
sanctions include debarment, suspension, civil monetary penalties, and financial assessments. The
regulations establish the circumstances under which these sanctions may occur, along with
procedures for appeals.
State Law Exemptions: The terms of a contract relating to coverage or benefits, including
payments, supersede and preempt any state or local laws and regulations relating to health
insurance or plans. While OPM requires HMOs to provide their FEHBP plan enrollees with
mandated state benefits, OPM has the authority to override these requirements.


60 75 Federal Register 61532, October 5, 2010; 76 Federal Register 35050, June 15, 2011.
61 Only de-identified data will be released outside of OPM.
62 Under the privacy rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA, P.L. 104-191),
identifiable information refers to data that are explicitly linked to a particular individual and data items that reasonably
could be expected to allow individual identification. Potential identifiers include, but are not limited to, name and social
security number; voice and fax telephone numbers; electronic mail addresses; medical record numbers, health plan
beneficiary numbers, or other health plan account numbers; biometric identifiers, including finger and voice prints; and
full face photographic images.
63 5 CFR §890.105.
64 5 CFR §890.1001.
Congressional Research Service
23

FEHBP: Available Health Insurance Options

Author Contact Information

Annie L. Mach

Analyst in Health Care Financing
amach@crs.loc.gov, 7-7825

Acknowledgments
Hinda Chaikind, Section Research Manager in Health Care Financing, and Mark Newsom, a former
Specialist in Health Care Financing, co-authored a prior version of this report.

Congressional Research Service
24