{"id":23263,"date":"2025-06-29T01:23:03","date_gmt":"2025-06-29T01:23:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/23263\/"},"modified":"2025-06-29T01:23:03","modified_gmt":"2025-06-29T01:23:03","slug":"its-national-insurance-awareness-day-time-to-do-your-summer-insurance-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/23263\/","title":{"rendered":"It\u2019s National Insurance Awareness Day \u2014 time to do your summer insurance review"},"content":{"rendered":"<tr>\n<td class=\"call\"><strong>Guest: <\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"response\">Kevin Moss<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"call\"><strong>Title: <\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"response\">Director of Marketing and Fundraising, Consumer&#8217;s Checkbook<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"call\"><strong>Summary: <\/strong><\/td>\n<td class=\"response\">Federal Insurance Open Season isn&#8217;t until November, but today is a great day to take inventory of your insurance coverage and start planning ahead.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<p><strong>The Federal Drive with Terry Gerton<\/strong> provides expert insights on current events in the federal community. <a href=\"https:\/\/federalnewsnetwork.com\/category\/terry-gerton\/the-federal-drive-with-terry-gerton\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read more interviews<\/a> to keep up with daily news and analysis that affect the federal workforce. Reach out to Terry and the Federal Drive producers with feedback and story ideas at <a href=\"https:\/\/federalnewsnetwork.com\/feds-with-benefits\/2025\/06\/its-national-insurance-awareness-day-time-to-do-your-summer-insurance-review\/mailto:FederalDrive@federalnewsnetwork.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FederalDrive@federalnewsnetwork.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/star-e1740429486391.png\"\/><\/p>\n<p>]]><\/p>\n<p>\ufeff<\/p>\n<p>June 28th is National Insurance Awareness Day, offering a timely reminder for federal employees to reassess their current healthcare needs and determine whether their FEHB plan remains the best fit.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important to review your coverage outside of Open Season, know what to expect for 2026, and be aware of trusted resources that can help guide your decisions.<\/p>\n<p>Why federal employees need to regularly evaluate their insurance \u2014 not just during Open Season<\/p>\n<p><strong>Life changes \u2014 <\/strong>Have recent events prompted you to examine your current health plan? Major milestones like getting married or welcoming a child are considered qualifying life events, which allow you to make changes to your plan outside of Open Season. Other changes, like planning to start a family next year or receiving a new medical diagnosis, do not, but they\u2019re important to consider now as you prepare for Open Season this fall. Anticipating your future healthcare needs can help ensure you choose the most appropriate plan when the opportunity arises.<\/p>\n<p>]]><\/p>\n<p><strong>Retirement prep<\/strong> \u2014 The Federal Employees Health Benefit plan that suited you best during your working years may not be the right option in retirement. If you\u2019re planning to retire soon, now is the time to evaluate which FEHB plan aligns best with your healthcare needs and budget. A key part of this decision involves whether you\u2019ll enroll in Medicare Part B, which currently has a monthly premium of $185. To make an informed decision, take time to compare <a href=\"https:\/\/federalnewsnetwork.com\/feds-with-benefits\/2025\/04\/the-benefits-and-caveats-to-having-both-medicare-and-fehb\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">how different FEHB plans coordinate with Medicare<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Budget check<\/strong> \u2014 With the calendar year halfway through, now is a good time to review your healthcare spending. How much have you paid out-of-pocket so far, and what services have you used? While some health events are unexpected \u2014 and are a key reason why we carry insurance \u2014 some, like routine doctor visits and prescription medications, are more predictable. If you\u2019re enrolled in an FEHB plan with a high premium and broad coverage but haven\u2019t used many services, you might be overinsured. It may be worth assessing whether a lower-premium plan \u2014 with potentially higher out-of-pocket costs when care is needed \u2014 could better align with your actual healthcare usage. You\u2019ll have the opportunity to make changes during Open Season this fall.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wellness benefits \u2014 <\/strong>Does your FEHB plan offer discounted gym memberships or rewards for completing a health assessment or annual physical? Many include wellness perks as part of their overall benefits package. They\u2019re detailed in Section 5(h) of the official FEHB plan brochure, in the \u201cNon-FEHB Benefits Available to Plan Members\u201d section of the brochure, and on the carrier website.<\/p>\n<p>For example, GEHA High and Standard Option members can earn up to $250 annually per subscriber and covered spouse by completing a health assessment, getting an annual physical, receiving a flu shot, etc. Rewards are issued on a reloadable debit card and can be used for qualified medical expenses.<\/p>\n<p>Be sure to review the wellness benefits your plan provides \u2014 you might discover you\u2019re eligible for rewards just by maintaining your regular health routines.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Provider changes \u2014 <\/strong>Doctors and other healthcare providers can join or leave a plan\u2019s network at any time, and this does not qualify as a life event that allows you to switch coverage outside of Open Season. To avoid surprises, you should regularly check which FEHB plans your preferred providers accept. You can do this by calling your doctor\u2019s office directly or by visiting FEHB carrier websites to verify whether your providers are still in-network.<\/p>\n<p>Navigating the 2026 FEHB Open Season in an uncertain political climate<\/p>\n<p><strong>Government premium contribution update<\/strong> \u2014 Earlier this year, concerns arose among federal employees and annuitants about a potential shift in how the government contributes to FEHB premiums. In late 2024, the Congressional Budget Office released a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbo.gov\/budget-options\/60901\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">report<\/a> exploring budget reduction strategies, including the idea of replacing the government\u2019s current contribution \u2014 up to 75% of the FEHB premium \u2014 with a fixed-value voucher. The so-called \u201cOne Big, Beautiful Bill\u201d ultimately did not include the voucher option, and the existing government premium contribution formula remains in place.<\/p>\n<p>]]><\/p>\n<p><strong>Family member verification<\/strong> \u2014 A key provision included in both the Senate and House versions of the \u201cOne Big, Beautiful Bill\u201d is a new requirement for auditing family member eligibility in the FEHB program. Under this provision, federal agencies will be required to verify the eligibility of any family members before they can be added to an FEHB plan \u2014 whether during Open Season or following a qualifying life event. The Government Accountability Office <a href=\"https:\/\/federalnewsnetwork.com\/pay-benefits\/2023\/01\/ineligible-members-in-fehb-program-may-cost-opm-nearly-1b-annually-gao-says\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">estimates<\/a> that approximately $1 billion per year is being spent by the FEHB program on ineligible family members.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Gender affirming care<\/strong> \u2014 There are significant changes to gender affirming care benefits for plan year 2026. First, in response to two executive orders issued by President Trump in early 2025, FEHB plans will no longer provide pediatric transgender surgeries and hormone treatments for gender transition for individuals under the age of 19. Carriers may continue offering gender affirming care to individuals aged 19 and older, but they are not required to do so.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Preventive care<\/strong> \u2014 While there are no immediate impacts, this will be one to watch in the future. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently updated the adult immunization schedule and has removed the recommendation status for the COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women. In response, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.acog.org\/news\/news-releases\/2025\/06\/open-letter-urging-covid-19-vaccination-coverage-in-pregnancy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">letter<\/a> from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has been signed by dozens of medical and public health organizations urging insurers to continue covering the COVID-19 vaccination at zero cost for pregnant patients.<\/p>\n<p>How to find resources and guidance for making informed insurance decisions<\/p>\n<p>The Office of Personnel Management <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opm.gov\/healthcare-insurance\/healthcare\/plan-information\/compare-plans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website<\/a> serves as a comprehensive resource for all things related to the FEHB program. It features a plan-comparison tool that allows users to evaluate their options based on premiums and benefits, and it provides access to every FEHB plan brochure in one convenient location. Users can also find the official FEHB <a href=\"https:\/\/www.opm.gov\/healthcare-insurance\/healthcare\/reference-materials\/fehb-handbook\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">handbook<\/a>, which details OPM policies on eligibility, enrollment and other key topics.<\/p>\n<p>The official FEHB plan brochure is an essential resource for understanding how your health plan works. Each brochure follows a standardized format, making it easy to locate specific benefit information across all FEHB plans. You can find detailed explanations of what your plan covers and doesn\u2019t cover, which services require prior authorization, how particular benefits are administered, and much more.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.narfe.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association<\/a> is \u201c\u2026dedicated to the general welfare of all federal workers and retirees.\u201d Through its Federal Benefits Institute, NARFE offers members a range of educational resources \u2014 including webinars, benefits briefs and expert guidance \u2014 to help federal employees and retirees better understand and navigate their benefits, including the FEHB program.<\/p>\n<p>Since 1979, Consumers\u2019 Checkbook has published Checkbook\u2019s Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees, a trusted resource for help choosing an FEHB plan. The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.checkbook.org\/newhig2\/hig.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Guide<\/a> ranks all FEHB plans based on estimated total yearly cost \u2014 a combination of premium and likely out-of-pocket expenses tailored to the user\u2019s personal situation. Many federal agencies offer their employees <a href=\"https:\/\/www.checkbook.org\/newhig2\/year25\/more.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">free access<\/a> to this valuable tool. In addition, Checkbook provides ongoing FEHB-related guidance through its recurring \u201c<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/federalnewsnetwork.com\/category\/commentary\/feds-with-benefits\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Feds With Benefits<\/a><\/strong>\u201d column on Federal News Network and on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CheckbookHealth\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Checkbook Health<\/a> YouTube channel.<\/p>\n<p>Happy National Insurance Awareness Day to those that celebrate!<\/p>\n<p>I encourage you to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/federalnewsnetwork.com\/feds-with-benefits-question-submission\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">send in any FEHB questions<\/a>, and I look forward to answering them with actionable advice to help you better understand how the FEHB program works.<\/p>\n<p>]]><\/p>\n<p>Kevin Moss is a senior editor with the Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees provided by Consumers\u2019 Checkbook. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CheckbookHealth\/featured\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Watch more<\/a> of his free advice and check <a href=\"https:\/\/www.checkbook.org\/newhig2\/year25\/more.cfm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a> if the Guide is available for free from your agency. You can also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.checkbook.org\/newhig2\/year25\/membership\/orderonline.cfm?type=online\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">purchase<\/a> the Guide and save 20% with promo code FEDNEWS.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article-copyright\">Copyright<br \/>\n                            \u00a9\u00a02025 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.\n                    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Guest: Kevin Moss Title: Director of Marketing and Fundraising, Consumer&#8217;s Checkbook Summary: Federal Insurance Open Season isn&#8217;t until&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":23264,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[21085,210,1141,1142,21086,67,132,68],"class_list":{"0":"post-23263","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-health-care","8":"tag-federal-employees-health-benefits-program","9":"tag-health","10":"tag-health-care","11":"tag-healthcare","12":"tag-national-insurance-awareness-day","13":"tag-united-states","14":"tag-unitedstates","15":"tag-us"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/114764041613887926","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23263","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23263"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23263\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23264"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23263"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23263"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23263"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}