About one in four active federal employees and roughly one in five retired ones consider the process of choosing a new health plan to be “too confusing or unpleasant” to participate, according to a survey from the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. Prostock-Studio / Getty Images
Feds find open season 'unpleasant'—but may miss thousands in savings
Federal enrollees have until Dec. 9 to make changes to their health coverage ahead of substantial premium increases.
Retired and active federal employees find selecting a health care plan to be more confusing than creating a will, reading Shakespeare, learning a new language or navigating a divorce, according to a new survey from the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.
While the process may be complex, NARFE is urging current and former federal and postal employees to look at their options for health care insurance carriers and coverage plans during this year’s open season, which lasts from Nov. 11 through Dec. 9, especially in light of premium price increases next year that will be the largest in recent memory.
John Hatton, NARFE’s staff vice president of policy and programs, told Government Executive that enrollees could be missing out on thousands of dollars in savings.
“We always recommend people to take a look at their options during open season to make sure they have the coverage that they need so they're not paying more in out of pocket expenses later, but also to pay less in premiums if they don't need the coverage that they currently have,” he said.
More than half of active federal employees (57%) and retired ones (55%) in NARFE’s survey annually review their health insurance options. For this year’s open season, 60% of current feds responded that they are planning on participating compared to 47% of retirees.
The organization conducted the survey in October, which included approximately 4,100 retired federal employees and nearly 700 active ones who are NARFE members.
About one in four active feds and roughly one in five retired ones consider the process of choosing a new health plan to be “too confusing or unpleasant” to participate, according to the survey.
NARFE maintains a web page with open season resources, and the Office of Personnel Management has a health care comparison tool.
Hatton argued that this assistance could help enrollees feel more assured in their decision making.
“I think if you walk through the process and you get 90% of the way there, but you're worried about that 10% you didn't figure out and, you know, maybe just stay with the same plan you have, but then you get that next 10% and feel a little bit more confident about it, you can make that decision, save those thousands of dollars and be better off,” he said.
The Office of Personnel Management reported in 2023 that less than five percent of federal enrollees change their health plans during open season.
Federal enrollees also will have expanded options for in vitro fertilization coverage for 2025, and it’ll be the first year for the Postal Service Health Benefits program.