FEHB Open Season 2026: Health, Dental and Vision Checklist

FEHB Open Season 2026 runs from November 9 through December 14, 2026, and it is your one regular chance to change health, dental, and vision coverage for 2027. If you do nothing, your current Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB), and dental and vision (FEDVIP) coverage simply rolls into next year at the new 2027 price. Because the average FEHB enrollee share is rising 10.9 percent, a short review before December 14 is worth your time.

This checklist walks through what the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has published, what is new this year, and the questions that help you decide whether to stay put or switch. It is general education, not a recommendation for any specific plan.

What OPM announced for FEHB Open Season 2026

OPM's announcement confirms the dates and the scale of the choice in front of you. For plan year 2027:

• FEHB will have 45 participating carriers offering 118 plan options.
• PSHB, the separate program for Postal Service employees and annuitants, will have 17 carriers offering 65 plan options.
• FEDVIP will have 11 dental carriers offering 21 plan options and five vision carriers offering 10 plan options.

During Open Season, eligible employees and annuitants can enroll in, change, or cancel FEHB, PSHB, and FEDVIP coverage. Active employees can also make elections for the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program, known as FSAFEDS. You can read the full announcement in the OPM Open Season news release.

How much premiums are changing in 2027

OPM's Open Season highlights give program-wide averages. Your own plan can move more or less than these numbers, so treat them as context, not a forecast for your paycheck or annuity statement.

• FEHB: the overall average premium rises 9.3 percent, and the average enrollee share rises 10.9 percent. In 2026 those figures were 10.2 percent and 12.3 percent.
• PSHB: the overall average premium rises 6.7 percent, and the average enrollee share rises 8.2 percent.
• FEDVIP: average dental premiums rise 1.0 percent, and average vision premiums rise 1.6 percent.

OPM says the increases are driven mainly by rising prices and use of inpatient, physician, outpatient, and surgical services, continued growth in behavioral and mental health care, and higher prescription drug spending, including GLP-1 medications and specialty drugs. The good news, as OPM points out, is that average premium growth has slowed for the second year in a row. The practical news is that the enrollee share is still climbing faster than the overall premium, which is why comparing plans matters.

Why doing nothing is still a decision

Health, dental, and vision enrollments continue automatically from year to year. That is convenient, and it also means a plan that fit you well in 2024 can quietly become a more expensive or less suitable fit in 2027.

Two exceptions deserve special attention:

• FSAFEDS does not roll over. If you are an active employee and want a health care or dependent care flexible spending account in 2027, you must make a new election during Open Season.
• Some plans are leaving. OPM lists several FEHB plan options that will not be available in 2027. If you are in one of them and do not choose a new plan, you will be enrolled in the designated default plan, Compass Rose Standard. Postal enrollees in the one terminating PSHB option will default to FEP Blue Focus. Check the list in OPM's highlights or your carrier's letter.

If you are retired, your annuity statement is where a premium change shows up. The 2027 COLA article explains why it helps to compare your new gross annuity with your new premium side by side.

Your 2027 health, dental and vision checklist

Set aside an hour, grab last year's explanation of benefits statements, and work through these steps in order.

Step 1: Look at your real 2027 premium

OPM's FEHB premiums page has the 2027 rate charts, showing biweekly and monthly premiums, the government share, and the change in the enrollee's portion compared to last year. Find your plan and enrollment type and write down the new amount you will pay.

One detail many people miss: OPM notes that in some plans the enrollee share for Self Plus One is higher than for Self and Family. If you cover exactly one family member, you are free to choose either enrollment type, and OPM publishes a chart of the plans where this happens.

Step 2: Estimate your total cost, not just the premium

The premium is only part of what you spend. Add up what you paid last year in deductibles, copays, and coinsurance, and think about what 2027 may bring: a planned surgery, a new baby, a child aging off coverage at 26, or a new prescription. A plan with a lower premium can cost more overall if you use a lot of care, and the reverse is also true.

Step 3: Check your doctors and prescriptions

Before you switch, confirm that your doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies are in the new plan's network and that your medications are on its formulary. Plan brochures are posted on OPM.gov in early November, and OPM's Plan Comparison Tool lets you line up benefits side by side.

Step 4: Read what changed in your plan

OPM highlighted several benefit themes for 2027 across FEHB and PSHB, including a coordinated approach to diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and pain management, expanded wellness incentives, and reproductive and maternal health services. Coverage of anti-obesity medications now requires documented participation in an intensive behavioral therapy program before and during treatment. If any of this affects you, read the relevant section of your 2027 brochure rather than relying on last year's.

Step 5: Give dental and vision a quick look

With average FEDVIP increases of 1.0 percent for dental and 1.6 percent for vision, your premium is unlikely to be the deciding factor. Coverage is. OPM says a Compare Dental Service Costs tool is available through BENEFEDS.gov for current and prospective FEDVIP dental enrollees with a FEDVIP account, with estimated out-of-pocket ranges for 75 common dental services across all 11 dental carriers. If you expect crowns, orthodontics, or new glasses next year, that comparison can be more useful than the premium alone.

Step 6: Re-elect FSAFEDS if you use it

Active employees who want an FSA in 2027 must enroll again. New this year, you can choose an FSAFEDS Visa FSA Card for health care and limited expense health care FSAs, or stay with paperless reimbursement. A realistic estimate of next year's out-of-pocket costs from Step 2 makes this election easier. Our budget guide can help you set that number.

Step 7: Gather documents if you are adding someone

This year there is a new rule. OPM's highlights state that anyone adding a new family member to FEHB or PSHB during Open Season must submit supporting documentation so the family member's eligibility can be verified. If a spouse or child is joining your plan, start collecting marriage or birth records now and ask your benefits officer how to submit them.

When your 2027 choices take effect

Timing depends on who you are. OPM lists these effective dates for Open Season changes:

• Most non-Postal employees: January 10, 2027.
• Annuitants and PSHB enrollees: January 1, 2027.
• FEDVIP enrollments: January 1, 2027.
• FSAFEDS elections: January 1, 2027.

Keep your confirmation for every change you make, and check your first 2027 earnings or annuity statement to make sure the new premium and plan are showing correctly.

How Open Season fits your bigger plan

Health coverage is one of the largest and most predictable costs in a federal household, before and after retirement. Choosing well each year protects your cash flow today and your retirement budget later. If you are within a few years of retiring, remember that carrying FEHB into retirement has its own requirements, so Open Season is a good moment to review where you stand.

The Federal Retirement Blueprint puts FEHB alongside your pension, TSP, and Social Security in one picture. For more plain-English guides, browse our federal benefits articles or the FAQ. We are a fee-only practice, and we do not sell insurance or earn commissions on any plan you choose.

Frequently asked questions

When is FEHB Open Season 2026?

Open Season runs from November 9 through December 14, 2026. Elections made during that window apply to plan year 2027.

What happens if I do nothing during Open Season?

Your FEHB, PSHB, and FEDVIP coverage continues into 2027 at the new 2027 premium. FSAFEDS accounts do not continue, so active employees must re-enroll to have an FSA next year. If your plan is terminating, you will be placed in the designated default plan unless you choose another.

How much are FEHB premiums going up for 2027?

OPM reports that the average FEHB enrollee share rises 10.9 percent and the overall average premium rises 9.3 percent. Your plan may differ, so check the 2027 rate charts on OPM's premiums page for your exact amount.

Are dental and vision premiums rising too?

Only slightly. OPM reports average FEDVIP increases of 1.0 percent for dental and 1.6 percent for vision for 2027.

Can retirees change plans during Open Season?

Yes. Eligible annuitants can enroll in, change, or cancel FEHB, PSHB, and FEDVIP coverage during Open Season. Annuitant changes take effect January 1, 2027. FSAFEDS is for active employees only.

Do I need documents to add my spouse or child during Open Season?

Yes, starting this year. OPM states that anyone adding a new family member during Open Season must submit documentation so the family member's eligibility can be verified. Your employing office or benefits officer can tell you how to send it.