Opm.gov

Navigating Opm.gov

Opm.gov is a huge website that acts as a portal for federal employees, job seekers, retirees, veterans, HR professionals, and other individuals and agencies. There are many different categories and subcategories to surf through, as well as regularly posted news stories and event listings.

Given the size and the sheer amount of information that is covered, navigating the website for the Office of Personnel Management can be somewhat overwhelming. Web users will be best off utilizing the "Browse by Audience" feature or the Subject Index to find their way around the site.

Insurance at Opm.gov

Like the other categories on Opm.gov, the category of insurance contains an extensive amount of information. The Office of Personnel Management offers the largest group life insurance program in the world to federal employees, retirees, and their families, and also administers:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Insurance
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Health Savings Accounts

You can find information on all of these programs on Opm.gov, as well as information on the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. The FEHB program is specifically designed to meet the healthcare needs of federal employees, retirees, and their families, and includes almost every type of health insurance plan imaginable. Those who are eligible for the program can choose from:

• HMO Plans
• PPO Plans
• POS Plans
• FFS Plans

Opm.gov allows users to easily compare the costs and benefits of each one of these plans with a comparative breakdown that ranks plans based on their simplicity or ease of use, as well as enrollee popularity.

FEHB Program Features

There are some great features of the Federal Employee Health Insurance program, many of which are outlined on the Opm.gov website. Some of the most notable features include:

• The ability to choose from a wide selection of health plans.
• The opportunity to enroll in tax-friendly flexible spending plans and health savings accounts.
• A lack of pre-existing condition limitations.
• Annual enrollment opportunities, with no waiting periods.
• Coverage for families—this includes spouses, children age 22 and under, and disabled dependent children over the age of 22.
• An automatic salary deduction that allows you to pay health premiums using pre-tax dollars.
• A generous government contribution that pays between 72 and 75 percent of a chosen health plan.
• Continuing group coverage for retirees, their families, and survivors.

Other Health Insurance Programs

Under direction of the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Benefits Enhancement Act of 2004, OPM is required to make dental and vision benefit plans available to federal employees and their families. The program that has been established allows employees and retirees to purchase dental and vision insurance on a group basis. Although it is the enrollee who pays all premiums, the cost of the insurance is relatively low given the fact that it is a group plan.

Opm.gov also offers federal employees the opportunity to enroll in a flexible savings account program known as FSAFED. While enrolled in this program, employees can have a portion of their pay placed in a tax-free account that can be used to reimburse the employee for uncovered medical expenses. The program is a valuable benefit because it can provide significant tax savings to the employee.