Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP)
Program Description
The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program can help you meet your health care needs. Federal employees, retirees and their survivors enjoy the widest selection of health plans in the country. You can choose from among Fee-for-Service (FFS) plans, and their Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO), or plans offering a Point of Service (POS) Product, or Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO) if you live (or sometimes if you work) within the area serviced by the plan.Some FFS plans are open to all enrollees, but some require that you join the organization that sponsors the plan, which usually involves paying a membership fee. Some plans limit enrollment to certain employee groups. Membership requirements and/or limitations also apply to any Point of Service product the Fee-for-Service plan may be offering.
Managed care is an important part of health care today. Common features of managed care are pre-approval of hospital stays, the use of primary care providers as "gatekeepers" to coordinate your medical care, the use of a prescription drug formulary, and networks of physicians and other providers.
General Program Requirements
As a Federal employee, you are eligible to elect FEHB coverage, unless your position is excluded by law or regulation. Your agency applies these rules and determines your eligibility. However, there are numerous special provisions for people in part-time or intermittent employment, temporary appointments, and specifically named positions. The chapter titled "Eligibility for Health Benefits" in the FEHB Handbook explains these and other eligibility provisions. Please visit our online handbook for additional information:http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/reference/handbook/fehb00.asp
