2025 Federal Benefits Open Season Information

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has announced that the 2025 Federal Benefits Open Season will take place from November 10 to December 8, 2025. This is a window for eligible federal and postal employees, retirees, and pensioners to evaluate, enroll in, or modify their health, dental, and vision plans for the upcoming 2026 plan year.

This year’s open season is notable due to an anticipated average increase of 10% in Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) premiums. New plans and premium information are now available for FEHB, the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB), and the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).

The increase in subscriber premium share is reported to be even higher at 12.3% for FEHB and 11.3% for PSHB. Last year, the increase was around 13.5%, which adds up to a roughly 25% rise in out-of-pocket premiums for FEHB members over two years.

The 2026 FEHB package features 47 carriers and 132 plan options. In addition, PSHB offers 17 carriers with 75 options, and FEDVIP includes 31 plans (21 for dental and 10 for vision). OPM is urging participants to carefully revisit their choices, especially since some current plans will not be available next year.

FEHB Premiums and Contributions

The maximum contribution from the government, representing around 72% of total premiums, will see a rise in 2026 as follows:

• Biweekly $324.76 ($703.65 per month) for individual coverage
• Biweekly $711.17 ($1,540.87 per month) for self plus one
• Biweekly $778.03 (monthly $1,685.73) for family coverage

Conversely, the weighted average total premium (including both government and member contributions) is:

• Biweekly $451.05 ($977.28 per month) for individual coverage
• Biweekly $987.73 ($2,140.08 per month) for self plus one
• Biweekly $1,080.60 (monthly $2,341.30) for family coverage

Note: Under certain circumstances, the Self Plus One plan may be pricier than Self or Family options. Details about this can be found in linked resources.

Given the rise in costs, OPM encourages all subscribers to weigh their options carefully to ensure they attain the best value and protection that fits their needs.

OPM Associate Director Shane Stevens highlighted increasing healthcare costs driven by an “aging population” and growing premiums. He noted efforts to address “waste, fraud, and abuse” within federal health care programs, which amount to substantial annual spending.

“While facing these challenges, we are glad to report that the average premium increase for federal health insurance programs is about 9% for postal employees and retirees, and 10% for non-postal counterparts,” Stevens stated in a report. He mentioned that the growth rate for non-postal workers is less than last year’s figures, which is somewhat encouraging. Additionally, our tax rate remains 2 to 3 percentage points lower compared to CalPERS, another similar program in demographics and coverage.

Stevens also referred to a new enrollment verification initiative aimed at ensuring that only eligible families receive coverage as part of efforts to manage costs.

However, the rising premiums may further diminish the appeal of federal employment. Federal employees are already grappling with the uncertainty of potential unpaid situations due to a government shutdown, lower-than-average pay increases for 2026, and challenges linked to an increasing workload. NARFE President Bill Shackelford commented that while the FEHB and PSHB plans are generally robust and it’s tough to make a poor choice, he advocates for evaluating costs and options to prevent unnecessary spending.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield 2026 Premiums: Overview

For the 2026 plan year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS), which caters to about two-thirds of enrollees, will retain three national plan tiers within the FEHB: Basic, FEP Blue Focus, and Standard. These are available for Self-Only, Self-Plus-One, and Self & Family enrollment options.

Basic Options

Under the Basic option, biweekly premiums start at $133.77 for individual coverage, going up to $356.86 for family coverage, translating to total biweekly costs of $411.24 and $1,017.84, respectively. The government contribution mirrors 72% of the FEHB and equates to $324.76 (for Self Only) and $778.03 (for Self and Family). Monthly totals span from $891.02 for individual coverage to $2,205.32 for family coverage.

FEP Blue Focus

The FEP Blue Focus plan remains the most budget-friendly BCBS option, with biweekly costs of $66.81 for Self Only, $143.63 for Self Plus One, and $157.97 for Self & Family. Total biweekly premiums range from $236.70 to $559.70, correlating to monthly totals from $512.85 to $1,212.68. Government contributions vary from $200.45 to $473.93 biweekly.

Standard Options

As the most all-encompassing—and costly—BCBS option, the Standard plan carries average biweekly costs of $188.32 for Self Only, $410.88 for Self Plus One, and $457.66 for Self & Family, leading to total biweekly premiums of $472.89, $1,034.14, and $1,138.88, respectively. Monthly costs line up at $1,024.60 for individual coverage, $2,240.64 for one plus one, and $2,467.57 for family coverage.