OPM Issues Rule on Adding Self-Plus-One Option to FEHB
December 4, 2014
On December 3, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a proposed rule to amend the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program regulations to add an additional enrollment type called "self plus one" for premium rating and family member eligibility purposes. According to the rule, the self plus one enrollment type will be available starting in the 2015 Open Season for the 2016 plan year. A self plus one enrollment will cover the enrollee and one eligible family member, designated by the enrollee. The proposed regulation does not alter current FEHB family member eligibility guidelines. Eligible family members under a self plus one enrollment will be a spouse or an eligible child.
The proposed regulation provides definitions for a self only, self plus one, and self and family enrollment as follows:
- Self only enrollment means an enrollment that covers only the enrollee.
- Self plus one enrollment means an enrollment that covers the enrollee and one eligible family member.
- Self and family enrollment means an enrollment that covers the enrollee and all eligible family members.
"Under OPM's policies, current enrollees with Self and Family coverage who only have one dependent are expected to have lower premiums under the new enrollment
OPM Issues Rule on Adding Self-Plus-One Option to FEHB