FEHB Is Catching Up – Self Plus One

FEHB – Self Plus One

For a number of years as the Director of Human Capital for a private concern, I was constantly working with my Benefits Manager to save our employees money while designing a highly competitive benefits package.  One year we decided to overhaul most of the FEHB benefits program because it was not answering the call and concerns of a majority of our workforce.

Many insurance

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carriers were invited to showcase their menu of insurance services and the best fee offer for the organization.  We had a relatively young, highly educated workforce.  Many were thinking about beginning families and of course, another population already had growing families.  The one item I was looking for that would seal the deal was a carrier who could offer something other than a ‘self’ and ‘family’ option.  I wanted a plan that could cover self and spouse, but most importantly, parent and child or parent and X number of children that did not necessarily rise to the high cost of covering a family.

Household structures have been changing for a long time and most of the insurance industry has not made the adjustment to accommodate the change, most notably in the federal government.

Good news is here.  The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced that beginning in 2016 federal employees and retirees will have the option of self-plus one coverage through the FEHB.    Bringing this additional option choice to the federal workforce will save money for employees and the government.  The move also underscores how OPM continues to seek out the best benefits for the largest workforce in the world.

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