INQUIRY 16-04, FEHB Self Plus One Limited Enrollment Period

Published: February 5, 2016
Effective: February 1, 2016

Summary

An additional enrollment period for the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Self Plus One program will be available from February 1, 2016, through February 29, 2016. During this time, changes to FEHB enrollment may be made via the Employee Personal Page (EPP), EmpowHR, or the Web-based Entry, Processing, Inquiry, and Correction System (EPIC Web).

Affected Systems

Implementations

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Benefits Administration Letter (BAL) 15-205, dated September 17, 2015, mandates that Agencies and payroll offices allow FEHB enrollments to be changed from Self and Family to Self Plus One from February 1, 2016, through February 29, 2016. This is not an extension of Open Season. It does not apply to annuitants, Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) participants, and other enrollees who do not participate in Premium Conversion because those participants may decrease their enrollment at any time.

After this period has ended, those participants eligible for this additional enrollment period will have to wait until a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) if they wish to decrease their enrollment type outside of an Open Season.

Enrollment changes will be effective the first day of the pay period following the pay period in which the change was made.

Note: The only change that may be made during this additional enrollment period is to decrease from Self and Family to Self Plus One. If any other change is made, the document will go into suspense.

Employee Personal Page (EPP)

A new selection option Change Family to Self Plus One has been added to the Health Insurance page in EPP.

Federal Employees Health Benefits, Centralized Enrollment Clearinghouse System (CLER), EmpowHR, and Web-based Entry, Processing, Inquiry, and Correction System (EPIC Web)

A new code, 1Z, has been added to the Event Change Code field on the Standard Form 2809, Heath Benefits Election Form, in CLER, EmpowHR, and EPIC Web.

Resources

Employees who are not current EPP users (or need a new user ID or password) can locate sign-up instructions under My EPP. Log on to the Internet and go to the National Finance Center (NFC) Web site (www.nfc.usda.gov). Select the HR and Payroll Clients page from the MyNFC drop-down menu and click the My EPP icon on the HR/Payroll Application Launchpad.

The procedure manuals for EPP and EPIC Web, which are available online at the NFC Web site, are being updated to include the information in this bulletin. To view and/or print these procedures, select HR and Payroll Clients from the MyNFC drop-down menu on the NFC homepage. At the HR and Payroll Clients page, click the Publications tab in the center ribbon and from there select the applicable category to access the procedure manuals within the category.

A Quick Reference Card (QRC), available online as a reference tool at the NFC Web site, can assist with accessing EPP, user identification availability, and password assistance.

Inquiries

For questions about NFC processing, authorized Servicing Personnel Office representatives should contact the NFC Contact Center at 1-855-NFC-4GOV (1-855-632-4468) or via the Internet using the Requester Console.