Federal Benefits Open Season 2026: HR Comms Checklist

Federal benefits Open Season 2026 runs from November 9 through December 14, 2026, and agency HR offices have about one week left to get their communications ready. The most effective approach is a short, scheduled series of messages: a preview before the season opens, a clear launch notice, targeted reminders to employees with plan changes, and a final-week push before the deadline. This checklist lays out what to send each week and which official OPM materials to use.

What is different about federal benefits Open Season 2026

Every Open Season brings new premiums and plan changes, but this year includes several items that affect what HR offices need to tell employees. The OPM Open Season page and the 2027 Open Season Highlights are the official starting points. The key points for agency communications are:

• Premiums are rising again. OPM reports that the average total FEHB premium will increase 9.3% for 2027, compared with 10.2% for 2026. The average enrollee share will rise 10.9%, and the government share will rise 8.6%. For PSHB, the average total premium will increase 6.7%, with the enrollee share up 8.2%.
• Plan choices are broad. For 2027, FEHB will offer 45 carriers and 118 plan options, PSHB will offer 17 carriers and 65 options, and FEDVIP will offer 31 plan options from 11 dental and 5 vision carriers.
• Some plans are leaving. Several FEHB plan options are terminating for 2027, and one PSHB option is terminating. Employees in these plans need direct outreach.
• Adding a family member now requires documentation. Under the FEHB Protection Act of 2025, employees who add a family member during Open Season must provide proof of that person's eligibility.
• FSAFEDS has a new payment card. FSAFEDS is introducing a Visa FSA card for Health Care and Limited Expense Health Care FSAs.

OPM's Associate Director for Healthcare and Insurance, Matthew Kiley, summed up the message for employees in OPM's announcement: "Open Season is the time to look beyond your current plan and make sure your coverage still works for you and your family."

The official toolkit to use

Before writing anything from scratch, review the OPM Agency Benefits Officers page. It lists materials prepared for agency use, including:

• The 2027 Open Season Highlights document, with premium figures, effective dates and plan changes.
• The Federal Benefits Open Season Manual, which explains procedures for benefits officers.
• A banner and flyer for posting and sharing.
• FastFacts handouts, including "What to do when your plan is terminating."
• Spreadsheets listing plans where the Self Plus One premium is higher than the Self and Family premium.
• FEDVIP training resources and links to FSAFEDS marketing materials.

Using OPM's own materials keeps your agency's message consistent with what employees will see on OPM.gov and reduces the chance of errors.

Week-by-week communications checklist

Week of November 2: preview and preparation

This is the week to prepare your team and alert employees that Open Season is coming.

• Brief HR and payroll staff on dates, effective dates and the new family member documentation requirement, so front-line staff give consistent answers.
• Send a short preview email to all employees with the dates, the programs included and a reminder that FSAFEDS requires a new election every year.
• Identify employees in terminating plans using your enrollment data, so they can receive targeted messages once the season opens.
• Plan any information sessions. If you are scheduling a benefits briefing, confirm dates now. Our agency briefing programs cover FEHB and FEDVIP alongside retirement, TSP, FEGLI and Social Security.

OPM notes that 2027 plan brochures and the Plan Comparison Tool become available on OPM.gov in early November. Tell employees where to find them rather than attaching plan details yourself.

Week of November 9: launch

• Send the launch announcement on November 9 or soon after. Include the deadline, links to OPM's Open Season page and plan comparison resources, and a contact for questions.
• Post the OPM banner and flyer on your intranet and in shared spaces.
• Explain the documentation requirement for adding a spouse or child, and tell employees how and where to submit documents.
• Remind employees of the deadline time. FEDVIP and FSAFEDS Open Season ends at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on December 14. For FEHB and PSHB, the deadline is 11:59 p.m. based on the location of the electronic enrollment system the employee uses.

Weeks of November 16 and November 23: targeted outreach

The middle of the season is when targeted messages are most useful.

• Contact employees in terminating plans directly. For FEHB enrollees in a terminating plan who do not choose a new plan, OPM's Highlights state that the default enrollment is the Compass Rose Health Plan Standard option. For the terminating PSHB option, the default is FEP Blue Focus. Employees should choose a plan that fits their needs rather than accept a default.
• Share premium comparison resources. Point employees to OPM's 2027 premium tables and the Plan Comparison Tool, both available from OPM's Open Season page.
• Highlight Self Plus One pricing. In some plans, Self Plus One costs more than Self and Family. OPM's spreadsheets identify those plans, which is useful information for employees with one family member.
• Promote FSAFEDS re-enrollment to anyone who currently has an FSA.

Week of November 30: midpoint reminder

• Send a reminder that two weeks remain, with the same links as the launch email.
• Check documentation status for employees who have added family members, and follow up on missing items.
• Offer help through office hours, a phone line or a shared mailbox.

Weeks of December 7 and December 14: final push

• Send a "one week left" notice around December 7.
• Send a final reminder on December 11 or the morning of December 14 with the exact deadline times.
• Make sure staff are available to answer questions in the final days, when many employees make their elections.

After Open Season: January follow-up

• Remind employees to check their pay statements. According to OPM, FEHB Open Season changes for non-postal employees take effect January 10, 2027. PSHB changes, annuitant FEHB changes, FEDVIP and FSAFEDS take effect January 1, 2027.
• Resolve any outstanding eligibility documentation under your agency's procedures.

Writing tips for clearer Open Season messages

Even well-planned messages can be ignored. A few practical habits help:

• Lead with the deadline in the subject line and the first sentence.
• Keep each message short. One message, one main action.
• Use plain language. Explain terms like "Self Plus One" and "default enrollment" the first time you use them.
• Link to official sources instead of copying premium tables, which reduces the risk of errors.
• Repeat the essentials. Every message should include the dates, the main links and a contact for help, because many employees will read only one message.
• Segment when you can. Messages to employees in terminating plans, new employees and FSA participants work better than a single message for everyone.

Supporting employees beyond Open Season

Open Season is a good time to remind employees about broader benefits education. Many employees also have questions about retirement, TSP and life insurance that go beyond health plan choice. Our employee resources and the Ask Dr. FedEd financial wellness program can complement your agency's Open Season outreach.

If your agency wants to train HR staff or run its own sessions, Seminars in a Box provides a complete seminar kit, with slides, instructor notes and workbooks, that your staff can deliver themselves. To discuss a live or virtual briefing for your workforce, contact our team.

Key dates at a glance

A clear plan, sent on schedule and linked to official OPM sources, gives employees the best chance to make informed choices before December 14.

Questions

When is federal benefits Open Season 2026?

Open Season runs from November 9 through December 14, 2026. Elections made during Open Season take effect for plan year 2027.

Which programs are included in Open Season?

Open Season covers FEHB, the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program, FEDVIP dental and vision, and FSAFEDS. FSAFEDS is available to active employees only.

Do employees have to do anything if they want to keep their current plan?

FEHB, PSHB and FEDVIP enrollments generally continue if no change is made, unless the plan is leaving the program. FSAFEDS is different: employees must make a new election every year to participate.

When do 2027 FEHB changes take effect for employees?

According to OPM, Open Season FEHB changes for non-postal employees take effect January 10, 2027. PSHB changes, annuitant FEHB changes, FEDVIP and FSAFEDS take effect January 1, 2027.

Where can HR offices find ready-made Open Season materials?

OPM's Agency Benefits Officers page lists the Open Season Highlights, the Federal Benefits Open Season Manual, a banner and flyer, FastFacts handouts, FEDVIP training resources and links to FSAFEDS marketing materials.

Federal Employee Benefits Advocates is an independent educational organization. This article is not a government publication and is not official guidance from OPM or any federal agency.