FEHB Open Season Effective Date 2027: A Guide for HR
The FEHB open season effective date for 2027 is Jan. 10 for most employees but Jan. 1 for retirees and PSHB. A date guide for agency benefits offices.
By Shawn McCoy7 min read
The FEHB open season effective date for 2027 is January 10, 2027 for most non-postal federal employees. Retirees, PSHB enrollees, FEDVIP and FSAFEDS all start on January 1, 2027. Open Season runs from November 9 through December 14, 2026. Because these dates differ by group, a benefits office that sends one generic "your new plan starts January 1" message will create confusion in January. This guide lists the dates exactly as OPM has published them and explains how to present them to employees.
The 2027 open season dates at a glance
OPM's 2026 Federal Benefits Open Season Highlights for Plan Year 2027 sets out the effective dates for each program. Here they are in one table.
| Group or program | Enroll or change takes effect | Cancellation takes effect |
|---|---|---|
| FEHB, non-postal employees | January 10, 2027 | January 9, 2027 |
| FEHB, OWCP compensationers | January 24, 2027 | January 23, 2027 |
| FEHB annuitants | January 1, 2027 | December 31, 2026 |
| PSHB enrollees | January 1, 2027 | December 31, 2026 |
| FEDVIP | January 1, 2027 | Not applicable |
| FSAFEDS | January 1, 2027 | Not applicable |
The FEHB row for employees also covers changes to premium conversion elections. OPM ties the employee effective date to the start of the first pay period in January, which is why it falls on January 10 rather than January 1.
Why the FEHB open season effective date 2027 matters
Most employee questions in January come from the gap between January 1 and January 10. An employee who switches plans during open season stays in the old plan for the first days of January. If that employee fills a prescription or sees a doctor on January 5, the old plan is responsible. Starting January 10, the new plan pays.
OPM's shutdown furlough guidance makes the same point about terminating plans. It explains that coverage under a new plan begins on the first day of the first pay period that begins on or after January 1, and that the terminating plan is responsible for covered services before then. That principle applies whether or not there is a lapse in appropriations.
What to tell employees who are switching plans
- Keep your current ID card until your new plan's coverage starts.
- Expect a new ID card from your new plan. If it has not arrived by your effective date, call the new plan.
- If you need care in the first days of January, use your current plan.
- Pharmacy refills scheduled for early January should be billed to your current plan.
Dates that apply to retirees and postal enrollees
Retirees are on a different calendar. FEHB annuitants who change plans during open season have a January 1, 2027 effective date. PSHB enrollees, both postal employees and postal annuitants, also start January 1, 2027.
That matters if your office serves a mixed population. A retirement services team that answers calls from annuitants should not repeat the January 10 date. Separate talking points for employees and annuitants avoid that mistake.
PSHB enrollees will also use a redesigned PSHBS enrollee portal, which OPM says is scheduled to launch during open season for plan year 2027. Postal benefits staff should expect questions about the new screens.
Dental, vision and FSAFEDS run on January 1
FEDVIP dental and vision changes made during open season take effect January 1, 2027 for everyone. FSAFEDS elections also take effect January 1, 2027.
FSAFEDS is the one program that does not roll over. OPM states that participation does not continue automatically from year to year, so every current participant who wants a 2027 account must re-enroll. FSAFEDS is for active employees only. For more on the new FSAFEDS Visa FSA card and the re-enrollment message, see our earlier post on FSAFEDS re-enrollment and the Visa card.
The closing time on December 14
Open season ends Monday, December 14, 2026, but the exact cutoff depends on the program. According to the OPM open season page:
- FEDVIP and FSAFEDS enrollment ends at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.
- FEHB and PSHB enrollment ends at 11:59 p.m. in the time zone where the employee's electronic enrollment system is located.
For offices in the Mountain or Pacific time zones, the FEDVIP and FSAFEDS deadline arrives earlier in the evening than many employees expect. A reminder on Friday, December 11 is safer than one late on Monday the 14th.
What else changes for plan year 2027
Effective dates are only one part of the message. Benefits offices should also be ready for these plan year 2027 changes.
Premiums
OPM reports that the average FEHB premium is rising 9.3%, and the average enrollee share is rising 10.9%. For PSHB, the average enrollee share is rising 8.2%. FEDVIP dental premiums rise 1.0% on average, and vision premiums rise 1.6%. Actual amounts vary by plan and enrollment type, so employees should check the rate chart for their plan.
Terminating plans
Nine FEHB options and one PSHB option will not be offered in 2027. Enrollees in a terminating FEHB option who do not choose a new plan will be automatically enrolled in Compass Rose Standard. The PSHB default plan is FEP Blue Focus. Our agency communications checklist can help you plan outreach to affected enrollees.
Family member verification
Under the FEHB Protection Act of 2025, anyone adding a new family member to FEHB or PSHB during open season must submit supporting documents. We covered the family member verification process last week.
A sample message for employees
Benefits offices can adapt this short text for an all-employee email or intranet post.
Open Season runs November 9 through December 14, 2026. If you change FEHB plans, your new coverage begins January 10, 2027. Keep using your current plan until then. FEDVIP and FSAFEDS changes take effect January 1, 2027. FSAFEDS does not continue automatically, so re-enroll if you want a 2027 account. FEDVIP and FSAFEDS close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on December 14.
A separate version for annuitants should use January 1, 2027 for FEHB changes and remove the FSAFEDS line.
Common January questions, answered
Benefits offices can expect the same handful of questions each January. Having short, accurate answers ready saves time.
"My new plan says coverage starts January 10. Am I uninsured from January 1 to 9?" No. An employee who changed plans keeps the old plan until the new one takes effect. There is no gap in coverage.
"I did not change anything. Do I need a new ID card?" Usually not. Health, dental and vision enrollments continue automatically from year to year when no change is made. Only FSAFEDS requires a new election.
"My first January paycheck looks different." Premiums for 2027 are higher on average, so the deduction may change even if the employee kept the same plan. The rate chart for each plan shows the employee share by pay period.
"I added my spouse during open season. Why is my enrollment on hold?" Starting with this open season, new family members require supporting documents. Coverage for the family member depends on the agency receiving and verifying those documents.
Practical checklist for the January transition
- Confirm which groups your office serves: non-postal employees, OWCP compensationers, annuitants or postal enrollees.
- Use the correct effective date in every template and phone script.
- Remind employees to keep their current ID card until the new plan takes effect.
- Flag employees in terminating plans who have not made an election by early December.
- Plan for a short spike in January calls about ID cards, pharmacy claims and the first paycheck with 2027 premiums.
Where FEBA can help
Agencies often find that a short, live briefing answers more questions than a long email. FEBA's agency benefits briefings explain FEHB, PSHB, FEDVIP and FSAFEDS in plain English. To plan a session for your workforce, contact our team.
Questions
- What is the FEHB open season effective date for 2027?
- For non-postal federal employees, OPM lists January 10, 2027 as the effective date for open season enrollments and changes. Cancellations take effect January 9, 2027.
- When do open season changes take effect for retirees?
- OPM's plan year 2027 table lists January 1, 2027 for FEHB annuitants, with cancellations effective December 31, 2026.
- When do PSHB open season changes take effect?
- PSHB enrollments and changes made during open season take effect January 1, 2027, and cancellations take effect December 31, 2026.
- When do FEDVIP and FSAFEDS elections take effect?
- Both take effect January 1, 2027 for elections made during open season. FSAFEDS does not continue automatically, so employees must re-enroll each year.
- What time does open season end on December 14, 2026?
- OPM says FEDVIP and FSAFEDS enrollment ends at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. FEHB and PSHB enrollment ends at 11:59 p.m. in the time zone of the electronic enrollment system the employee uses.
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.
