FEHB Open Season 2027 Dates Confirmed: November 9 to December 14, With a 10.9% Average Premium Increase

FEHB Open Season 2027 Dates: The Office of Personnel Management has confirmed that FEHB Open Season 2027 will run from Monday, November 9, to Monday, December 14, 2026. The agency released the 2027 premiums and plan information on September 30, and the headline number is hard to miss: the enrollee share of Federal Employees Health Benefits premiums will rise 10.9 percent on average. That makes it the third double digit increase in a row for federal workers and retirees, following 12.3 percent for 2026 and 13.5 percent for 2025. The program will offer 118 plan options from 45 carriers, down from 132 options, because nine plans are leaving. We’ll be updating this article monthly.

For most people the first decision is simple: do nothing and your coverage continues into 2027 at the new price, or use the five weeks to compare plans and possibly save money. Premium changes vary widely. Reporting based on OPM’s rate charts shows that the typical plan moved about 6 percent, and roughly 20 of the 117 plans that existed in both years actually cost less next year. That gap between the average and the typical plan is why a quick comparison can be worth real money. A new rule also matters this year: every family member you add during Open Season must be verified before the change is final.

FEHB Open Season 2027 Dates and Key Highlights

The regulation behind the calendar says Open Season runs from the Monday of the second full workweek in November through the Monday of the second full workweek in December. For 2026 that lands on November 9 and December 14. Last year’s window was shorter, running November 10 through December 8, 2025, so this year gives enrollees about a week more.

Open Season covers four programs: FEHB for health coverage, PSHB for postal employees and annuitants, FEDVIP for dental and vision, and FSAFEDS for flexible spending accounts. Each has its own rules about what happens if you take no action, which is covered later in this guide.

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Why FEHB Premiums Are Rising 10.9% for 2027

The 10.9 percent figure is the average change in the share enrollees pay, not the total premium. The government’s contribution is set by law as the lesser of 72 percent of the program wide weighted average premium or 75 percent of the total premium for the plan you pick. Because the government share grew by an average of 8.6 percent while the total premium grew 9.3 percent, the portion left to employees and retirees grows faster, at 10.9 percent.

OPM points to the same pressures that have driven prices for several years: higher use of specialty drugs, higher hospital and provider costs, and the growing expense of weight loss medications. The agency’s March call letter also tightened how plans must cover anti-obesity drugs, which affects benefit design even if it does not show up as a single line in your premium.

The pay side adds pressure. The President’s alternative pay plan proposes no general increase and no locality increase in 2027 for most civilian General Schedule employees. A double digit premium rise with a flat paycheck means take home pay can shrink, which is one reason benefits advisers are telling people to compare plans carefully this year.

The growth is slowing, but each year compounds on the last. Someone paying $200 per biweekly pay period today would pay about $221.80 next year at the average rate, which is $21.80 more per pay period or about $566.80 over a 26 pay period year.

FEHB 2027 Premium Calculator

Use the calculator file provided with this article to estimate your own cost. Enter what you pay now per pay period, keep the 10.9 percent average or replace it with the exact percentage from your plan’s rate chart, and the tool shows your new pay period cost and annual difference. Employees can use the 26 pay period setting and annuitants can use the monthly setting. The final numbers always come from the OPM rate charts and your plan brochure, so treat the calculator as a planning estimate.

Government Contribution Limits for 2027

OPM has also published the program wide figures that decide how much of your premium the government covers. These numbers are the ceiling on the government's share.

For comparison, the 2026 biweekly maximum was $324.76 for Self Only, $711.17 for Self Plus One and $778.03 for Self and Family. The formula itself has not changed for 2027.

Which FEHB Plans Are Ending in 2027?

Nine FEHB plan options and one PSHB plan are leaving after 2026, and the total number of FEHB options falls from 132 to 118. The PSHB plan that ends is UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus Primary Postal East, and its default replacement is FEP Blue Focus. If your plan is on the terminating list and you make no election during Open Season, you will be moved to a default plan, which may differ from what you would have chosen. Check your agency's notice or the OPM plan information page for your plan name and option before the window opens. Carrier exits happen every year. Six plans left for 2026. The takeaway is the same each time: if your plan is leaving, you do not have the option of doing nothing and keeping it.

New FEHB Rules for 2027: Family Member Verification and Weight Loss Drugs

Two policy changes deserve attention before you start your election.

The first is family member verification. OPM's Benefits Administration Letter 26-202, dated July 15, 2026, requires employing offices to verify 100 percent of Open Season elections in which a family member is added. Until now agencies were required to review a minimum sample of about 10 percent. The change comes from the FEHB Protection Act of 2025, which is Section 90101 of Public Law 119-21. Additions tied to qualifying life events were already subject to full verification beginning July 4, 2026, and Open Season is the second wave.

In practice, if you plan to move from Self Only to Self Plus One or Self and Family, or add a spouse or child, collect the paperwork before you submit. Typical proof includes a marriage certificate for a spouse and a birth certificate for a child. Your agency benefits office will tell you exactly what it accepts. Coverage for the new family member can be held until the documents clear, so submit early in the window rather than on the last day.

The second change involves anti-obesity medications. Under the 2027 call letter, plans must continue to offer at least one GLP-1 medication and at least two additional oral anti-obesity drugs, but coverage now requires intensive behavioral therapy before and during treatment rather than a simple attestation. If you or a family member uses Wegovy, Zepbound or a similar drug, read Section 2 of your brochure for the plan specific rules before choosing.

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How to Apply: How to Change Your FEHB Plan During Open Season 2027

The process is straightforward once you know where your agency runs elections. Follow these steps.

1. Review your options starting now. OPM posted the 2027 premium charts on September 30, and the online plan comparison tool and full brochures arrive in early November.
2. Check whether your current plan is continuing, and compare its 2027 cost with two or three alternatives that cover your doctors and prescriptions.
3. Gather documents if you are adding a family member, such as marriage or birth certificates.
4. Make your election between November 9 and December 14, 2026. Employees usually use the system their agency provides, such as Employee Express or the agency's own portal, or they submit Standard Form 2809 to their human resources office. Postal employees use PostalEASE. Annuitants use their OPM retirement account online or the Open Season phone system.
5. Save the confirmation page or number, and check your statement of earnings after the new year to confirm the deduction matches your plan.

If you want to stay in the same plan and option, you do not need to do anything. FEHB, PSHB and FEDVIP continue automatically at the 2027 rates unless your plan is leaving. FSAFEDS is the exception: your flexible spending account ends on December 31 unless you re-enroll during Open Season.

Processing Time: When Your FEHB Changes Take Effect

OPM does not publish a fixed number of days for processing an Open Season election, because agencies and payroll providers handle the transactions themselves. What is set is the effective date. For employees, FEHB and PSHB changes begin on the first day of the first pay period starting in January 2027, which is not always January 1. For annuitants, changes begin January 1, 2027. FEDVIP and FSAFEDS elections take effect January 1, 2027.

Three practical points follow from this:

1. Elections made at any point during the window are treated the same, so there is no advantage in rushing, but there is a risk in waiting until the last day because systems can be busy.
2. Family additions are verified before enrollment is finalized, so missing documents are the most likely reason for a delay.
3. If your plan is terminating and you make no choice, the default plan applies on the same effective date.

If you do not see your new plan on your first January statement, contact your agency benefits office or retirement services right away rather than waiting.

Payment Schedule: How and When You Pay Your 2027 FEHB Premium

Premiums are not billed separately. For employees, your share is deducted from each paycheck, normally on a pre-tax basis, which means 26 deductions in a typical year for biweekly payroll. The new 2027 amount starts with the first pay period beginning in January 2027. For annuitants, the premium is deducted monthly from the annuity payment, starting with the January 2027 payment.

Because the biweekly numbers in OPM charts are per pay period, a quick way to compare plans is to multiply the biweekly difference by 26 and see the yearly gap. For example, a plan that is $12 cheaper per pay period saves about $312 across a full year.

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FEDVIP and FSAFEDS for 2027

Dental and vision coverage through FEDVIP will cost slightly more, with average premium increases of 1.0 percent for dental and 1.6 percent for vision. The program has 11 dental carriers and 5 vision carriers with 31 options.

FSAFEDS has a notable new feature. Eligible employees can choose an FSAFEDS Visa card when they elect for the 2027 benefit period, which lets them pay for qualified health care, pharmacy, dental and vision costs at the point of sale. You can also keep using paperless reimbursement. The program is administered by HealthEquity.

The IRS limits for 2027 had not yet been published in the sources reviewed for this article. For reference, the 2026 health care FSA limit was $3,400, with up to $680 of carryover for those who re-enroll, and the dependent care limit was $7,500 per household. Check FSAFEDS for the confirmed 2027 figures before you pick a contribution amount.

How to Choose the Right FEHB Plan for 2027

Premium is only one piece of what a plan costs you. Use a short checklist to compare total cost.

1. Compare the premium for your enrollment type, using the biweekly figure for employees or the monthly figure for annuitants.
2. Look at the deductible, copays, coinsurance and the annual out of pocket maximum.
3. Confirm your doctors, hospitals and key prescriptions are covered, especially if you use GLP-1 drugs or specialty medications.
4. If you are Medicare eligible, review how Part B fits with your FEHB plan, because it can change the best choice.
5. Consider whether you need a high option plan or whether a standard option with lower premiums fits your usage.

A person who rarely sees a doctor may do better with a lower premium and a higher deductible, while a family with regular prescriptions may find a higher premium plan cheaper in total. Run the numbers for both scenarios using last year's claims as a guide.

Official FEHB Open Season 2027 Resources

If your agency uses a different portal, your human resources office will give you the correct login page. Always reach official sites by typing the address or using the links on opm.gov, since scam sites imitating benefits pages do appear during enrollment season.

FEHB Open Season 2027 FAQs

Conclusion: What Federal Employees and Retirees Should Do Before November 9

FEHB Open Season 2027 is shorter on surprises than on cost. The dates are set for November 9 to December 14, the average enrollee increase is 10.9 percent, and nine plans are leaving the program. The new verification rule makes family additions slower if your paperwork is not ready, and FSAFEDS still needs a fresh election every year.

A sensible plan is to check whether your current plan continues, compare at least two alternatives on total cost rather than premium alone, prepare documents if you are adding a dependent, and make your election early in the window. Use the calculator to see your yearly impact, confirm the final figures on opm.gov, and keep your confirmation record. We'll keep this guide current as OPM releases the plan comparison tool and the 2027 FSA limits.

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