Update 12/1/2011

More than 200 federal employees and retirees participated in Congressman Gerry Connolly’s annual Federal Employees Health Benefit Plans Open Season Workshop held in late December in Fairfax.  The workshop featured a panel of experts including renowned FEHB expert Walt Francis, as well as representatives from OPM, AARP and NARFE.  Health insurance representatives from many plans offered under the program were on hand to answer specific questions regarding their coverage, premiums.

 

Congressman Connolly has held this annual workshop every year he has been in Congress.  “My congressional district has one of the highest number of federal employees and retirees in the nation.  My constituents tell me the workshop is a great venue for them to hear experts provide straight talk about the various plans,” Connolly said. “They also get to meet one-on-one with OPM experts and representatives of the various health benefit plans, and find out what plan best fits their needs.”

More than 200 federal employees and retirees participated in Congressman Gerry Connolly’s annual Federal Employees Health Benefit Plans Open Season Workshop held in late December in Fairfax.  The workshop featured a panel of experts including renowned FEHB expert Walt Francis, as well as representatives from OPM, AARP and NARFE.  Health insurance representatives from many plans offered under the program were on hand to answer specific questions regarding their coverage, premiums.

 

Congressman Connolly has held this annual workshop every year he has been in Congress.  “My congressional district has one of the highest number of federal employees and retirees in the nation.  My constituents tell me the workshop is a great venue for them to hear experts provide straight talk about the various plans,” Connolly said. “They also get to meet one-on-one with OPM experts and representatives of the various health benefit plans, and find out what plan best fits their needs.”

 

 

Rep. Connolly and FEHBP expert Walt Francis (Right) take questions from federal employees and retirees on changes to health plans.

 

 

 

 More than 200 people attended Connolly's Open Season Workshop 

To help federal employees and retirees navigate through the many changes in the 2012 Federal Employees Health Benefits plans, dental and vision insurance programs, and flexible spending accounts, Congressman Gerry Connolly will hold an Open Season Workshop on November 19, 2011.  Open Season runs from November 14 to December 12.

Connolly’s Open Season Workshop for Federal Employees and Retirees will take place at the Fairfax County Government Center on Saturday, November 19, 2011, from 10 am to 2 pm.  The address is 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA, 22035.

The program will include presentations by FEHB experts.  Representatives of various health plans and Medicare will be available to discuss their programs with participants.

“Most FEHB plans have benefit and rate changes for 2012 so it is important that federal employees and retirees know the details on how their current plans are changing and whether or not there is another option that better suits their needs,” Connolly said.  “Some plans are changing their coverage options or service areas, while others are dropping out of the FEHB program so it is important that every federal employee and retiree review the status of their current coverage.”

Connolly urged every federal employee and retiree, as well as survivor and former spouse annuitants to make sure they review their FEHB plan coverage and other benefits before Open Season ends on December 12.   “Federal employees, retirees, and annuitants who have questions or want to make sure that they have the coverage they need and want under the FEHB plans are welcome to attend my Open Season Workshop on November 19,” he said.

Congressman Connolly’s Open Season workshop will feature:

10:00 am – 11:00 am 

Fairfax County Government Center Board Auditorium

Featured Speakers:

• Dean Schleicher, the Office of Personnel Management’s project leader for the FEHB program annual Open Season and an expert on health plan performance and quality
• Walt Francis, an economist and policy analyst who has authored CHECKBOOK’s Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees for three decades and worked for the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Health and Human Services.

10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Fairfax County Government CenterConference Rooms 2-3, 4-5, 7 and 8

Representatives of various FEHB health plans and Medicare will be available to provide information and answer questions concerning plan offerings for 2012

Federal employees seeking further information about FEHB plans can visit OPM’s FEHB Open Season website at:

http://www.opm.gov/insure/openseason/ .

The OPM website contains detailed information about FEHB plans, dental insurance, vision insurance, and flexible spending accounts for federal employees and dependents.  The site also provides links to frequently asked questions and other information that federal employees and retirees might need to help them make decisions about their current and future coverage.

Federal employees, retirees, or annuitants seeking more information about the Open Season workshop may call Connolly’s District Office at 703-256-3071.

Congressman Connolly has held an Open Season event each year since he took office in January 2009.