More than 100 federal employees and retirees, active and retired military, and postal workers and retirees attended Congressman Gerry Connolly's first Open Season Workshop in late November at the Fairfax County Government Center.

Connolly, other experts from OPM, NARFE, Federal Employees Health Benefit plan reps, and FEHB expert Walt Francis, author of Checkbook's guide to FEHB plans, helped attendees navigate through the many changes in the 2010 Federal Employees Health Benefits plans, dental and vision insurance programs, and flexible spending accounts.

“Most FEHB plans have benefit and rate changes for 2010 so it was important for federal employees and retirees to know the details about how their current plans were changing and whether or not there was another option that better suited their needs,” Connolly said.  “Some plans were changing their coverage options or service areas, while others were dropping out of the FEHB program so it was important that every federal employee and retiree reviewed the status of their current coverage.”

Featured at Congressman Connolly's Open Season event were:

• 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.

• Representatives of various FEHB health plans who will be available to provide information and answer questions concerning plan offerings for 2010

Connolly said anyone seeking further information or assistance about their FEHB plan can call his District Office at 703-256-3071.