Federal Employee Benefits

Health Insurance

Federal employees have a variety of health plans from which to choose. The Guide to Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program lists biweekly premiums and provides a summary of benefits for each type of plan. Before you select a plan, review the plan brochures (click on your state of residence). Part-time Federal employees will pay higher premiums than those stated in the Guide.

New employees must enroll or waive coverage within 60 days of appointment. New enrollments become effective on the first day of the pay period that begins after the completed SF-2809 is received in the SAO Benefits Office. You should note that unless you elect otherwise, your FEHB premiums will be paid on a pretax basis, which means that your taxable income is lower for Federal, state, Social Security, and Medicare taxes.

Always check your leave and earnings statement to verify that your deductions have been recorded appropriately.

Dental and Vision Insurance

The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Program (FEDVIP) is available to eligible federal employees and their eligible family members on an enrollee-pays-all basis. This program allows dental and vision insurance to be purchased at group rates, with no pre-existing condition limitations. You are not required to enroll in the FEHB Program to be able to enroll in dental and/or vision coverage through FEDVIP. Further program details may be found at OPM's Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

You can enroll in a dental plan and/or a vision plan for self-only, self plus one, or self and family coverage. Eligible family members include your spouse and unmarried dependent children who are under age 22, or a dependent child who is incapable of self-support. Biweekly premiums will be withheld from your pay on a pre-tax basis.

Plan options and premium rates for FEDVIP dental plans may be viewed here.

Plan options and premium rates for FEDVIP vision plans may be viewed here.

You can enroll through the BENEFEDS Portal. You will be directed to a secure website where you will be asked to enter your name, personal information such as address and Social Security Number, the agency you work for, and the dental and/or vision plan you select. If you do not have access to a computer, you will be able to enroll by phone at 1-877-888-3337, TTY 1-877-889-5680.

Life Insurance

The Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) booklet, RI 76-21, describes the benefit levels and cost for this program. As a Federal employee you are automatically covered by Basic Life as of the date of your appointment. You may elect Optional coverage or you may waive ALL coverage. However, if you waive coverage you may be required to prove your good health to obtain coverage in the future, unless you have a "life event" or an open season is announced.

Use the FEGLI Calculator to determine the cost of various levels of Optional coverage.

Complete the Life Insurance Election Form, SF-2817, and designate your Life Insurance beneficiary on SF-2823 . Return all completed copies to the SAO Benefits Office within 31 days of your appointment.

Further details may be found at the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program website.

Retirement

New Federal employees with less than 5 years of prior civilian service are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). The FERS Booklet describes the plan, which includes a basic annuity, Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).

Designate your FERS beneficiary on the FERS Designation of Beneficiary, SF-3102

If you are an employee who is rehired into Federal service with a break of less than 1 year and you were previously covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), you are covered by CSRS.

If you are rehired into Federal employment and you completed 5 years of creditable civilian service by 12/31/1986, you are covered by CSRS-Offset.

FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan consisting of the following:

• Social Security
• Basic Benefits Plan
• Thrift Savings Plan

As a FERS employee, you pay full Social Security taxes and a small contribution to the Basic Benefit Plan. SAO will notify TSP of your eligibility and contribute 1% of your basic pay each pay period, regardless of whether or not you decide to contribute your own money to TSP.

Additional information on FERS may be obtained from OPM’s Retirement Services website.

The TSP is a voluntary retirement savings plan for civilian employees. Your contributions up to the maximum deferral limits allowed under the Internal Revenue Code are made on a tax-deferred basis and will be subject to income tax only when they are withdrawn.

You may make tax-deferred contributions to TSP and, when eligible, a portion will be matched by the Government. SAO will match $1 for every $1 you invest for the first 3% of your basic pay and $.50 for each $1 you invest for the next 2% of your basic pay. You may start, change, stop, and resume TSP contributions at any time.

Participation is strongly encouraged--especially for FERS employees--because TSP is an integral part of the total retirement benefits package, along with Social Security and the Basic FERS benefit. You have 60 days from your appointment date to submit your completed TSP Election Form (TSP-1). If you are age 50 or above, you are eligible to make TSP Catch-Up contributions using form TSP-1-C. To designate your TSP beneficiary, use form TSP-3. To access these forms, please go to the TSP website link below, click on the radio button for Civilian Forms & Publications to select the form you need. Download to complete or fill the forms online, then print and sign.

Flexible Spending Accounts

The Federal Flexible Spending Accounts Program (FSAFeds) allows you to set aside a portion of your pay each pay period to pay for certain health and dependent care expenses with pretax dollars. This pretax treatment reduces your taxable income (Federal, state, and FICA taxes). Please note the following guidelines:

• Health Care FSA maximum annual allotment is $2,500, with a minimum allotment of $250.
• Dependent Care FSA maximum annual allotment is $5,000 ($2,500 if married and filing a separate income tax return), with a minimum allotment of $250.

A new election must be made each plan year during open season, as elections do not carry over from one year to the next.

Learn more at the FSAFeds website.

Long Term Care Insurance

The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) provides long term care insurance for Federal employees, their spouses, adult children, parents, step-parents, and parents-in-law. This is not health care – it is for people who can no longer perform everyday tasks due to chronic illness, injury, disability, or the aging process..

You can apply for this coverage within 60 days of your entrance on duty using the abbreviated underwriting application, with only a few health-related questions.

The cost of the insurance is based on your age when you apply – the older you are when you apply, the more costly the insurance becomes. Not everyone who applies will be approved, as certain medical conditions or a combination of conditions will be excluded from coverage.

For further information, or to apply for coverage, go to www.ltcfeds.com.

Business Travel Accident Insurance

All employees are automatically covered for accidental death and dismemberment insurance while traveling on SAO business. Benefits are a function of your salary and range from a minimum of $100,000 to a maximum of $300,000. There are no forms to complete.

Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment (VADD)

Employees may purchase additional amounts of AD&D coverage in $50,000 increments from a minimum of $50,000 to a maximum of $500,000 (limited to 10x salary). The following coverage types available are available: employee only, employee plus spouse, employee plus children, and employee plus family. Please review the benefit summary, Voluntary Group Accident Insurance Plan on the Federal Employee Benefit website for more details and the enrollment form. You may enroll in this plan at any time.