Open enrollment is one of the most important — and most overlooked — annual events for public sector employees. Whether you work for a federal agency, state government, school district, or public university, the decisions you make during open enrollment can have significant financial implications for the year ahead.
What is Open Enrollment?
Open enrollment is a designated period during which employees can make changes to their benefit elections. This typically includes health insurance, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending accounts, and sometimes life insurance or supplemental retirement contributions.
Outside of open enrollment, changes are generally only permitted following a qualifying life event such as marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or loss of other coverage.
Federal Employee Open Season
Federal employees participate in the Federal Benefits Open Season, which typically runs from mid-November through mid-December each year. During this period, federal workers can:
- Change their Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plan
- Enroll in or modify Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) coverage
- Adjust Flexible Spending Account (FSA) elections
State and Local Government Variations
Open enrollment periods for state and local government employees vary significantly by jurisdiction. Some states align with the federal calendar, while others use different enrollment windows. Key considerations include:
- Dates and deadlines — These vary by employer and are typically communicated through HR channels
- Plan options — Available health insurance plans may change from year to year
- Premium changes — Employee contribution amounts can change annually
- New benefit offerings — Employers sometimes introduce new programs or modify existing ones
Making Informed Decisions
Rather than simply rolling over last year's elections, consider using open enrollment as an opportunity to:
- Review your current usage of benefits against what you're paying
- Check whether your preferred healthcare providers remain in-network
- Consider whether changes to your family situation warrant coverage adjustments
- Evaluate supplemental savings or spending account options
Where to Find Information
Your employer's HR department is the definitive source for open enrollment dates, plan options, and enrollment procedures. Many employers also host informational sessions or webinars during the enrollment period.
For more general educational content, visit our Resources page.
This content is for general educational purposes only. Specific benefit options vary by employer.