As the 2021 FEHB Open Season draws to a close Monday, December 14^th, there’s still time to look for a new plan or confirm your existing plan is the right choice. Here are a few things to consider.

• Enrollment status – 90% of the time self-plus-one enrollment is cheaper than self-family enrollment, but not always. Check your plan’s premiums to confirm you’re enrolled in the less costly enrollment option. For example, if you happen to be in NALC High, you can save $726 switching from self-plus-one to self-family enrollment
• Plan changes – The enrollee share of the premium increased 4.9% in 2021. Many plans had no benefit changes, but some did. Will your doctors still be in your plan next year? Will your prescription drugs still be on the formulary? Even if you’re not considering switching plans, there’s still homework to be done this Open Season to make sure there won’t be any significant changes to your existing plan.
• Medicare Advantage – Several Medicare Advantage plans have the lowest estimated yearly costs in Checkbook’s Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees for all available FEHB plans in low, average, and high health care expense years. United Advantage Retiree Advantage and Aetna Advantage Medicare Advantage are both available in the lower 48 states. Both have partial Medicare Part B premium reimbursement and have $0 cost sharing for most health-care expenses, except prescription drugs. Both allow you to see out-of-network doctors if the provider participates with Medicare. A couple in Charleston, SC, with average health-care expenses could save $1780 in estimated yearly costs with United Advantage Retiree Advantage compared to Blue Cross Basic. If you live in one of the 15 states with a United Choice plan, the savings can be even more dramatic. The United Choice plans have the same $0 cost sharing except for prescription drugs, but they reimburse almost the entire Medicare Part B premium. A couple in the Washington, D.C. area could save $3000 with United Choice Primary Retiree Advantage compared to Blue Cross Basic. To enroll in any of these Medicare Advantage plans you must first enroll in the regular FEHB plan version, have Medicare Parts A and B, and then sign up with either UnitedHealthcare (844-481-8821) or Aetna (866-241-0262).
• Medicare Part B – Whether to sign up for Medicare Part B depends on a few things. First, if you fall into one of the high-income categories (more than $88,000 individual or $176,000 couple), Medicare Part B is of limited value due to the increase in the Part B premium. Second, some plans have better Medicare coordination benefits than others, including some plans that have partial Part B premium reimbursement. If you’re with a plan that doesn’t coordinate well with Medicare, you might reconsider whether having Part B is the right choice for you.

Checkbook’s Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees can be purchased at GuidetoHealthPlans.org. Save 20% by entering promo code FEDRETIRE at checkout.

Several of our previous articles compared the new FEHB MA plans to GEHA Standard and Blue Cross Blue Shield Basic Self-Plus-One plans and another provides a comprehensive guide to this years Open Sesason. Review these for additional assistance with making your choices:

• Plan Comparisons – Aetna MA to GEHA Standard and BCBS Basic
• New Medicare Advantage Options Available to Federal Retirees
• 2021 FEHB Plan Selection Guide

Medicare Impact on FEHB Plans

Review the following articles that describe the impact Medicare has on your FEHB provider payments.

• A Marriage of Convenience – Medicare & FEHB
• Medicare and FEHB Options – What Will You Do When You Turn 65? (Part 1)
• What to Consider Before Enrolling in Medicare B (Part 2)
• Should You Change to a Lower Cost FEHB Plan When You Sign Up for Medicare (Part 3)
  • Caution – Don’t Lose Your FEHB Coverage
• Medicare Part B and FEHB Update (Part 4)
• How to Delay Part B Premiums

This article is a collaboration between Kevin Moss of Checkbook.org and Dennis Damp, host of www.federalretirement.net.

Helpful Retirement Planning Tools

Schedule A Retirement Benefits Seminar in Your Area

• Retirement Planning For Federal Employees & Annuitant
• Budget Work Sheet
• Social Security Guide
• Medicare Guide

Disclaimer: The information provided may not cover all aspect of unique or special circumstances, federal regulations, medical procedures, and benefit information are subject to change. To ensure the accuracy of this information, contact relevant parties for assistance including OPM’s retirement center. Over time, various dynamic economic factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation and this service is not affiliated with OPM or any federal entity. You should consult with a financial, medical or human resource professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

Last 5 posts by Dennis Damp

• Is A TSP Roth Conversion the Right Choice for You? - April 24th, 2026
• Take These Steps NOW to Increase Your Retirement Income - April 11th, 2026
• Retirement Credit Update for Federal Employees with Prior Military Service - March 27th, 2026
• Survivor’s Benefits for Federal Employee Spouses - March 13th, 2026
• Protecting Your Retirement Nest Egg – Fixed Income Update - February 26th, 2026
• Your 2026 Step-by-Step Federal Retirement Planning Guide - February 19th, 2026
• Online Retirement Application (ORA) Update - February 13th, 2026
• The End to the Silver Script Madness – News Flash - February 7th, 2026
• Reflections 2025 – Marvin Gaye (What’s Going On) - January 30th, 2026
• The Federal Workforce Data (FWD) Release – OPM Update - January 23rd, 2026
• Savings Bond Calculator & Treasury Direct Inefficiencies! - January 15th, 2026
• Tax Forms Availability – What to Expect This Year - January 9th, 2026

Dennis Damp

Dennis V. Damp is an author, retired federal manager, business owner, career counselor and veteran. Damp is the author of 28 books, a recognized benefits expert, and a retired federal manager with 35 years’ service. Dennis has been a guest on hundreds of radio talk shows, CNN’s YOUR MONEY and the Lou Dobbs Cable TV shows, lectured at universities and colleges, produced Internet web sites and training videos, and has written hundreds of articles for national magazines and newspapers. His books have been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times and U.S. News & World Report.

Dennis joined the Air Force in 1968 and spent over three years on active duty and an additional seven years with the Air National Guard. He was hired by the Department of Defense (DOD) after leaving active duty and transferred to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1975. He spent the remainder of his career in various positions with the FAA. His last position was technical operations manager at the Pittsburgh International Airport’s air traffic control tower.