OPM Announces 2013 Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Premium Rates

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced today that the average premium for the 8.2 million people covered by the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program will increase by 3.4 percent in 2013, which is lower than last year’s increase of 3.8 percent.  The average premium increase for the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) will be less than 1 percent.  The average annual increase for FEHB premiums has steadily declined since 2009 when the average premium increase was 7.0 percent.  There are no significant benefit changes for 2013.

On average, FEHB Program enrollees with self only coverage will pay $2.75 more per bi-weekly pay period, and enrollees with family coverage will pay $6.39 more. Premiums for Health Maintenance Organizations will increase an average of 5.3 percent, while Fee-for-Service plans will see an average increase of 3.0 percent.

“I am pleased that we were able to keep the average increase low again this year,” said OPM Director John Berry. “It is important that we deliver competitive rates and benefits through an efficiently run program to attract and retain top-talent in the federal service. Once again, we successfully used our market leverage and previous years’ experience to negotiate the lowest possible premium rates without sacrificing benefits.”

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