2027 FEHB Premiums: Prepare for Open Season

Higher health insurance premiums can change a federal household's spending plan long before retirement. OPM's 2027 Open Season highlights report an average 10.9% increase in the FEHB enrollee share and an 8.2% increase for PSHB enrollees. These are program averages, not the increase every employee or retiree will pay.

The practical next step is to compare your own plan's new deduction with the coverage your household expects to use. A lower premium does not automatically mean lower annual spending, and a familiar plan deserves a fresh look when its prices, network, or prescription rules change.

Book a No Cost Retirement Review

Put your own premium into the budget

The enrollee share is the amount that affects your paycheck or annuity deduction. OPM distinguishes that share from the total premium: the average FEHB total premium increase for 2027 is 9.3%, compared with the 10.9% enrollee-share increase.

Use the 2027 rate chart for your exact plan option and enrollment code. Compare the same enrollment type and payment frequency across both years. OPM publishes biweekly and monthly figures, so mixing those columns can produce a misleading comparison.

For a hypothetical household, an additional $35 each month means $420 more in annual premiums. That is a budgeting example, not a forecast for any particular plan. Write down your actual dollar difference before deciding whether to adjust other spending.

Mark the dates, then check what continues automatically

OPM has announced November 9 through December 14, 2026 as Open Season for the 2027 plan year. Use that window to review your choices and submit any required election.

FEHB, PSHB, and FEDVIP coverage generally continues if you make no change; Open Season does not require everyone to choose a new health plan. FSAFEDS is different: eligible employees must make a new annual election to participate for the next year. Read any notice about your specific plan's termination or other required action.

OPM's nationwide menu includes 118 FEHB plan options for 2027. Your choices depend on the plan's service area and eligibility requirements. Compare the options actually available to you.

Compare the whole cost of care

Create a short list of your household's needs before comparing plans:

Regular doctors, specialists, hospitals, and preferred pharmacies.
Current prescriptions, their covered uses, and authorization requirements.
Expected appointments, procedures, and ongoing treatment.
Deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and applicable out-of-pocket limits.
Costs and coverage rules for care outside the network.

Compare annual premiums plus a reasonable estimate of your share of care. Also consider a year with more medical use than expected. An out-of-pocket limit is not a promise that every expense counts toward it, so review exclusions and network rules.

For one eligible family member, compare Self Plus One with Self and Family. OPM notes that some plans charge a higher enrollee premium for Self Plus One. The label alone does not tell you which eligible enrollment type costs less.

Review prescription requirements before changing plans

For anti-obesity medications, OPM's 2027 carrier guidance connects drug coverage with intensive behavioral therapy. Check the plan's documentation, prior authorization, and participation requirements with the carrier and your treating clinician.

The guidance describes coverage for up to 12–22 behavioral therapy sessions annually, depending on progress. Do not interpret that number as a universal requirement to finish 22 sessions before receiving any prescription. Confirm how the plan applies its rules to your medication, diagnosis, and ongoing treatment.

Keep a written record of coverage answers. A general statement that a drug is on a formulary may not answer whether your particular use, dose, pharmacy, or treatment history meets the plan's requirements.

Prepare documents when adding a family member

OPM requires eligibility verification when a family member is added, including through an Open Season election. Ask your benefits office which supporting documents apply to your circumstances and submit them through the designated secure process.

Review the names and eligibility of everyone you intend to cover. If documentation is incomplete, respond promptly to requests from the responsible office. Avoid assuming either that no verification is needed or that a missing document automatically cancels every family member's coverage.

Connect health costs with your retirement plan

A health premium increase is one part of a broader income decision. Compare expected take-home pay with projected retirement income and household expenses before changing your retirement date or increasing TSP withdrawals.

Use estimates as planning inputs, then confirm benefit eligibility and election rules with the appropriate agency or plan. A healthcare cost increase alone does not determine whether retirement is affordable.

Internal Benefit Advisors helps federal employees review retirement eligibility, benefit estimates, and insurance decisions. Bring your current deductions, proposed 2027 plan costs, and retirement questions to a retirement benefit review.

Build an Open Season decision around your household's actual needs and a spending plan you can follow.