Federal employees and annuitants will pay an average of 10.9% more for Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage in 2027, with many plans rising even higher, according to FNN — Benefits.
Enrollees should compare plan costs before open season begins.
Key Facts
- Average increase: FEHB premiums will rise 10.9% on average in 2027.
- Steeper hikes: Many individual plans will see increases above the average, FNN reported.
- Who is affected: Both current federal employees and annuitants.
- Action window: Open season is the annual opportunity to switch plans, add or drop coverage, or change enrollment type. It typically runs from mid-November to mid-December.
- Plan-by-plan variation: Because the 10.9% figure is an average, the change in your premium depends on the plan you hold.
What It Means For You
An average increase hides a wide range. Staying in your current plan without checking the new rates could cost you more than a comparable alternative.
Current employees: Premiums are deducted from your paycheck, so a higher rate reduces take-home pay beginning in the first pay period of 2027. Review your plan's new biweekly rate against competing options.
Annuitants: Premiums are generally deducted from your monthly annuity payment. For retirees on a fixed income, a double-digit increase can be especially noticeable. Compare options carefully, and confirm that any plan you consider covers your preferred providers and prescriptions.
Before open season, enrollees should:
- Look up the 2027 premiums for their current plan and at least two alternatives.
- Check premiums alongside deductibles, copays, out-of-pocket maximums and prescription coverage. The lowest premium is not always the lowest total cost.
- Confirm that preferred doctors and hospitals remain in network.
- Consider whether the current enrollment type (Self Only, Self Plus One or Self and Family) still fits your household.
To see how plan features and costs stack up, use the FEHB value guide.
Context
FEHB is the largest employer-sponsored health insurance program in the country. The government pays a share of each plan's premium, and enrollees pay the rest. When total premiums rise, the enrollee share rises with them.
Final plan-specific rates are published by the Office of Personnel Management ahead of open season. Enrollees should rely on OPM's official premium tables and their plan's brochure for exact 2027 figures.
Source: FNN — Benefits