Can you Save Money by Enrolling in FEHB Self Plus One?

Married couples with no children to cover, and single parents with one child to cover, can enroll as self plus one rather than as a family and, depending on the plan, usually save two or three hundred dollars a year in premium costs, and often more. Since the benefits of the plan are identical in almost all cases regardless of enrollment, this is a clear saving. But before you make a final decision, check to make sure the premium for a self and family enrollment isn't lower for the plan you have chosen. Most of the time, self-plus-one has the lowest premium, but there are plans where self and family is the less expensive enrollment option. In 2023 there are 86 FEHB plan options where self and family enrollment is less expensive than self-plus-one enrollment. The Plan Flexibility section of the Guide will tell you if self plus one is cheaper than self and family. In addition to the annual Open Season, where you can switch plans or enrollment category or both, OPM allows retirees to switch down from family to self plus one at any time during the year. This can only be used for the plan you are already enrolled in, not to switch plans, unless there is a qualifying life event such as death of family member or divorce.