As a Federal employee, the benefits available to you represent a significant piece of your compensation package. They may provide important insurance coverage to protect you and your family and, in some cases, offer tax advantages that reduce the burden in paying for some health products and services, or dependent or elder care services. The purpose of this Guide is to provide you basic information about the benefits offered to you as a Federal employee, and assist you in making informed choices about these benefits as you move through your career and prepare for retirement.

As a Federal employee, the benefits available to you represent a significant piece of your compensation package. They may provide important insurance coverage to protect you and your family and, in some cases, offer tax advantages that reduce the burden in paying for some health products and services, or dependent or elder care services.The purpose of this Guide is to provide you basic information about the benefits offered to you as a Federal employee, and assist you in making informed choices about these benefits as you move through your career and prepare for retirement.Benefits Programs included in this GuideIn addition to your Civil Service or Federal Employees Retirement System benefits and the Thrift Savings Plan, the Federal government offers five benefits programs to eligible employees and retirees. This Guide includes information on the five programs:• Federal Employees Health Benefits Program• Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program• Federal Flexible Spending Account Program• Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program• Federal Long Term Care Insurance ProgramIf you are a new Federal employee or have recently become eligible for benefits, this Guide will walk you through the benefits offered and provide information on how and when to make your choices. If you are a current employee, this Guide will provide the most current information regarding the benefit programs, and will support you as you make decisions during the annual Federal Benefits Open Season, or experience life events that cause you to reconsider previous choices.This Guide also contains some tips on what to consider as you make your decisions. For instance, did you know that the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) and the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS) can potentially provide you with greater benefits without costing you much more? As a Federal employee, you can choose to pay the FEDVIP and FEHB premiums with pretax dollars and you can use pretax FSA dollars to pay for eligible expenses, including FEDVIP and FEHB copays and deductibles. Dental and vision care are also eligible FSA expenses, whether combined with FEDVIP coverage or not. Please take a moment to review the information in this Guide and decide upon the right choices for you.