Avoid Costly FEHB Surprises: Open Season 2026 Changes You Must Check

Open Season brings predictable adjustments each year, but 2026 carries a less familiar risk: eight FEHB plan options are disappearing, including NALC High and NALC CDHP—two plans with tens of thousands of enrollees. When a plan vanishes, many federal employees expect OPM to shift them into the lowest-cost nationwide option. This year, OPM used a different authority and will instead default affected employees into GEHA High unless they actively choose a replacement.

For some households, that automatic move could feel like a sudden pay cut. A family enrolled in NALC High paying about $284 per pay period today would jump to roughly $525 in GEHA High. For NALC CDHP enrollees, the jump is even more dramatic—around $146 to approximately $525 per pay period. That kind of swing can destabilize a budget overnight, especially for those already absorbing shutdown-related financial strain.

How to Understand What “Default Enrollment” Really Means

A default enrollment doesn’t mean you’re stuck—it just means the system needs somewhere to place you if you take no action before December 8. But default placement is blind to what your family actually needs: out-of-pocket ceilings, chronic-care medications, behavioral-health access, or whether your specialists remain in-network.

This is where a mindful approach helps. Instead of treating Open Season as another administrative burden, think of it as a 15-minute reset that helps future-you avoid unnecessary stress. Pull up your 2026 options, compare the catastrophic caps, and cross-check your pharmacy list. That brief pause now can spare you from scrambling in January when premiums hit and medical visits become more expensive than expected.

What to Review Before December 8

Use this checklist to ground your evaluation:

• Premium changes: Look at the total biweekly cost—not just the headline percentage.

• Your doctors: Verify 2026 network status. Provider shifts catch many employees off guard each year.

• Prescriptions: Check formularies and new step-therapy or biosimilar rules.

• Catastrophic limit: For families with ongoing medical needs, this cap matters as much as the premium itself.

• Plan type: Some people leaving NALC CDHP may find HMOs or lower-cost nationwide PPOs better aligned with their actual usage patterns.

The default may work for some. But for others—especially those in NALC plans—staying passive could mean a 260% cost increase on January’s first paycheck.

A Final Word of Support

Federal employees have been through a year of uncertainty, shutdowns, and shifting agency demands. Checking your FEHB choices now is one of the few variables you can control. And if you want deeper guidance on navigating federal benefits or changes like these, our Power Hub offers ongoing, practical support for career feds who want to stay ahead of surprises.

Legal Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. While I am a federal employment attorney, this post does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every situation is unique, and legal outcomes depend on specific facts and circumstances.