Last Updated: November 8, 2026 Reading Time: 9 min
FEHB Open Season runs November 9 to December 14, 2026, and the number everyone has heard is OPM's: the average enrollee share rises 10.9% in 2027. We wanted to know what that average hides, so we compared every plan option in OPM's 2026 and 2027 rate files, tier by tier, for non-postal FEHB and for the Postal Service Health Benefits Program.
The typical plan option rises about 6%, against OPM's 10.9% average. About one in six option-and-tier combinations gets cheaper. One option-and-tier combination more than doubles. Which group your plan falls in matters far more than the average.
How We Did This
We downloaded OPM's 2026 and 2027 FEHB and PSHB rate files and compared the employee's biweekly share for every plan option that exists in both years, separately for Self Only, Self Plus One and Self and Family. FEHB here means non-postal active employees; PSHB means postal employees.
Two limits to keep in mind:
- Every option counts once. OPM's rate files carry no enrollment counts, so these figures aren't weighted by how many people are in each plan. A small regional HMO counts the same as Blue Cross Standard.
- Regional plans are included. The cheapest and priciest premiums below belong to regional plans, and we didn't check their service areas.
Every figure can be reproduced from OPM's files with the script in our research folder. FedTools' own FEHB calculators use the same OPM 2027 rates, and we checked them cell by cell.
The Typical Plan vs OPM's Average
| Measure | Self Only | Self Plus One | Self and Family |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median change in employee share, FEHB | +5.9% | +6.3% | +5.5% |
| Middle half of options (25th to 75th percentile) | +0.9% to +12.5% | +1.4% to +13.0% | +2.3% to +12.4% |
| Median change in dollars, every two weeks | $6.49 | $16.28 | $14.70 |
| Median change in the total premium | +6.9% | +6.9% | +6.8% |
Across all three tiers, the median FEHB option rises 6.0%. OPM's 2027 Open Season Highlights put the average enrollee increase at 10.9%, the overall premium at 9.3% and the government contribution at 8.6%.
That's a gap of 4.9 points, and it's a method difference. OPM's figure is program-wide; ours counts each option once. Why the program-wide average runs higher can't be worked out from the rate files alone, because they don't say how many people are in each plan. Either way, your premium may not go up 11%, so look up your own plan.
How Wide the Spread Is
| FEHB, all tiers (351 continuing option-and-tier combinations) | Count |
|---|---|
| Employee share goes down | 63 |
| Unchanged | 15 |
| Rises more than 10% | 124 |
| Rises more than 20% | 27 |
| Rises more than 50% | 5 |
So about one in six combinations gets cheaper and about one in three rises by double digits. If your plan is in the second group, Open Season is worth a real look this year.
The Big Nationwide Plans, Plan by Plan
Employee share, every two weeks, for non-postal employees. Some of these plans are open only to certain groups of employees.
| Plan | Self Only 2026 | Self Only 2027 | Change | Self and Family 2026 | Self and Family 2027 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cross Standard | $188.32 | $204.65 | +8.7% | $457.66 | $496.90 | +8.6% |
| Blue Cross Basic | $133.77 | $145.46 | +8.7% | $356.86 | $387.54 | +8.6% |
| FEP Blue Focus | $66.81 | $74.16 | +11.0% | $157.97 | $175.35 | +11.0% |
| GEHA Standard | $86.75 | $86.75 | +0.0% | $231.45 | $231.45 | +0.0% |
| GEHA High | $195.29 | $168.01 | -14.0% | $525.18 | $459.39 | -12.5% |
| GEHA HDHP | $81.62 | $81.62 | +0.0% | $215.63 | $215.63 | +0.0% |
| GEHA Elevate | $77.92 | $77.92 | +0.0% | $228.85 | $228.85 | +0.0% |
| GEHA Elevate Plus | $205.13 | $262.63 | +28.0% | $496.12 | $634.19 | +27.8% |
| Aetna Direct | $82.39 | $92.31 | +12.0% | $207.79 | $232.81 | +12.0% |
| Aetna HealthFund HDHP | $154.76 | $178.01 | +15.0% | $279.69 | $325.35 | +16.3% |
| Compass Rose High | $140.06 | $149.97 | +7.1% | $337.57 | $361.03 | +6.9% |
| Compass Rose Standard | $61.64 | $69.04 | +12.0% | $147.94 | $165.69 | +12.0% |
| APWU High | $140.16 | $191.92 | +36.9% | $337.72 | $461.61 | +36.7% |
| APWU Consumer Driven | $100.62 | $102.63 | +2.0% | $238.56 | $243.34 | +2.0% |
| SAMBA High | $226.09 | $308.98 | +36.7% | $544.05 | $742.68 | +36.5% |
| SAMBA Standard | $122.86 | $135.87 | +10.6% | $257.48 | $280.66 | +9.0% |
| MHBP Standard | $93.89 | $153.11 | +63.1% | $218.20 | $400.78 | +83.7% |
| Foreign Service Benefit Plan | $100.36 | $143.75 | +43.2% | $248.27 | $382.65 | +54.1% |
Self Plus One follows the same pattern for most plans. Blue Cross Standard's Self Plus One rises 9.5%, to $449.89.
The Biggest Increases and the Biggest Cuts
Biggest increases:
- MHBP Standard rises 63.1% for Self Only ($93.89 to $153.11), 104.9% for Self Plus One ($216.12 to $442.77) and 83.7% for Self and Family.
- The Foreign Service Benefit Plan rises 43% to 66% depending on the tier.
- SAMBA High has the largest dollar jump in Self and Family: $198.63 more every two weeks, from $544.05 to $742.68, about $5,164 a year.
Biggest cuts: some regional HMOs cut the employee share by 35% to 46%. Geisinger Standard Self and Family drops 42.3% ($519.98 to $300.28). M.D. IPA High drops $278.55 every two weeks for Self and Family, and 46.4% for Self Only. Check whether you live in their service areas before you count on them.
The range: employee premiums run from $20.37 (TakeCare HDHP, Self Only) to $2,044.89 (Aetna Open Access High, Self Plus One) every two weeks, depending on plan, region and tier.
Fewer Plans: 15 Options End
FEHB drops from 132 options to 118, which matches OPM's own count. Fifteen option codes end after 2026 and one is new, Sharp Health Plan Basic. The options ending include:
- MHBP Value and MHBP Consumer. Both have no 2027 rates. If you're in either, see our guide to where MHBP enrollees can go.
- Several UnitedHealthcare and Health Net of California options, two Independent Health options, and Blue Care Network of Michigan High.
If your plan or option is ending, read what happens when your FEHB plan is discontinued before December 14.
The Most the Government Pays Rises About 8%
The most the government pays rises for all three tiers:
| Tier | 2026 maximum | 2027 maximum | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self Only | $324.76 | $352.04 | +8.4% |
| Self Plus One | $711.17 | $767.53 | +7.9% |
| Self and Family | $778.03 | $843.82 | +8.5% |
These are biweekly amounts, and they match the figures in our FEHB calculator. For the full mechanics, see how the government share works for 2027.
Self Plus One Still Costs More Than Family in 39 Plans
In 39 of 118 FEHB options, the employee pays more for Self Plus One than for Self and Family in 2027. It was 39 of 132 in 2026, so the quirk didn't go away. MHBP Standard is the starkest example: $442.77 for Self Plus One against $400.78 for Self and Family. If you're enrolling two people, price both tiers. Our earlier post explains why Self Plus One can cost more.
PSHB for Postal Employees: Same Pattern, Smaller Numbers
| PSHB measure | Result |
|---|---|
| Median change in employee share, all tiers (216 combinations) | +5.6% |
| OPM's average enrollee increase | 8.2% |
| Combinations that get cheaper | 41 of 216 |
| Rise more than 10% | 65 |
| Rise more than 20% | 22 |
| Most USPS pays, every two weeks | $318.23 / $689.34 / $748.55 (Self / Self Plus One / Self and Family) |
OPM counts 65 PSHB plan options for 2027. Three options end, including GEHA High and MHBP Consumer, and Kaiser's Fresno Prosper option is new. MHBP Standard's Self Plus One share rises 86.8% in PSHB, from $211.97 to $395.93, and the Self Plus One quirk hits about a third of PSHB options (24 of 73 option groups in the rate file). Postal employees should start with our PSHB guide.
Price Your Own Plan Before December 14
The FEHB Plan Comparison tool compares nine major nationwide plans side by side for 2027: pick your plans and enrollment type, and it shows the premiums per paycheck and per year. For regional plans and other options outside that set, use the FEHB Calculator, which takes your plan and enrollment tier and returns the 2027 cost.
Then look past the premium. A plan that stays flat can still change its deductible or out-of-pocket limit, which we covered in 2027 deductible and out-of-pocket changes by plan. Our Open Season how-to covers which system takes your election.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much are FEHB premiums going up in 2027?
OPM says the average enrollee share rises 10.9%. Counting each plan option once, the typical option rises about 6%, and 63 of 351 option-and-tier combinations get cheaper. Your plan's own number is the one that matters.
Why is OPM's 10.9% higher than the typical plan's increase?
OPM's figure is a program-wide average, and ours counts each option once. The rate files don't include enrollment by plan, so we can't say exactly why the program-wide figure runs higher.
Which FEHB plans didn't raise premiums for 2027?
GEHA Standard, GEHA HDHP and GEHA Elevate kept the same employee share for 2027. Fifteen option-and-tier combinations were unchanged in total, and 63 went down.
Which FEHB plan had the biggest premium increase for 2027?
MHBP Standard. Its Self Plus One employee share rises 104.9%, from $216.12 to $442.77 every two weeks, and Self Only rises 63.1%.
How many FEHB plans are there in 2027?
OPM counts 118 FEHB plan options for 2027, down from 132, and 65 PSHB plan options.
What is the most the government pays toward FEHB in 2027?
$352.04 for Self Only, $767.53 for Self Plus One and $843.82 for Self and Family, every two weeks.
Related Resources
- FEHB 2027 Premiums Tracker: what's confirmed and what's rumor
- FEHB Total Annual Cost, Not Just Premium: premium plus out-of-pocket
- Aetna Direct vs MHBP and FSBP: for people pricing a switch
- BCBS Basic 35% Coinsurance Fact Check: what changed for 2027
- FEHB Open Season: Making Your 2027 Changes: dates and systems
Sources
- OPM, 2027 FEHB rates file and 2026 FEHB rates file, via OPM public use files
- OPM 2026 and 2027 PSHB rates files, same index
- OPM, Open Season and Plan Year 2027 Highlights
- FedTools analysis of OPM's rate files, November 8, 2026 (unweighted; every option counted once)