Tribal Benefits Officer and Tribal Human Resource (HR) Personnel will find resources to help with the day-to-day activities of the FEHB Program. A comprehensive list of other resources can be found on the References Page.

Each tribal employer must designate a person to serve as the Tribal Benefits Officer. The Tribal Benefits Officer is responsible for explaining the FEHB Program to tribal employees and other eligible persons, determining individual eligibility for FEHB enrollment and effective dates of health benefits actions, keeping the Contacts page in Tribal Insurance Processing System (TIPS) up to date, and other related matters.

A Tribal Benefits Officer can also delegate responsibility for counseling and advising tribal employees and inputting FEHB enrollment data to Tribal HR Personnel.

Any changes to the designated Tribal Benefits Officer (TBO) should be reported to OPM and NFC at your earliest convenience.

More information on the Tribal Benefits Officer can be found in Chapter 1, Introduction, of the Tribal FEHB Handbook.

The table below provides PDF links to the Tribal Benefits Administration Letters (BALs) from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) about the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program.

2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012

The table below provides PDF links to the Tribal Benefits Administration Letters (BALs) from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) about the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program.

2022 Benefits Administration Letters

2021 Benefits Administration Letters

2020 Benefits Administration Letters

2019 Benefits Administration Letters

2018 Benefits Administration Letters

2017 Benefits Administration Letters

2016 Benefits Administration Letters

2015 Benefits Administration Letters

2014 Benefits Administration Letters

2013 Benefits Administration Letters

2012 Benefits Administration Letters

Each year, OPM provides the following BALs for guidance on the Federal Benefits Open Season.

1. Open Season: Announcement - We will inform you with general information about the upcoming Open Season. Anticipated Issue Date: Last week of July.
2. Open Season: Rider Information - We will inform you how to order the FEHB Guide for Tribal Employees. Anticipated Issue Date: First week of August.
3. Open Season: Ordering and Distribution of Material - We will inform you how to order and distribute Open Season materials. Anticipated Issue Date: Early September.
4. Open Season: Conducting the Open Season - We will provide you with information on counseling tribal employees, carrier contacts, Open Season actions, effective dates, and tribal employer actions. This BAL will also include the Tribal FastFacts: The Federal Benefits Open Season is Coming! and Tribal FastFacts: What to Consider During Open Season. Anticipated Issue Date: Mid-September.
5. Open Season: FEHB Significant Plan Changes - We will provide information on significant events affecting certain plans which tribal employers must communicate to their tribal employees. Anticipated Issue Date: Late-September.

OPM provides continual guidance and information to Benefits Officers via OPM's listserv (including the Tribal Benefits Administration Letters). OPM strongly encourages every Benefits Officer and Tribe HR Personnel to subscribe. To subscribe to the listserv, email tribalprograms@listserv.opm.gov and type "Subscribe" in the email subject line.