"SF 2809" is what most people search for when they want to change their federal health plan. If you are a federal retiree, though, it is usually the wrong form. OPM keeps two versions of the Health Benefits Election Form, and which one you use depends on whether you still work for the government and which retirement system pays your annuity.
Which form is yours
| You are | Use |
|---|---|
| A federal employee | SF 2809 |
| Retired under CSRS or FERS, in FEHB or PSHB | OPM Form 2809, or OPM's Retirement Information Office, 1-888-767-6738 |
| A CSRS or FERS survivor annuitant | OPM Form 2809 |
| Retired under another retirement system, or receiving OWCP compensation | SF 2809 |
| A postal retiree making an Open Season change | The Postal Service Health Benefits System (PSHBS); OPM Form 2809 also covers PSHB elections |
The SF 2809 says it plainly: "Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuitants and former spouses and children of CSRS/FERS annuitants -- Do not use this form. Instead, use form OPM 2809". OPM Form 2809 (revised April 2025; earlier editions can't be used) is for CSRS and FERS annuitants "electing or changing either their FEHB or Postal Service Health Benefit (PSHB) coverage".
Changing plans in Open Season
Pick the plan and its enrollment code first (one code per enrollment type: Self Only, Self Plus One, Self and Family; they are in the plan brochure and in OPM's rate tables). Then, between November 9 and December 14, 2026, use one of the routes OPM lists for annuitants (OPM, Enroll in a Health Plan):
- FEHB retirees: OPM's Open Season Online system; Open Season Express by phone, 1-800-332-9798; or a letter postmarked by the last day of Open Season to Office of Personnel Management, Open Season Processing Center, P.O. Box 5000, Lawrence, KS 66046-0500.
- PSHB retirees: OPM's PSHB landing page (the Postal Service Health Benefits System); Open Season Express, 1-800-332-9798; or a letter to the Open Season Processing Center, P.O. Box 5001, Lawrence, KS 66046-0500.
By mail, OPM asks you to state clearly that it is an Open Season request, and to give the plan, the type of coverage, the enrollment code, your annuity claim number and your Social Security number, plus your family member's information for Self Plus One or Self and Family. After OPM processes a change it sends you written confirmation, and the new plan mails your ID card; if you need care before the card arrives, OPM Form 2809 says to show the confirmation to the doctor or hospital.
Open Season changes for annuitants take effect January 1 (OPM Form 2809 instructions; OPM 2027 Open Season Highlights). If you change nothing, your current plan continues.
Adding a family member? Bring proof.
Starting with the Open Season for 2027, anyone adding a new family member to an FEHB or PSHB enrollment during Open Season must send documents showing the family member is eligible (OPM 2027 Open Season Highlights).
What the form asks about Medicare
OPM Form 2809 asks which parts of Medicare you have (including Part D) and your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier. It also has the section where postal annuitants claim an exception to the PSHB Part B requirement, with documents attached. As soon as you enroll in Medicare, OPM also asks you to tell your plan, so it coordinates with Medicare correctly.
Outside Open Season
- Call OPM's Retirement Information Center at 1-888-767-6738 (OPM). OPM Form 2809 lists the Retirement Operations Center, P.O. Box 45, Boyers, PA 16017-0045 as its mailing address.
- Becoming eligible for Medicare lets an annuitant change plans once, at any time from 30 days before Medicare eligibility (5 CFR 890.306). Postal annuitants follow the same rule within PSHB.
- Non-Open Season changes (other than cancellations) take effect the first day of the month after the month OPM receives your OPM Form 2809; a cancellation takes effect the last day of the month OPM receives it (form instructions).
- You can suspend your enrollment to be covered by a Medicare Advantage plan, and reenroll if that coverage ends or during a later Open Season. If you cancel instead (other than to be covered under another FEHB or PSHB enrollment), the form warns that you can't reenroll later.
Before you switch: check how the new plan works with Medicare
If you have Medicare, or will in 2027, the cheapest premium isn't always the cheapest plan. What each plan waives when Medicare pays first, and whether it pays back part of the Part B premium, changes the math. Our FEHB/PSHB check starts with the free part: whether Part B is required for you and what it costs with IRMAA.
Should you take Part B with FEHB or PSHB in 2027?.Start the free FEHB/PSHB check