As the federal workforce continues to evolve, the government’s employee benefits landscape is simultaneously adapting to the changing needs and expectations of this diverse workforce.

For health carriers, adapting to the evolving federal workforce means reevaluating and refining the benefits offered through government insurance programs to better align with their changing needs.

“A lot of long-time federal employees are retiring or leaving and being replaced by younger people, so what is important today is different than what was important 20 years ago,” Missy Plohr-Memming, MetLife’s senior vice president for U.S. Group Benefits, said during Federal News Network’s 2026 Open Season Exchange. “So when we think about the program benefits for 2026, we think about flexibility and expanding that program.”

Delivering benefits through FEDVIP and more

MetLife Federal Benefits offers a range of coverage options within the government’s marketplace, including comprehensive dental and vision coverage as part of the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), as well as various supplemental health benefits separate from the program. In total, MetLife offers benefits to about 50,000 employers, spanning roughly 40 million employees and their dependents.

“We have the privilege of caring for those folks every day, and we take that privilege quite seriously,” Plohr-Memming said.

Part of MetLife’s current focus, she said, is to look at what is most important to federal employees in the current moment, especially as it pertains to a more holistic approach to health and wellness.

“Certainly, people need medical benefits. … But then there are all the other ancillary benefits. Think of that as dental and vision, of course, but it’s also things like legal insurance and pet insurance,” Plohr-Memming said. “And then you bring in those elements of financial health and mental health, and you can really craft a bespoke set of benefits for your unique circumstances, from the offerings available through the Office of Personnel Management and as a federal employee and a member of the federal family.”

Expanding benefits to meet changing needs

There are some specific ways that MetLife is changing its options to meet the evolving needs of federal employees. Some of those key changes are focused on expanding options for dental benefits.

“We worked to craft some plan design changes that make sense in the context of the modern workforce, including offering three cleanings for people who are pregnant or have diabetes,” Plohr-Memming said.

But the changes for MetLife go beyond updates to the benefits themselves, she said. For instance, dental and vision enrollees can also access identity and fraud protection from the health carrier — at no additional cost.

“We’re also thinking about things like the network: How do we make sure we have the most expansive network, both for dental and vision?” Plohr-Memming said. “We want to meet people where they are in their time of need, and in the place that they believe they can get the best care.”

Taking advantage of Open Season

An annual study conducted by MetLife, the Employee Benefit Trends Study, found that 35% of federal employees feel “holistically healthy.” That’s lower than the 39% of U.S. employees overall who say the same. And within the federal workforce, 27% of federal managers say they feel “holistically healthy,” compared with 40% of nonmanagers in government who say the same.

Part of the reason for that divide may stem from an incomplete understanding of the benefits and coverage that federal employees can access, according to MetLife’s analysis of the study’s findings.

Open Season is the best time for participants to conduct research and learn more about the options that are out there, Plohr-Memming said.

She recommended three specific steps federal employees should take before the enrollment window closes Dec. 10:

• First, really take time to consider the different options at participants’ disposal.
• Second, focus on family circumstances and what may be necessary there.
• Third, look “holistically” at the options — and beyond just the premium cost.

“What’s really important is, what does that premium get you?” Plohr-Memming said. “When you estimate your out-of-pocket expenses plus the premium that comes out of your paycheck, you can get the true cost or the true value of the program.”

She recommended visiting carriers’ benefits websites and checking pricing — say, for example, the cost of a root canal or having a cavity filled and comparing pricing. People should look at their possible needs over the coming year, Plohr-Memming said.

“Our philosophy is always focused on you building a more confident future. That philosophy guides everything we do, from the capabilities we establish to the plan designs we work with employers on and actually how we execute and deliver service.”

Discover more articles and videos now on our 2026 Open Season Exchange event page.

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