Workers to Get Their Pick of Dental, Vision Plans

OPM officials said employees will be able to enroll for the dental-vision programs through a Web site or by calling a toll-free number and speak to a program representative.

Some federal employee health insurance plans cover some dental and vision services. That will serve as the first payer for services, and the new dental-vision program will be secondary. Dental and vision enrollees will be asked to provide information on their medical insurance plan to help coordinate benefits.

To help reduce out-of-pocket costs, employees also will be able to use their flexible spending accounts, which require annual renewal, for any services that insurance doesn't pay for.

Federal employees and retirees will be able to enroll in the new program from Nov. 13 to Dec. 11. Coverage starts Dec. 31.

Innovation Deadline

The deadline to apply for the $100,000 Innovations in American Government award has been extended to Tuesday to give applicants more time to prepare and file their material, program spokesman Carl Fillichio said.

Applications and information on the award, given annually to creative, effective government programs, may be found at http://www.innovationsaward.harvard.edu . The original deadline was Sept. 12.

The award is administered by the Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government in partnership with the nonprofit Council for Excellence in Government.

Stephen Barr's e-mail address isbarrs@washpost.com.