OPM sponsors open season webcasts Published Nov. 1, 2011 By Debbie Gildea Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- The Office of Personnel Management will sponsor several open season webcasts, beginning Nov. 2, to explain various options available during the benefits open season Nov. 14 through Dec. 12. Webcasts will be at 1:30 p.m. eastern time. Dates and topics include the following: Nov. 2 Introduction to Open Season - This webcast will provide an overview of open season, including how to enroll, enrollment effective dates and where to receive help. Nov. 8 The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program - This session will provide information on available benefits, reasons to have supplemental dental and vision insurance and advice on how to pick a plan. Nov. 10 The Federal Employees' Health Benefits Program - This webcast will provide information on the available health plans, factors to should consider when selecting a health plan, and various health plan option comparisons. Nov. 17 Medicare and the Federal Health Benefits Program - This session will provide a basic understanding of Medicare including how and when to enroll in Medicare and how FEHB and Medicare coordinate benefit coverage. Go to the audio/video website to access the webcasts. The webcast stream will become active 24 hours before the webcast is scheduled to begin. Air Force Personnel Center benefits counselor Kathryn Iapichino advises interested participants to test the webcast stream during the 24-hour window to ensure they will be able to access it. OPM will also provide closed captioning via thepeople support link. "The webcast and the captioning will run in two separate windows and will need to be run side-by-side," said Iapichino. "If you wish to view the captioning you will need to download a SUN Java plug-in. Go to the link and it will prompt you for the download if you do not already have it," she added. For those unable to sit in during the live webcasts, each will be recorded and recordings will be posted the same day of the broadcast at OPM open season page. For more information about open season, civilian benefits or other personnel issues, visit the Air Force Personnel Services website.