GEHA is the second-largest national health plan and the second-largest national dental plan serving federal employees, federal retirees and their families. Our growing health plans provide benefits to more than 415,000 people worldwide. Our growing dental plan, Connection Dental Federal^SM, provides benefits to more than 315,000 people worldwide.

Members know GEHA as a comprehensive health insurance plan with fast, friendly customer service and quick turnaround on claims. Our goal is to pay 80 percent of claims in 10 calendar days.

GEHA is a self-insured and not-for-profit association. Members pay no dues. We currently waive all membership fees. GEHA maintains low overhead costs; of each premium dollar we receive, we return more than 94 cents in direct benefits to our health plan members.

GEHA traces its roots to 1937, when the "Railway Mail Hospital Association" was formed to help provide U.S. railway mail clerks with assistance for their medical expenses. Twenty years later, the company expanded its scope to offer health insurance benefits to federal employees and retirees from all agencies and branches of government. In 1964, the company officially became known as the Government Employees Hospital Association, Inc. - GEHA. In 2007, the organization changed its name to Government Employees Health Association in order to more accurately describe the nature of the Association; the company continues to be known as GEHA.

GEHA was one of the first insurance carriers eligible to provide coverage to federal employees under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Act of 1959. The FEHB Program contracts with several hundred health insurance plans to provide coverage for over 8 million federal enrollees and dependents, including retirees.

GEHA provides health insurance benefit plans to federal employees and retirees and their dependents. The company currently offers traditional fee-for-service health plan options with a preferred provider organization (PPO). For the 2005 plan year, GEHA was among the first in the federal market to launch a new high-deductible health plan that can be paired with a health savings account (HSA).

In 2006, the Office of Personnel Management chose GEHA as one of a select number of companies to offer supplemental benefits to federal employees under the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). The GEHA Connection Dental FederalSM dental plan provides comprehensive dental benefits for federal employees and retirees and their dependents. Active employees may pay dental plan premiums through pre-tax payroll deductions. Retirees may pay premiums through post-tax annuity deductions. Members may use any dentist that they choose.

Our supplemental dental plan, CONNECTION Dental Plus®, offers a full range of enhanced dental services and includes a network of more than 43,000 provider locations nationwide. This supplemental plan is available to all federal employees, including those who are not GEHA health plan members.

GEHA also administers the State of Texas Dental Choice Plan. This dental plan is available to state of Texas and higher education employees, retirees and their dependents.

GEHA provides generous paid time off, group insurance benefits, and pension contribution to eligible employees, plus flexible work hours, flexible make-up time. GEHA takes an interest in the health and work life of its employees, and offers a variety of wellness programs including low-cost health screens, Weight Watchers at Work, a walking program with awards, and various workout programs such as Tae Kwon Do, Pilates, and Body Sculpting.

GEHA is interested in hiring the best qualified worker for each position. With more than 350 active job titles in varied fields, GEHA offers many opportunities for advancement to qualified workers. Employees are encouraged to apply for our job postings, which are announced to all employees electronically. Many of our jobs are also advertised externally in the Kansas City metropolitan area; specialized jobs are often advertised throughout the Midwest or in specific regions of the United States.

In addition to on-the-job training and onsite learning opportunities, GEHA offers a generous Tuition Reimbursement program to eligible full time employees after just six months of employment, and budgets for external seminars and training for many jobs.