This briefing report was developed to provide a Senate subcommittee with information concerning certain benefit features of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). It compares coverage for selected health benefits in the federal and private sectors for a 6-year period (1980-1985). A description of methodology states that information on federal benefits was obtained by reviewing coverage for 18 FEHBP plans and that private sector benefits information came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' survey "Employee Benefits in Medium and Large Firms." Results are reported showing that, compared to private sector employees, federal employees were more likely to be covered for routine physicals, hospice care, and catastrophic illness; less likely to have dental, home health, alcohol and drug abuse treatment, and extended care coverage; and similarly covered for mental health care. Also reported are findings that federal enrollees paid more of their health care costs in premiums, deductibles, and coinsurance than did private sector employees. The report examines three other aspects of federal coverage: (1) what it has recently cost plans to add coverage for certain health benefits; (2) what benefit changes have been made for mental health coverage; and (3) what use plans are making of certain cost containment efforts, such as second opinion programs and hospital utilization review. Six tables and 18 figures are included. (NB)