If you are enrolled in the FEHB Program and are called to military duty, you may continue your coverage for up to 24 months or elect to have it terminate. The authority for your agency to pay your premiums is available for employees who meet certain requirements, including serving in support of a contingency operation.

Employees who serve in support of a contingency operation: FEHB law gives your agency authority to continue your coverage and pay your premiums if you are called or ordered to active duty on or after September 14, 2001, and are:

1. enrolled in an FEHB plan;
2. a member of a reserve component of the armed forces;
3. called or ordered to active duty in support of a contingency operation (as defined in section 101(a)(13) of title 10);
4. placed on leave without pay or separated from service to perform active duty; and
5. serving on active duty for a period of more than 30 consecutive days.

Employees who do not serve in support of a contingency operation: If you do not meet all of the above requirements of FEHB law, the authority for continuation of your FEHB coverage comes from the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), now codified at section 4317 of title 38, United States Code.

Your agency has no authority to pay your premiums while you are on military duty. You are responsible for the enrollee share of the premium during the first 12 months, and your agency will pay its share. For the continued FEHB coverage of up to 12 months, you are responsible for paying both the employee and agency shares of the premium, plus an additional 2% administrative fee.

Note: If you were called to military duty and you elected to continue your FEHB coverage before the USERRA law was amended on December 10, 2004, you can continue your enrollment for 18 months.

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