U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

When you have a change in family status, including a change in marital status, you may enroll, change from Self Only to Self and Family, or change from one plan or option to another. You must submit your enrollment change from 31 days before to 60 days after the change in family status.

If you have a Self and Family enrollment, you should not complete a new Health Benefits Election Form (SF 2809). You should contact your health plan to inform them of the new family member. If your health plan questions whether someone is an eligible family member, the health plan may ask you or your Human Resources or Retirement Office for more information. The FEHB Handbook provides detailed information on who are eligible family members.

You can find more information about adding new family members in the FEHB Handbook.

Your Human Resources office or your Retirement Office can give you additional details about family member eligibility, including any certification or documentation that may be required for coverage.

Acquiring an eligible family member is a Qualifying Life Event for enrollees in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).

If you already have a Self and Family enrollment, log into your BENEFEDS account at www.BENEFEDS.com and add your new spouse or child to your enrollment. It's best to do this immediately, so there won't be any delay in claims or services.

If you have a Self Only or Self Plus One enrollment and would like to add your new spouse or child, you have a limited time period to change to a Self Plus One or Self and Family enrollment. You can do so from 31 days before to 60 days after acquiring your new spouse or child as a "Qualifying Life Event" at www.BENEFEDS.com. Don't miss these dates, or you will have to wait until the next Federal Benefits Open Season to make the change.

If you do not have access to a computer, call BENEFEDS at 1-877-888-FEDS (3337), TTY 1-877-889-5680.

If you are already enrolled in the FEGLI program, you have 60 days from the date of the event to elect or increase existing multiples of Additional Option-B and Family Option-C. For Option-B, you can elect a multiple equal to the number of new family members you’ve acquired up to a maximum of five. For Option-C, you can elect up to the maximum of five multiples without limit. Each multiple equals $5,000 in coverage for a spouse and $2,500 for each eligible dependent child. Please refer to the FEGLI Handbook for more information.

You may be able to enroll in an FSAFEDS health care flexible spending account and/or dependent care account or change your current election(s) from 31 days before the event to 60 days after the event (if your agency participates in FSAFEDS). For the health care account, you must also be eligible to enroll in the FEHB Program. Your requested change must be consistent with the event and you cannot enroll or increase your election(s) after October first (you would have to wait until Open Season).

Go to www.FSAFEDS.com and see “Qualifying Life Event” or call FSAFEDS at 1-877-FSAFEDS (372-3337), TTY: 1-800-952-0450 to discuss possible options.

If you are newly married, your new spouse can apply for FLTCIP coverage within 60 days after your marriage using the Abbreviated Underwriting Application . After 60 days, your new spouse can still apply but must use the Full Underwriting Application . Minor children are not eligible to apply for coverage.