U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Recruiting, Retaining and Honoring a World-Class Workforce to Serve the American People

OPM has issued new regulations to extend coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program to temporary firefighters and fire protection personnel working on wildland fires across the country. Coverage became available beginning on July 17, 2012. Please find copies of the regulations and additional material explaining the new regulations below.

• News Release: OPM Announces Rule Change to Allow Federal Firefighters Access to Health Insurance
• Regulation (Interim Final Rule)
• Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program Fact Sheet for Firefighters [168 KB]
• For HR Practitioners - Benefits Administrative Letter (BAL) 12-203 [60 KB]
• Statement by the President on extending health coverage to Federal Firefighters

Related links:

• News from the U.S. Department of Agriculture: Update July 9, 2012: Federal Partners Continue to Support Response Efforts Combating Western Wildfires
• News from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management