Health Insurance

The Federal Employees' Health Benefits (FEHB) Program offers a wide variety of health plans from which to choose. You have a choice of coverage for yourself or for yourself and your family members. The Federal Government pays approximately 75% of the cost of the plan and you pay the balance on a pre-tax basis.   

Additional Information

• About FEHB   (OPM)
• Calendar of FEHB Service Days
• Consumer Checkbook’s Guide to Choosing a Health Plan  
• Federal Benefits Open Season
• Frequently Asked Questions   (OPM)
         o Enrollment   (OPM)
         o Benefits (OPM)
         o Temporary Continuation of Coverage  (OPM)
         o FEHB & Medicare  (OPM)
• Plan Smart Choice   
• FEHB Publications and Forms
         o Guide to Federal Benefits For Federal Civilian Employees (RI 70-01)  (OPM)
         o Health Benefits Election form (SF-2809)    (OPM)
         o Plan Brochures  (OPM)
• Plan Rates for 2013  (OPM)
• What is Premium Conversion?  (OPM)

Changes You May Make in Your Health Benefits Enrollment

During the annual Federal benefits open season from mid-November to mid-December, you may enroll, cancel an enrollment, change plans or options, and waive or begin participation in premium conversion. Outside of open season, you can only enroll or make changes in your health benefits due to certain events called Qualifying Life Event (QLE) . Common QLEs are marriage, birth of a child, and loss of other group coverage. Changes as a result of a QLE generally must be requested 30 days prior or within 60 days after the event. For additional information please notify your Benefits Contacts.

Another type of QLE could be when the last member of your family ceases to be eligible for coverage under your plan (for instance, when your youngest child turns age 26 and you are divorced or widowed). If you no longer have any eligible family members, you must submit a Health Benefits Election form (SF-2809) (OPM) to the benefits office to change your enrollment from family to a self-only policy. This is not automatic.

Spouse's Eligibility to Continue Health Benefits Coverage After Your Death

You must be enrolled in family coverage at the time of death in order for your spouse to continue coverage. Also, when you retire you must elect a survivor annuity for your spouse in order for him/her to continue coverage after your death.

Temporary Continuation of Health Benefits Coverage

When your child reaches age 26 he or she is no longer eligible to be covered under your Federal health benefits enrollment. You have 60 days from the date he/she turns age 26 to notify your Benefits Contacts. We will give you information on how your child may enroll in his/her own right for Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC)  . The enrollment can be for up to 36 months and the child will have to pay the full premium (no government contribution), plus a 2% administrative charge.

TCC enrollments are also available to you (coverage for up to 18 months) should you leave the government and for a former spouse should you get divorced (coverage for up to 36 months). All TCC enrollments must be submitted within 60 days of the event allowing the enrollment.