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Frequently asked questions about the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
Introduction:
The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program helps protect you and your eligible family members from the expenses of illness and accident. It is a voluntary program. Whether you enroll or not is entirely up to you; but, if you are eligible, you are encouraged to enroll for this protection. If you do enroll, you may cancel your enrollment at any time. If you don't enroll at your first opportunity, you won't be able to enroll until Open Season or until another event permitting enrollment occurs.
You will not be eligible for health benefits coverage after retirement unless you are enrolled before you retire and meet all the requirements for continuation of enrollment after retirement see section titled "Circumstances Permitting Continuation of Enrollment".
All employees designated as full-time permanent as well as certain Part-time employees are eligible to enroll in the FEHB Program.
To Enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) an eligible employee must complete a Health Benefits Registration form (SF2809) within 31 days after employment.
Information regarding specific plan benefits are found in the individual plan brochures available through the Office of Personnel and Benefits or online at the Office of Personnel Management.
Health coverage becomes effective at the beginning of the first pay period after the Office of Personnel and Benefits receives your enrollment form.
There are 27 specific events that allow for an employee to change their enrollment status these are available for your review in the table of permissible changes.
You may voluntarily cancel your enrollment at anytime by submitting a completed SF2809 to the Office of Personnel and Benefits. Effective dates for cancellation are as follows: If the Office of Personnel and Benefits receives your SF2809 More than 15 days before the end of the pay period, the cancellation will take effect on the last day of that pay period. If the form is received Less than 15 days before the end of the pay period, the cancellation will take effect on the last day of the following pay period.
TCOC (Temporary Continuation of Coverage) is a feature of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) that allows certain individuals to temporarily continue their FEHB coverage after regular coverage ends. Upon separation you must request a SF2809 TCOC from the Office of Personnel and Benefits, complete and return in order to initiate the enrollment process. For more information regarding this aspect of the FEHB program see the TCOC page.
1997 Temporary Continuation of Benefits Health Plan Comparison chart.