FEHB and Surviving Spouses

If I pass away, will my spouse be able to retain FEHB coverage?

Surviving spouses are able to keep FEHB coverage and pay the same competitive costs as active employees as long as eligibility criteria is met.  Meeting the 5 year requirement can be achieved in a number of ways:  the time you are covered as a family member under another’s enrollment (in this case, under the federal spouses enrollment) and the time you are covered under Tricare for Uniformed Services personnel covered under FEHB at the time of retirement.

Your spouse, including former spouses under certain conditions, may be eligible to participate in a benefits plan under FEHB.  It is good planning to understand eligibility requirements to continue FEHB coverage for you, your spouse or former spouse, and available benefits to your survivors in the event of death.

Take the opportunity to discuss your package of benefits and how they work with your family members so together you can organize questions you need an answer to and present them to your human resources office.  Planning now eliminates the stress of not knowing in the future.  Retiring well means gettting your questions answered so both you and your family members will be well informed and protected.