WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN FEHB

Title 5 of the U. S. Code, Chapter 89 governs the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).  The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) formerly, the Civil Service Commission, has statutory oversight for the Program including the authority to contract with qualified carriers.

The Federal government is the largest employer in the United States making the FEHB Program the largest employer-sponsored health insurance program in the country.  The Program covers approximately 8.2 million active employees, retirees and their families constituting roughly 90 percent of those eligible to enroll.

Those individuals eligible to enroll in the FEHB Program include federal employees, the President of the United States, annuitants (retired employees having met all eligibility criteria) and eligible family members.  However, active Members of Congress and certain of their congressional staff are not eligible for benefits under the FEHB Program as a condition of their employment.  They may be eligible to enroll in FEHB in retirement but not during active employment.  To be eligible for the FEHB Program in retirement one must be entitled to retire on an immediate annuity under a retirement system for civilian employees (also FERS + MRA) and continuous enrollment or coverage as a family member.

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Dianna Tafazoli