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Federal Employee Health Benefit Program

RI 70-5 For TCC and Former Spouse Enrollees


Eligibility Requirements

These individuals are eligible to enroll in the FEHB Program but do not receive a Government contribution toward the cost of their enrollment.

Individuals eligible for temporary continuation of coverage (TCC), including:

  • former employees whose FEHB coverage ended because they separated from service, unless they were separated for gross misconduct, including employees who cannot carry FEHB into retirement,
  • children who lose FEHB coverage under a family enrollment, and
  • former (divorced) spouses who are not eligible for FEHB coverage under the Spouse Equity provisions of FEHB law because they have remarried before age 55 or are not entitled to a portion of the Federal employee's annuity or a former spouse survivor annuity.

You may voluntarily cancel your enrollment at any time. However, once your cancellation takes effect, you cannot reenroll. You will not be entitled to a 31-day extension of coverage for conversion to a nongroup (private) policy. Family members may enroll only if they are eligible in their own right as Federal employees or annuitants.

TCC enrollees whose enrollments terminate because they acquire other FEHB coverage, and that coverage ends before the period of temporary continuation of coverage ends, may reenroll.

Strict time limits for electing TCC apply. As early as possible before (or after) the event causing the need for TCC happens, contact the employee's Human Resources office or the annuitant's retirement system to get more facts about the requirements for electing coverage.

Former (divorced) spouses eligible to enroll under the spouse equity law or similar statues. If you are the spouse of a Federal employee or an annuitant and lose FEHB coverage because of divorce, you may elect FEHB coverage – under certain circumstances. Contact the employee's Human Resources office or the annuitant's retirement system for the requirements for electing coverage.

Former spouses enrolled under the spouse equity law or similar statute who canceled cannot reenroll as a former spouse unless they cancel because they acquire other coverage under the FEHB Program and that coverage ends.

You may suspend your FEHB enrollment because you are enrolling in one of the following programs:

  • A Medicare Advantage health plan,
  • Medicaid or similar State-sponsored program of medical assistance for the needy,
  • TRICARE (including Uniformed Services Family Health Plan or TRICARE for Life), or
  • CHAMPVA

For more information on how to suspend your FEHB enrollment, contact the Human Resources office or retirement system that handles your account.

Time limitations and other restrictions apply. For instance, you must submit documentation that you are suspending FEHB for one of the reasons stated above in case you wish to reenroll in the FEHB Program at a later time.

If you had suspended FEHB coverage for one of these reasons (and had submitted the required documentation) but now want to enroll in the FEHB Program again, you may enroll during Open Season. You may reenroll outside Open Season only if you move out of the Medicare Advantage health plan's service area, the Medicare Advantage health plan is discontinued, or you involuntarily lose coverage under the Medicaid program or similar State-sponsored program of medical assistance for the needy.


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