I am a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)/Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuitant and want to change my health insurance coverage. What do I do? When will the new coverage be effective?

If you are going to change plans during Open Season, you should wait for the Open Season packet that we will send to you usually around the last week of October. Detailed instructions for changing plans are included in that packet. You can even make a change without completing any paperwork! All Open Season changes are effective January 1. To change health plans at other times, you should call our toll-free number 1-888-767-6738 (1-US OPM RET). Customers within the local Washington DC calling area must call on (202) 606-0500. Changes outside of Open Season are restricted to specific events such as a marriage or addition of a child.

I am an annuitant. I changed my health insurance during open Season and have not received an identification card; what can I do?

You should first contact your new plan since they are responsible for issuing identification cards (ID). Please be aware that whenever you change health plans you will receive a confirmation letter and this should serve as verification of enrollment. You should always keep that confirmation letter until you receive your new ID card. When you call your new health plan let them know that you have a confirmation letter.

Before a health plan issues an ID card they must first receive the enrollment information from us. Enrollment information is sent to each health plan on a weekly basis. Please remember during Open Season the plans are extremely busy, so the earlier you make your Open Season change the sooner your ID card can be issued. It can take a plan up to 15 days after they receive your enrollment information to issue an ID card. To eliminate delays in ID cards being issued we have also tried to make the enrollment verification process easier for the health plans. All the health plans have access to a special Help Desk telephone number and an automated telephone system. Both of these resources should help to eliminate any delays in enrollment verification. We have instructed all health plans to use these resources because we do not want you to experience any delays in receiving your ID cards.

If I continue my Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) coverage as a retiree, should I enroll in Medicare Part A or Part B, or both?

To continue your FEHB coverage, you will not be required or expected to enroll in Medicare. Most retirees aged 65 and over are eligible for Medicare benefits either Part A, Part B, or both. You probably will not have to pay a premium for Medicare Part A, especially if you retired since 1983. (All Federal employees became subject to the Medicare withholding tax in 1983 and will be covered for benefits under Part A upon reaching the minimum age for Medicare qualification). A premium is charged for Part B. Many annuitants find it worthwhile to enroll in Part B as soon as they become eligible (usually age 65) because the Part B premium is higher if you enroll at a later date.

I currently have a self and family enrollment to cover myself and my minor dependent children. I just got remarried and want to add my new spouse to my enrollment. What do I do? When will my spouse's coverage begin?

If you are the annuitant (the actual retiree from federal government service) - you can add your new spouse to your health plan by simply calling the health plan you are enrolled in. You should provide his/her name, social security number and date of birth. Some plans may ask for proof of the marriage so you may have to provide a copy of your marriage certificate. The effective date of coverage for your new spouse would be the date of your marriage.

If you are a survivor annuitant (receiving a survivor annuity based on a marriage to a former Federal employee) - You cannot add a new spouse to your existing family coverage because they do not meet the definition of an eligible family member. Please be aware that if you remarry prior to age 55, your survivor annuity and all annuity benefits will terminate. The ONLY exception to this remarriage regulation is if the remarried widow, widower, or former spouse was married for at least 30 years to the individual on whose service the survivor annuity is based.

I have custody of my grandchildren. Can I cover them as dependents under my FEHB enrollment?

Before you can add your grandchildren to your FEHB coverage, we must first make an eligibility determination. First, you should call our Retirement Information Office at 1-888-767-6738 and explain that you want to add your grandchildren to your FEHB coverage. Information will be sent to you outlining the procedures and documentation necessary for us to make a determination. Once a determination is made, we will notify you of our decision.

Why do my health premiums keep increasing every year?

Each year benefits and rates are negotiated for all health plans participating in the FEHB Program. Each plan's health benefits premiums must be adequate to cover the amount of dollars it paid out in health claims. One advantage of the FEHB is that you have many choices when selecting a health plan, and you have the opportunity to change plans every Open Season.