Is a Federal employee eligible to enroll in FEHB exempt from having health coverage or from paying the fee for not having health coverage (the “individual shared responsibility payment”)?
A Federal employee who is eligible for FEHB but is not enrolled or covered under an FEHB Plan should review the IRS information on the individual shared responsibility and the requirement to maintain minimum essential coverage (MEC), available online at: www.irs.gov/uac/Questions-and-Answers-on-the-Individual-Shared-Responsibility-Provision. Coverage under a health plan other than FEHB or under certain Government sponsored programs may satisfy the MEC requirement. Further, the IRS website contains guidance on exemptions from the requirement of having MEC or paying the fee, and other detailed information.