Q: My husband and I are both federal retiree annuitants and have always carried self-only policies. We have been acting as parents for our 16-year-old grandaughter for nine years but she has been on Medicaid. During the open season I plan to change my self-only enrollment to self and family and would like to include my husband and granddaughter on my plan. Would my death be an event that would allow him to re-enroll in a plan (self or family) that will allow him to continue FEHB coverage? If not, he would have to remain on a self-only policy while I change to a self and family policy. This of course will be more expensive.
A: Yes, if you had self and family coverage when you died. Your husband wouldn’t be able to keep his self-only policy if you switch to family coverage. Dual coverage isn’t permitted.
