Q. I have been on my wife’s health plan for the past 14 years. Her job is through the county, not the federal government. The plan is one of the ones offered by FEHBP.
To have my own health plan after retirement, do I need to enroll in the same plan under FEHBP for five years? Or is my membership in my wife’s plan sufficient for me to get my own health coverage after retirement?
A. No, membership in your wife’s plan is not sufficient. You would have to be enrolled in an FEHB plan for the five consecutive years before you retire to carry that coverage into retirement.