Q. I know one has to have Federal Employees Health Benefits for five years before one quits or retires to get this benefit. Does it have to be family coverage for five years, or can I change my self-only coverage to family in the last year before retirement? Can I change it after retirement?
A. You can change from self-only to self and family and from self and family to self-only during any open season. The only requirement to carry your FEHB coverage into retirement is that you be covered continuously for the five years before you retire.
Note: I need to correct a misunderstanding on your part. If you were to quit, you would only be able to continue your coverage for 18 months under the temporary continuation of coverage provision, for which you’d pay 100 percent of the premiums, plus a 2 percent administrative fee.
