Q. Regarding carrying health insurance into retirement at age 60 when one has had a break in service: I began full time with the federal government at age 30 in 2005 but would like to change careers in my mid-40s and become a science and math teacher.
I read that I need to have the last five years covered under FEHB to carry health insurance into retirement. Does this apply if I have fewer than 30 years of service? Can I become a teacher at 44, then return to federal service at 55 and expect to have health insurance at 60?
A. As long as you were enrolled in the FEHB program on the day you left, enroll again when you return and the two consecutive periods of enrollment add up to five years, you can carry that coverage into retirement when you meet the age and service requirements to do that.