Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024
Title 5 - Administrative Personnel last revised: Oct 24, 2024
§ 894.501 - When may I enroll?
You may enroll:
(a) During the annual open season;
(b) Within 60 days after you first become eligible as:
(1) A new employee or employee of the United States Postal Service;
(2) A previously ineligible employee or employee of the United States Postal Service who transfers to a covered position;
(3) A new survivor annuitant, if not already covered under FEDVIP;
(4) An employee or an employee of the United States Postal Service working on a temporary appointment as stated in § 894.302(e)(5); an employee or employee of the United States Postal Service working on a seasonal schedule as stated in § 894.302(f); or an employee or employee of the United States Postal Service working on an intermittent schedule as stated in § 894.302(g);
(5) An employee in a position identified by OPM that provides emergency response services for wildland fire protection pursuant to § 890.102(h) of this chapter; or an employee performing similar types of emergency response services pursuant to § 890.102(i) of this chapter for whom OPM grants eligibility to enroll based on a request by the employing agency. In granting eligibility requests, OPM may limit the coverage of intermittent employees to the periods of time during which they are in a pay status;
(6) A TEI certifying family member, but only if, on your first date of eligibility to enroll, your sponsor is not a TEI or is deceased, or for FEDVIP dental coverage, if your sponsor is defined at § 894.309(a)(3)(iii); or
(7) A TEI former spouse;
(c) Within 60 days of when you return to service following a break in service of at least 30 days;
(d) From 31 days before you or an eligible family member loses other dental or vision coverage to 60 days after a QLE that allows you to enroll;
(e) For a sponsor who becomes eligible as a TEI, from 31 days before you lose other dental or vision coverage as an active duty service member to 60 days after you become eligible to enroll as a uniformed services retiree who is a TEI;
(f) From 31 days before you get married to 60 days after;
)
(g) Within 60 days after returning to Federal employment or employment with the United States Postal Service after being on leave without pay if you did not have Federal dental or vision coverage prior to going on leave without pay, or your coverage was terminated or canceled during your period of leave without pay;
(h) Within 60 days of your annuity or compensation being restored after having been terminated; or
(i) For a TEI, within 60 days of your uniformed services pay or uniformed services retirement pay being restored after having been reduced, forfeited, or terminated.
[73 FR 50184, Aug. 26, 2008, as amended at 75 FR 20514, Apr. 20, 2010; 79 FR 41405, July 16, 2014; 83 FR 58179, Nov. 19, 2018; 88 FR 47747, July 25, 2023]
§ 894.502 - What are the Qualifying Life Events (QLEs) that allow me to enroll or become covered in FEDVIP outside of open season?
You may enroll or become covered outside of open season if you are otherwise eligible to enroll and:
(a) You or a family member or TEI family member lose other dental/vision coverage;
(b) Your annuity or compensation is restored after having been terminated;
(c) You return to pay status as an employee or employee of the United States Postal Service after being on leave without pay due to deployment to active military duty;
(d) You are an employee or employee of the United States Postal Service and you get married;
(e) You return to Federal employment or employment of the United States Postal Service after being on leave without pay if you did not have Federal dental or vision coverage prior to going on leave without pay, or your coverage was terminated or canceled during your period of leave without pay;
(f) You are a TEI and your uniformed services pay or uniformed services retirement pay is restored after having been reduced, forfeited, or terminated; or
(g) You are not a TEI and you marry a TEI and can be covered as a TEI family member; or, you are not a TEI and you marry a non-TEI sponsor that is on active duty and can be covered as a TEI certifying family member. However, upon remarriage, a TEI former spouse or TEI surviving spouse or widow loses status as a TEI with respect to a former or deceased sponsor.
[73 FR 50184, Aug. 26, 2008, as amended at 79 FR 41405, July 16, 2014; 83 FR 58179, Nov. 19, 2018; 88 FR 47748, July 25, 2023]
§ 894.503 - Are belated enrollments or changes allowed?
(a) The time limit for enrolling or changing your enrollment may be extended up to 3 months after the date you became newly eligible or had a QLE or after the end of an open season. To qualify, you must demonstrate to the Administrator that you were not able to enroll or change your enrollment on time for reasons beyond your control.
(b) If the Administrator allows you to make a belated enrollment or enrollment change, you must enroll or change within 30 days after the Administrator notifies you of its determination.
§ 894.504 - When is my enrollment effective?
(a) Open season enrollments are effective on the date set by OPM.
(b) If you enroll when you first become eligible your enrollment is effective the 1st day of the pay period following the one in which the Administrator receives your enrollment, but no earlier than December 31, 2006.
(c) If you are a TEI and enroll or are enrolled during the open season, your enrollment is effective no earlier than January 1, 2019.
(d) Outside of open season, if you are an active duty service member who becomes a uniformed services retiree (TEI) and enroll or are enrolled 31 days before you lose other dental or vision coverage, your enrollment is effective no earlier than the date you lost other coverage.
(e) A QLE enrollment or change is effective the 1st day of the pay period following the date of your QLE.
)
(f)(1) A belated open season enrollment or change is effective retroactive to the date it would have been effective if you had made a timely enrollment or request for a change.
(2) Any belated enrollment or change outside of open season that goes beyond the allowable 60-day enrollment timeframe is effective retroactive to the 1st day of the pay period following the one in which you became newly eligible or the date of your QLE.
(3) You must pay any retroactive premiums due to a belated enrollment or request for a change.
[73 FR 50184, Aug. 26, 2008, as amended at 83 FR 58179, Nov. 19, 2018; 88 FR 47748, July 25, 2023]
§ 894.505 - Are retroactive premiums paid with pre-tax dollars (premium conversion)?
Retroactive premiums are not paid under premium conversion, except when you are changing your enrollment retroactively as a result of birth or adoption of a child. Any additional withholdings for retroactive premiums that are due must be made with after-tax dollars. The Administrator will bill you directly for any retroactive premiums that must be paid with after-tax dollars.
§ 894.506 - How often will there be open seasons?
There will be an annual open season for FEDVIP at the same time as the annual Federal Benefits Open Season.
§ 894.507 - After I'm enrolled, may I change from one dental or vision plan or plan option to another?
(a) You may change from one dental plan to another, and/or from one vision plan to another, or you may change from one plan option to another option in that same plan:
(1) During the annual open season;
(2) When you get married (except for TEIs who are unremarried survivors, TEI former spouses, and TEI children); or
(3) For employees or employees of the United States Postal Service, when you return to Federal or Postal employment after being on leave without pay if you did not have Federal dental or vision coverage prior to going on leave without pay, or your coverage was terminated or canceled during your period of leave without pay.
(b)(1) If you are enrolled in a dental or vision plan with a geographically restricted service area, and you or a covered eligible family member or TEI family member move out of the service area, you may change to a different dental or vision plan that serves that area.
(2) You may make this change at any time before or after the move, once you or a covered eligible family member or TEI family member has a new address.
(3) The enrollment change is effective the first day of the pay period following the pay period in which you make the change.
(4) You may not change your type of enrollment unless you also have a QLE that allows you to change your type of enrollment.
[83 FR 58179, Nov. 19, 2018, as amended at 88 FR 47748, July 25, 2023]
§ 894.508 - When may I increase my type of enrollment?
(a) You may increase your type of enrollment:
(1) during the annual open season; or
(2) If you have a QLE that is consistent with increasing your type of enrollment.
(b) Increasing your type of enrollment means going from:
(1) Self only to self plus one;
(2) Self only to self and family; or
(3) Self plus one to self and family.
(c) You may increase your type of enrollment during the time period beginning 31 days before the QLE and ending 60 days after the QLE.
(d) Your new type of enrollment is effective the 1st day of the pay period following the pay period in which you make the change.
(e) You may not change from one dental or vision plan to another, except as stated in § 894.507.
[73 FR 50184, Aug. 26, 2008, as amended at 79 FR 41406, July 16, 2014]
§ 894.509 - What are the QLEs that are consistent with increasing my type of enrollment?
(a) Marriage; except for a TEI who is an unremarried survivor, widow or widower; TEI former spouse; and TEI child(ren);
(b) Acquiring an eligible child or TEI child; or
(c) Loss of other dental or vision coverage by an eligible family member or TEI family member.
[83 FR 58179, Nov. 19, 2018]
§ 894.510 - When may I decrease my type of enrollment?
(a) You may decrease your type of enrollment:
(1) During the annual open season;
(2) If you have a QLE that is consistent with decreasing your type of enrollment; or
(3) You are an enrollee, and under § 894.403(b) your FEDVIP premiums are not paid on a pre-tax basis, and your family member or TEI family member becomes eligible for dental or vision benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. An enrollee must submit the request within 60 days after notification that your family member or TEI family member is eligible for dental or vision benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(b) Decreasing your type of enrollment means going from:
(1) Self and family to self plus one;
(2) Self and family to self only; or
(3) Self plus one to self only.
(c)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, you may decrease your type of enrollment only during the period beginning 31 days before your QLE and ending 60 days after your QLE.
(2) You may make any of the following enrollment changes at any time beginning 31 days before a QLE listed in § 894.511(a):
(i) A decrease in your self plus one enrollment;
(ii) A decrease in your self and family enrollment to a self plus one enrollment, when you have only one remaining eligible family member or TEI family member; or
(iii) A decrease in your self and family enrollment to a self only enrollment, when you have no remaining eligible family members or TEI family members.
(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (d)(2) of this section, your change in enrollment is effective the first day of the first pay period following the one in which you make the change.
(2) If you are making an enrollment change described in paragraph (c)(2) of this section, your change in enrollment is effective on the first day of the first pay period following the QLE on which the enrollment change is based.
(e) You may not change from one dental or vision plan or option to another, except as stated in § 894.507(b).
[73 FR 50184, Aug. 26, 2008, as amended at 75 FR 20514, Apr. 20, 2010; 83 FR 58180, Nov. 19, 2018; 88 FR 47748-47749, July 25, 2023]
§ 894.511 - What are the QLEs that are consistent with decreasing my type of enrollment?
(a) Loss of an eligible family member or TEI family member due to:
(1) Divorce;
(2) Death; or
(3) Loss of eligibility of a previously enrolled child or TEI child.
(b) You are an enrollee and your spouse deploys to active military service.
[83 FR 58180, Nov. 19, 2018, as amended at 88 FR 47748, July 25, 2023]
§ 894.512 -
(a) Your FEDVIP coverage terminates at the end of the pay period in which you separate from government service. Exception: If you separate for retirement or while in receipt of workers' compensation as defined in § 894.701, your FEDVIP coverage continues.
(b)(1) If you return to Federal service after a break in service of fewer than 30 days, and you were not previously enrolled in FEDVIP, you may not enroll until the next open season or unless you have a QLE that allows you to enroll.
(2) If you return to Federal service after a break in service of fewer than 30 days, and you were previously enrolled in FEDVIP, you may reenroll in the same plan(s) and plan option and with the same type of enrollment you had before you separated. Exceptions:
(i) If you were enrolled in a dental or vision plan with a restricted geographic service area, and you have since moved out of the plan's service area, you may change to a different dental or vision plan that serves that area.
(ii) If you have since gained or lost an eligible family member, you may change your type of enrollment consistent with the change in the number of eligible family members.
(3) If you return to Federal service as a new hire after a break in service of 30 days or more, you may enroll if you were not previously enrolled, change your dental or vision plan, and/or change your type of enrollment.
§ 894.513 - Do I have to elect FEDVIP coverage each year in order to remain covered?
No. If you do not change or cancel your enrollment, and if your enrollment does not terminate pursuant to this part, then your current enrollment will continue into the next year. Before open season, you should review the plan brochure for any changes in benefits and premiums for the next year.
[83 FR 58180, Nov. 19, 2018]
source: 73 FR 50184, Aug. 26, 2008, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 5 CFR 894.509