How to Get Federal Group Health Insurance

According to the United States Office of Personnel Management, there are more than 4,000,000 civilians employed by the federal government. The option for health insurance is just one of many benefits offered by the federal government. The only requirement for eligibility is to be an employee or family member of an employee of the federal government.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Health Benefits Election form
• Proxy to enroll for you if you are not able to by the deadline

Check Out the Benefits

1. Sign up to get a Federal group health insurance plan within 60 days of employment. If you fail to do so, you will not be eligible to apply for health insurance benefits until the next open enrollment season.

2. Read through the materials given by the employment office regarding the available insurance coverage. This will include the types of plans, premium rates and the major benefits of each plan.

3. Choose the appropriate plan for you and your family from the available plan options. While the employing office personnel will be glad to answer any questions you may have about the different group plans you can get, you ultimately must make the decision about which plan is right for you.

4. Complete and return the "Health Benefits Election" form to the employing office to indicate whether you choose to get insurance through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) group plan or not.

5. File a request with the employing office for late elections if you missed the 60-day limit for enrollment. The only exceptions allowed are those that meet the criteria for "beyond your control." If you are on service away from your employing location, did not receive the health benefit options information or you meet similar qualifying circumstances, you may be given the opportunity to enroll.

6. Make your election by proxy if you are unable to be physically present by this enrollment deadline. You must provide a written authorization identifying the individual with the right to sign on your behalf for an election of benefits.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are denied the opportunity to enroll in the FEHB program, you have the right to ask for a reconsideration. Follow the specific instructions from your employing office and meet the time restrictions for filing an appeal.

• Don't cancel any existing private insurance until you are fully covered by the federal insurance program.

• Failure to enroll within the designated time limit will result in an automatic election to not enroll. This can be changed only during open enrollment or a specific event occurrence allowed by the employing office.