As a Federal employee, you are eligible to elect Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage, unless your position is excluded by law or regulation. Your agency applies these rules and determines your eligibility. All FEHB plans qualify as minimum essential coverage (MEC) and meet the Affordable Care Act's individual shared responsibility requirement for the covered individual. All FEHB health plans are eligible employer-sponsored plans. The health coverage of all the plans in the FEHB Program meets the Affordable Care Act’s minimum value standard for the benefits that each FEHB plan provides.
Newly eligible employees may enroll within 60 days of becoming eligible for the FEHB Program. During the annual Federal Benefits Open Season, anyone eligible to participate in the FEHB Program may enroll, change health plans or options, or cancel FEHB enrollment. You may enroll, change your enrollment type, or change plans outside of Open Season if you experience a qualifying life event such as a change in family or other insurance coverage status.
You can enroll using the Health Benefits Election Form (SF 2809) or through an agency self-service system such as Employee Express, MyPay, Employee Personal Page, or Employee Benefits Information System (EBIS). Please contact the Human Resources Office (HRO) of your agency for details.
If you are eligible to enroll in the FEHB Program but do not enroll or cancel FEHB enrollment, consequences of such actions include, but are not limited to, the following:
If you are enrolled in the FEHB Program, you do not need to take any action regarding your FEHB enrollment or the Health Insurance Marketplace. You and your covered family members under your FEHB plan meet the individual shared responsibility requirement under the ACA.
As a result of the Affordable Care Act , children of Federal enrollees are covered by their parent’s FEHB Self Plus One enrollment (if they are the designated covered family member) or Self and Family enrollment until their 26th birthday.
Once your child turns 26, he/she loses FEHB coverage. Your child's coverage continues at no cost for 31 days after the enrollment terminates.
Your child is eligible to (1) enroll in Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC); or (2) purchase health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace:
A former spouse loses coverage as a family member upon divorce, subject to a 31-day extension of coverage. However, under the Civil Service Retirement Spouse Equity Act of 1984 (Public Law 98-615), as amended, certain former spouses of Federal employees, former employees, and annuitants may qualify to enroll in a health benefits plan under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program.
As a former spouse, you may be eligible to (1) enroll in FEHB under Spouse Equity provisions; (2) enroll in Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC); or (3) purchase health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace:
An employee’s enrollment terminates at midnight of the last day of the pay period in which he/she is separated from Federal service.
As a former employee, you are eligible to (1) enroll in Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC); or (2) purchase health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace:
If you are ineligible for FEHB, you can purchase health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace (the Marketplace) at www.HealthCare.gov. This is a website provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that provides up-to-date information on the Marketplace.
If you are unsure about your FEHB eligibility, please contact your agency’s Human Resources Office.
OPM issued a final rule to clarify the eligibility of Members of Congress and designated congressional staff for health insurance coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. Section 1312 of the Affordable Care Act requires that Members of Congress and their official staff obtain coverage by health plans created under the Affordable Care Act or coverage offered via an Affordable Insurance Exchange (Exchange).
Members of Congress and designated congressional staff who are subject to §1312 of the Affordable Care Act must purchase a health benefits plan on the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP). SHOPs were established to administer group health benefits to employees of eligible businesses. Given the location of Congress in Washington DC, OPM determined that the DC SHOP, known as the DC Health Link Small Business Market administered by the DC Health Benefit Exchange Authority, is the appropriate SHOP from which Members of Congress and designated congressional staff will purchase health insurance in order to receive a government contribution.
The formula for government contributions is the same formula used for other federal employees. The government contribution will equal the lesser of: (1) 72 percent of amounts OPM determines are the program-wide weighted average of premiums in effect each year, for Self Only and for Self and Family enrollments, respectively, or (2) 75 percent of the total premium for the particular plan an enrollee selects.
The Open Enrollment period for coverage under DC Health Link will coincide with the annual Federal Benefits Open Enrollment Period.
If you are a congressional staff member, the Member of Congress for whom you work will designate your status as “official office” or not "official office”, which will determine your eligibility to purchase coverage via DC Health Link. If you have questions about your eligibility or how to enroll in a health plan, please contact:
House of Representatives : The House of Representatives Office of Payroll and Benefits can be reached Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5:30pm EST at (202) 225-1435. The House of Representatives Office of Members’ Services can be reached Monday-Friday from 8:30am-5:30pm EST at (202) 225-3644.
Senate : The Senate Disbursing Office can be reached Monday-Friday from 9:00am-5:30pm EST at (202) 224-1093.
Information about DC Health Link can be found at www.DCHealthLink.com.
The total monthly premium is your contribution as well as your employer's contribution. Your employer provides an Agency Contribution based on your total premium amount. To calculate your share of the premium, use the calculator below.
Monthly PremiumSelf: A Self enrollment covers only you as the enrolled employee. You may choose a Self enrollment even though you have a family; however, your family members will not be covered under your selected health plan.
Self Plus One: A Self Plus One enrollment covers you as the enrolled employee and all of your eligible family members.
Self and Family: A Self and Family enrollment covers you as the enrolled employee and all of your eligible family members.
Please note: Due to rounding differences, there may be slight discrepancies in the premium amounts displayed on the DC Health Link website and in the OPM Premium Contribution Calculator. If you encounter such discrepancies, you should defer to the amounts displayed on the DC Health Link website.
Based on Premium of $0 (Self)
Your Monthly Premium*These contribution amounts are estimates.