Military – Tricare and FEHB

Tricare and FEHB

Federal and Postal employees must meet the 5 year enrollment requirement in order to take my FEHB into retirement.  However, if you don’t have the required time, you may use your Military Tricare time to qualify for FEHB.

Military personnel enrolled in Tricare (regulated by the Department of Defense (DOD) is a health care program that serves Uniformed Service members, retirees and their families around the world) are able to count that Tricare time towards the required five year provision for FEHB as long as they are enrolled in an FEHB covered health plan at retirement.

• Also Read: Dropping FEGLI Too Early Could Leave Your Family Exposed—Here’s a Safer Option
• Also Read: Why Federal Employees Are Exploring Alternatives to FEGLI as Premium Costs Continue to Rise in 2025
• Also Read: The Catch-Up Contribution Rules Just Got Adjusted—And They May Favor Some Age Groups More Than Others

As a federal employee you do not have to worry about filling out an application to keep your health benefits when your retire.  When your retirement becomes effective, your coverage will automatically transfer to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) where they will process your retirement papers and take care of you as a retiree.  Your agency will no longer be responsible for you.

If, however, you decide that you don’t want to take your FEHB into retirement, you will need to include in your retirement package a fully completed SF 2809 (Benefits Registration Form) cancelling your coverage.

 

FEHB access for Postal employees HERE

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