Open Season
November 8, 2010, to December 14, 2010
Changes to FEHB Program Dependent Eligibility Rules Under the 2010 Affordable Care Act, Effective January 1, 2011
n Children between the ages of 22 and 26 are covered under their parent’s Self and Family enrollment up to age 26.
n Married children (but not their spouse or their own children) are covered up to age 26. This is true even if the child is currently under age 22.
n Children who are eligible for or have their own employer-provided health insurance are eligible for coverage up to age 26.
n Stepchildren do not need to live with the enrollee in a parent-child relationship to be eligible for coverage up to age 26.
n Children who are incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical disability that began before age 26 are eligible to continue coverage. Contact the Human Resources Shared Services Center (HRSSC) at 877-477-3273, option 5; TTY 866-260-7507 for additional information.
n Foster children are eligible for coverage up to age 26.
Children do not have to live with their parent, be financially dependent upon their parent, or be students to be covered up to age 26. There is also no requirement that the child have prior or current insurance coverage. FEHB program plans will send notice to all their enrollees of the coverage eligibility changes as a part of that plan’s Open Season communications.
In cases where children have employer-provided health insurance and are covered under their parent’s Self and Family enrollment, the children’s employer-provided health insurance will be the primary payer. FEHB will be the secondary payer.
What You Must Do If You Want To Add Your Newly Eligible Child To Your Enrollment
n If you currently have a Self and Family enrollment and you do not change to another health plan or option during Open Season, contact your FEHB plan and give them information on your newly eligible child. Do not complete a PostalEASE FEHB Worksheet or enter dependent information in PostalEASE to add your child to an existing Self and Family enrollment. Your child will be covered on January 1, 2011.
n If you currently have a Self and Family enrollment and you are changing to another Self and Family health plan or option during Open Season, you must enroll for the new plan or option to provide coverage for your children. You must complete a PostalEase FEHB Worksheet and enter enrollment information in PostalEASE to make this change.
n If you currently have a Self Only enrollment and you have newly eligible children, you must change your enrollment from Self Only to Self and Family if you want your children to be covered. You must complete a PostalEASE FEHB Worksheet and enter enrollment information in PostalEASE to make this change.
n If you are not currently enrolled and you want FEHB coverage since your children are now eligible, you must enroll for Self and Family coverage to provide coverage for your children. You must complete a PostalEASE FEHB Worksheet and enter enrollment information in PostalEASE to make this change.
Important: If you are enrolling or changing your enrollment, be sure to include all children up to age 26 when completing your PostalEASE FEHB Worksheet or using PostalEASE.
Please Post on All Bulletin Boards Through December 14, 2010.
