OPM.gov / Retirement / faq / Health care coverage

# Learn more about health benefits and retirement

FAQs and answers about health benefits coverage and federal retirement.

## Questions and answers

###                                             Can I change my health insurance coverage?                                        

Yes. After you retire, you will still have the opportunity to change your enrollment from one plan to another during an annual open season. You cannot change to another plan simply because you retired. Each year, Open Season runs from the Monday of the second full workweek in November through the Monday of the second full workweek in December. The 2021 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Open Season will run from November 8 through December 13, 2021.

###                                             Can I keep my health benefits after I retire?                                        

Yes, you can keep your existing health benefits coverage if you meet all of the following conditions:
                      - You're enrolled in health care insurance under a federal plan when you retire
                      - You must have been continuously covered by a Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) program, TRICARE, or Civilian Health and Medical Program for Uniformed Services (CHAMPUS) plan for 5 years immediately before retiring; during all of your federal employment since your first opportunity to enroll; or continuously for full periods of service beginning with the enrollment that started before January 1, 1965, and ending with the date on which you become an annuitant, whichever is shortest.
                      - Your annuity payments start within 30 days

If you're retiring under the Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) plus 10 provision of FERS, health care and life insurance coverage are suspended until your annuity starts, even if it is postponed.

###                                             Can the eligibility requirements for continuing health benefits coverage be waived?                                        

Yes. OPM has the authority to waive the 5-year participation requirement when it's against equity and good conscience not to allow an individual to participate in the health care insurance program as a retiree. However, the law says that a person's failure to meet the 5-year requirement must be due to exceptional circumstances. When someone is retiring voluntarily, a waiver may not be appropriate because he or she can continue working until the requirement is met. When circumstances under these conditions otherwise warrant a waiver, we will notify the individual's employer.

###                                             Who is covered under my family health benefits coverage?                                        

Your family enrollment covers yourself, your current spouse, your eligible children who are under the age of 26, and other eligible dependents.

###                                             What records are needed for my health benefits?                                        

Your Official Personnel Folder should contain everything OPM needs, including a record of all of your health care benefits registration forms (SF-2809 and/or SF-2810). When you retire, you should make sure your records show a complete history of your health care insurance enrollment for the last 5 years.

###                                             What can I do if I'm eligible to continue my health benefits coverage, but my retirement payment will not cover the cost of my premium?                                        

You can pay your premiums directly to OPM. You shouldn't send any payments until we contact you with instructions on how to pay your premiums to OPM.

###                                             How do I find out if I am eligible for Medicare coverage?                                        

You should contact the Social Security Administration at least 3 months before your 65th birthday to apply for benefits. The Social Security Administration will have records pertaining to your eligibility for Medicare coverage. If they don't, and you or your employer need to get a statement of your earnings to apply for coverage, then you should write to:

General Services Administration National Personnel Records Center Civilian Personnel Records 111 Winnebago Street St. Louis, Missouri 63118

You should provide the following information in your request:
                      - Your name, as shown on your payroll records
                      - Date of birth
                      - Social Security number
                      - Mailing address
                      - Years for which earnings are needed
                      - Name and location of employer for each year
                      - Reason for the request
                      - A statement that all other sources of information have been exhausted
                      - Your written signature

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## Related information

                  - Life insurance coverage

##                                         A claim number is required to make a help submission.                                    

                                            If you are an annuitant, you can find your CSA or CSF claim number on your 1099-R, your annual COLA notice or your Benefits Booklet.                                        

                                            If you are unable to locate your CSA or CSF claim number, or you are not a retiree, former spouse of a retiree or a survivor of a retiree, or you are inquiring about the status of a refund application, please contact us on                                        

                                            1-888-767-6738 and one of our representatives will be able to assist you.                                        

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## Contact us for more support

### Report a Death

To report a death of a Retired Federal Employee or Current Federal Employee, please click the link below that applies:
              - Report Death of a Federal Retiree
              - Report Death of a Current Federal Employee

### **Submit a help request                                    

Submit your information below and one of our Customer Service Specialists will begin working on your request. All fields are required. We usually respond within 3 to 5 business days.

Please be advised that the information submitted must be entered by the annuitant or on behalf of the annuitant by the Representative Payee.
                                                    Formatting requirements**

Your claim number will start with "CSA" or "CSF". Enter A or F below, followed by your 7-digit claim number and your 1-character suffix (For Example: 0 or W)

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### **                                        Call us                                    

Call us if you can't find an answer to your question on OPM.gov or if you can't sign in to OPM Retirement Services Online to manage your annuity account. You may also need to call us for special or complex cases, or because we directed you to.

**Phone:**1-888-767-6738TTY: 711

**Hours:** Monday thru Friday, 7:40 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ETClosed on federal holidays

Our busiest time is between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. ET.

### **Write to us                                    

Please make sure your first and last name, phone number, email address, claim number, and signature are included in any inquiries or documents you mail to us. We usually respond within 1 to 3 weeks after we receive your mail.

**Retirement Operations Center**                                        U.S. Office of Personnel Management                                        Post Office Box 45                                        Boyers, PA 16017                                    

### **Fax us documents                                    

OPM Retirement Services does not have a main fax number.

You should only fax us documents if an official OPM form or one of our Customer Service Specialists asks you to (the fax number will be provided on the form, or the Customer Service Specialist will provide you one.) Otherwise, you should mail us your documents.