Updated 04/2022

HEALTH BENEFITS FOR DOI CASUALS HIRING UNIT GUIDANCE

To further the goal of providing affordable health insurance to Federal employees, the United 

States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has issued a final rule modifying coverage 

under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program to include certain temporary, 

seasonal, and intermittent employees who are identified as full-time employees. This 

regulation makes FEHB coverage available to eligible casuals.

Hiring Unit 

Each year the hiring official will include the FEHB Fast Facts for Casuals and require each casual to 

complete the Conditional Offer of Federal Employee Health Benefits Form at the time of hire, providing 

notification of the government’s intent to offer coverage. The casual will complete the form indicating 

whether they wish to elect or decline the offer. If the casual elects to enroll, the casual will be contacted 

when eligible, and provided with documentation to enroll. If the casual elects to decline coverage, their 

declination will be recorded, and no further contact will be made. The Conditional Offer of Federal 

Employee Health Benefits Form must be submitted to the Casual Payment Center (CPC) for processing.

Eligibility

Casuals become eligible for benefits once the casual has worked 130 hours per month for 90 

consecutive days.

The CPC will contact the casual directly by email and letter notifying them of eligibility and coverage 

options.

To enroll, the casual must complete the Health Benefits Election Form (SF-2809) and send it to the CPC. 

If the casual is eligible and fails to return the SF-2809 within 60 days of eligibility, the choice will be 

recorded as a declination of enrollment. Premiums will be based on the coverage option chosen and 

vary by plan, but generally the casual would pay approximately 30% and the agency approximately 70%.

Coverage

Initially the casual will have coverage for 28 days (2 casual pay periods) beginning on the first day of the 

following casual pay period after the CPC receives a completed Health Benefits Election Form (SF-2809).

• After 28 days, coverage ends and will automatically switch over to a free 31-day extension of 

coverage, unless:

✓ The casual has been ordered to a new assignment and has contacted the CPC to 

continue health benefits, or

✓ There is a Qualifying Life Event (QLE) that is applicable (reference Table of Permissible 

Changes in Enrollment on pages 7 through 14 of the SF-2809) and the casual elects to 

cancel coverage by completing Parts D and F the SF-2809. This form must be submitted 

to the CPC.

• When casual employment ends and during the 31-day extension, the casual may choose to 

contact their health plan and convert the insurance plan to an individual contract, or

• The casual can enroll in Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) to continue the coverage 

through a FEHB plan. TCC is available to eligible former employees for up to 18 months 

following the end of employment. The casual is then responsible for the full premium amount 

(government and enrollee share) plus a 2% administrative fee.

• If the casual works any time after health benefits have been terminated within the calendar 

year, the casual can reenroll by submitting a new Health Benefits Election Form (SF-2809) to the 

CPC.
Updated 04/2022

Payment Premiums

Premiums will be based on the coverage option chosen and vary by plan, but generally the casual would 

pay approximately 30% and the agency approximately 70%. Premiums for the free 31-day extension are 

paid for by the health insurance company.

The Federal Personnel Payroll System (FPPS) will automatically calculate and deduct the premium from 

the casual’s first time and attendance payment each month. When there is not a pending payment, a bill 

for collection will be created and mailed to the casual. The casual will forward the payment to IBC for 

processing of the bill for collection.

References:

Healthcare: Plan Information - OPM.gov

https://www.nifc.gov/programs/casual-payment-center