Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73
§8905 Election of coverage
Title 5 › Part PART III— - EMPLOYEES › Subpart Subpart G— - Insurance and Annuities › Chapter CHAPTER 89— - HEALTH INSURANCE › § 8905
Summary
Employees, retirees, former spouses, and some other people can sign up for an approved federal health plan as an individual, for self plus one person, or for self and family. A retiree who was already enrolled as an employee can keep coverage if they met certain service rules: at least 5 years right before retirement, or the full eligible service periods as defined by the Office of Personnel Management, or continuous enrollment that began before January 1, 1965. A retiree who was a family member of an enrolled employee can also keep coverage. Certain eligible beneficiaries under a Department of Defense demonstration may also join under the agreement with OPM. A former spouse can enroll within 60 days after the divorce. If the marriage ended after the employee retired, the former spouse has 60 days after the divorce or, if later, 60 days after an election is made under sections 8339(j)(3) or 8417(b) for that former spouse. That coverage is limited to the former spouse and any unmarried dependent natural or adopted children who are under 22 or who became disabled before age 22 (self plus one may include only one child). If both spouses are eligible, either one—but not both—may enroll for self and family that covers the other; spouses may also enroll separately as individuals. People may change coverage within 60 days after a family-status change or at other times OPM allows. OPM must let people switch plans before plan rate or benefit changes, before a new plan is offered, or before a plan ends, and agencies must warn employees in writing about certain rights before those periods. If a court or agency orders an employee to provide coverage for a child, the employer must enroll or change the employee to self plus one or family coverage as needed (and will do so if the employee fails to act or cannot show other insurance). That mandated coverage cannot be dropped while the order is in effect unless other coverage is documented. Actions by staff to enroll or change coverage count as emergency services for purposes of section 1342 of title 31.
Full Legal Text
Title 5, §8905
Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)An employee may enroll in an approved health benefits plan described in section 8903 or 8903a—
(1)as an individual;
(2)for self plus one; or
(3)for self and family.
(b)An annuitant who at the time he becomes an annuitant was enrolled in a health benefits plan under this chapter—
(1)as an employee for a period of not less than—
(A)the 5 years of service immediately before retirement;
(B)the full period or periods of service between the last day of the first period, as prescribed by regulations of the Office of Personnel Management, in which he is eligible to enroll in the plan and the date on which he becomes an annuitant; or
(C)the full period or periods of service beginning with the enrollment which became effective before January 1, 1965, and ending with the date on which he becomes an annuitant;
(2)as a member of the family of an employee or annuitant;
(c)(1)A former spouse may—
(A)within 60 days after the dissolution of the marriage, or
(B)in the case of a former spouse of a former employee whose marriage was dissolved after the employee’s retirement, within 60 days after the dissolution of the marriage or, if later, within 60 days after an election is made under section 8339(j)(3) or 8417(b) of this title for such former spouse by the retired employee,
(2)Coverage for self plus one or for self and family under this subsection shall be limited to—
(A)the former spouse; and
(B)unmarried dependent natural or adopted children (or, in the case of self plus one coverage, not more than 1 such child) of the former spouse and the employee who are—
(i)under 22 years of age; or
(ii)incapable of self-support because of mental or physical disability which existed before age 22.
(d)An individual whom the Secretary of Defense determines is an eligible beneficiary under subsection (b) of section 1108 of title 10 may enroll, as part of the demonstration project under such section, in a health benefits plan under this chapter in accordance with the agreement under subsection (a) of such section between the Secretary and the Office and applicable regulations under this chapter.
(e)If an employee, annuitant, or other individual eligible to enroll in a health benefits plan under this chapter has a spouse who is also eligible to enroll, either spouse, but not both, may enroll for self and family, or for a self plus one enrollment that covers the spouse, or each spouse may enroll as an individual or for a self plus one enrollment that does not cover the other spouse or a child who is covered under the enrollment of the other spouse. However, an individual may not be enrolled both as an employee, annuitant, or other individual eligible to enroll and as a member of the family.
(f)An employee, annuitant, former spouse, or person having continued coverage under section 8905a of this title enrolled in a health benefits plan under this chapter may change his coverage or that of himself and members of his family by an application filed within 60 days after a change in family status or at other times and under conditions prescribed by regulations of the Office.
(g)(1)Under regulations prescribed by the Office, the Office shall, before the start of any contract term in which—
(A)an adjustment is made in any of the rates charged or benefits provided under a health benefits plan described by section 8903 or 8903a of this title,
(B)a newly approved health benefits plan is offered, or
(C)an existing plan is terminated,
(2)In addition to any opportunity afforded under paragraph (1) of this subsection, an employee, annuitant, former spouse, or person having continued coverage under section 8905a of this title enrolled in a health benefits plan under this chapter shall be permitted to transfer that individual’s enrollment to another such plan, or to cancel such enrollment, at such other times and subject to such conditions as the Office may prescribe in regulations.
(3)(A)In addition to any informational requirements otherwise applicable under this chapter, the regulations shall include provisions to ensure that each employee eligible to enroll in a health benefits plan under this chapter (whether actually enrolled or not) is notified in writing as to the rights afforded under section 8905a of this title.
(B)Notification under this paragraph shall be provided by employing agencies at an appropriate point in time before each period under paragraph (1) so that employees may be aware of their rights under section 8905a of this title when making enrollment decisions during such period.
(h)(1)An unenrolled employee who is required by a court or administrative order to provide health insurance coverage for 1 or more children who meets the requirements of section 8901(5) may enroll for self plus one or self and family coverage, as necessary to provide health insurance coverage for each child who is covered under the order, in a health benefits plan under this chapter. If such employee fails to enroll for self plus one or self and family coverage, as necessary to provide health insurance coverage for each child who is covered under the order, in a health benefits plan that provides full benefits and services in the location in which the child or children reside, and the employee does not provide documentation showing that such coverage has been provided through other health insurance, the employing agency shall enroll the employee in a self plus one or self and family enrollment, as necessary to provide health insurance coverage for each child who is covered under the order, in the option which provides the lower level of coverage under the Service Benefit Plan.
(2)An employee who is enrolled as an individual in a health benefits plan under this chapter and who is required by a court or administrative order to provide health insurance coverage for 1 or more children who meets the requirements of section 8901(5) may change to a self plus one or self and family enrollment, as necessary to provide health insurance coverage for each child who is covered under the order, in the same or another health benefits plan under this chapter. If such employee fails to change to a self plus one or self and family enrollment, as necessary to provide health insurance coverage for each child who is covered under the order, and the employee does not provide documentation showing that such coverage has been provided through other health insurance, the employing agency shall change the enrollment of the employee to a self plus one or self and family enrollment, as necessary to provide health insurance coverage for each child who is covered under the order, in the plan in which the employee is enrolled if that plan provides full benefits and services in the location where the child or children reside. If the plan in which the employee is enrolled does not provide full benefits and services in the location in which the child or children reside, or, if the employee fails to change to a self plus one or self and family enrollment, as necessary to provide health insurance coverage for each child who is covered under the order, in a plan that provides full benefits and services in the location where the child or children reside, the employing agency shall change the coverage of the employee to a self plus one or self and family enrollment, as necessary to provide health insurance coverage for each child who is covered under the order, in the option which provides the lower level of coverage under the Service Benefits Plan.
(3)The employee may not discontinue the self plus one or self and family enrollment, as necessary to provide health insurance coverage for each child who is covered under the order, in a plan that provides full benefits and services in the location in which the child or children reside for so long as the court or administrative order remains in effect and the child or children continue to meet the requirements of section 8901(5), unless the employee provides documentation showing that such coverage has been provided through other health insurance.
(i)Any services by an officer or employee under this chapter relating to enrolling individuals in a health benefits plan under this chapter, or changing the enrollment of an individual already so enrolled, shall be deemed, for purposes of section 1342 of title 31, services for emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
DerivationU.S. CodeRevised Statutes andStatutes at Large 5 U.S.C. 3002(a) (1st sentence, less words between 1st and 4th commas), (b)–(e).Sept. 28, 1959, Pub. L. 86–382, § 3(a) (1st sentence, less words between 1st and 4th commas), (b)–(e), 73 Stat. 710. Mar. 17, 1964, Pub. L. 88–284, § 1(5), 78 Stat. 164. In subsection (b)(1), the words “as an employee” are inserted for clarity. In subsection (b)(1)(C), the words “before
January 1, 1965” are substituted for “not later than
December 31, 1964”. Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2019—Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 116–92 added subsec. (i). 2013—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 113–67, § 706(a)(1), added subsec. (a) and struck out former subsec. (a) which read as follows: “An employee may enroll in an approved health benefits plan described by section 8903 or 8903a of this title either as an individual or for self and family.” Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 113–67, § 706(a)(2)(A), inserted “for self plus one or” before “self and family as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection” in concluding provisions. Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 113–67, § 706(a)(2)(B)(i), inserted “for self plus one or” before “for self and family” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 113–67, § 706(a)(2)(B)(ii), inserted “(or, in the case of self plus one coverage, not more than 1 such child)” after “adopted children”. Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 113–67, § 706(a)(3), substituted “or for a self plus one enrollment that covers the spouse, or each spouse may enroll as an individual or for a self plus one enrollment that does not cover the other spouse or a child who is covered under the enrollment of the other spouse” for “or each spouse may enroll as an individual”. Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 113–67, § 706(a)(4)(A)–(C), substituted “self plus one or self and family enrollment, as necessary to provide health insurance coverage for each child who is covered under the order,” for “self and family enrollment”, “1 or more children” for “a child”, and “the child or children reside” for “the child resides” wherever appearing. Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 113–67, § 706(a)(4)(D), substituted “self plus one or self and family coverage, as necessary to provide health insurance coverage for each child who is covered under the order,” for “self and family coverage” in two places. Subsec. (h)(3). Pub. L. 113–67, § 706(a)(4)(E), substituted “the child or children continue” for “the child continues”. 2000—Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 106–394 added subsec. (h). 1998—Subsecs. (d) to (g). Pub. L. 105–261 added subsec. (d) and redesignated former subsecs. (d) to (f) as (e) to (g), respectively. 1992—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–378, § 2(77)(A), substituted “this chapter” for “this subchapter.” at end. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 102–378, § 2(77)(B), inserted comma after “8341(h)” in last sentence. 1988—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–654, § 202(c), amended subsec. (d) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (d) read as follows: “If an employee has a spouse who is an employee, either spouse, but not both, may enroll for self and family, or each spouse may enroll as an individual. However, an individual may not be enrolled both as an employee or annuitant and as a member of the family.” Subsecs. (e), (f)(1), (2). Pub. L. 100–654, § 201(c), (d)(1), substituted “former spouse, or person having continued coverage under section 8905a of this title” for “or former spouse”. Subsec. (f)(3). Pub. L. 100–654, § 201(d)(2), added par. (3). 1986—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–251, § 103, inserted last sentence relating to waiver of the requirements of this subsection if it would be against equity to prohibit enrollment. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 99–335 inserted in subpar. (B) “or 8417(b)” and substituted in provision following subpar. (B) “8345(j), 8445, or 8467” for “or 8345(j)”. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–251, § 104(a), amended subsec. (f) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (f) read as follows: “An employee, annuitant, or former spouse enrolled in a health benefits plan under this chapter may change his coverage or that of himself and members of his family by an application filed within 60 days after a change in family status or at other times and under conditions prescribed by
Regulations
of the Office.” 1985—Subsecs. (a), (c)(1). Pub. L. 99–53, § 2(a), inserted reference to section 8903a of this title. Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 99–53, § 2(a), (c), inserted reference to section 8903a of this title and substituted “such plan” for “plan described by that section”. 1984—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98–615, § 3(4)(A), added subsec. (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 98–615, § 3(4)(A), redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e). Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–615, § 3(4), redesignated former subsec. (d) as (e) and substituted “An employee, annuitant, or former spouse” for “An employee or annuitant”. Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f). Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 98–615, § 3(4), redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f) and substituted “An employee, annuitant, or former spouse” for “An employee or annuitant”. 1978—Subsecs. (b), (d), (e). Pub. L. 95–454 substituted “Office of Personnel Management” and “Office” for “Civil Service Commission” and “Commission”, respectively, wherever appearing.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2019 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 116–92 applicable to any lapse in appropriations beginning on or after Dec. 20, 2019, see section 1110(d) of Pub. L. 116–92, set out as a note under section 8702 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–654 applicable with respect to any calendar year beginning, and contracts entered into or renewed for any calendar year beginning, after end of 9-month period beginning Nov. 14, 1988, and with respect to any qualifying event occurring on or after first day of first calendar year beginning after end of such 9-month period, see section 203 of Pub. L. 100–654, set out as a note under section 8902 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1986
Amendments
Amendment by Pub. L. 99–335 effective Jan. 1, 1987, see section 702(a) of Pub. L. 99–335, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 8401 of this title. Pub. L. 99–251, title I, § 104(b), Feb. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 15, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall be effective with respect to contracts entered into or renewed for calendar years beginning after December 31, 1986.”
Effective Date
of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–615 effective May 7, 1985, with enumerated exceptions, and applicable to any individual who is married to an employee or annuitant on or after that date, see section 4(a)(2) of Pub. L. 98–615, as amended, set out as a note under section 8341 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1978 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 95–454 effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
Regulations
to carry out amendment by Pub. L. 116–92 to be prescribed no later than 90 days after Dec. 20, 2019, and to contain provision related to pay status for furloughed employees, see section 1110(c) of Pub. L. 116–92, set out as a note under section 8702 of this title. FEHB Improvements Pub. L. 119–21, title IX, § 90101(a)–(f), July 4, 2025, 139 Stat. 362, provided that: “(a)
Short Title
.—This section may be cited as the ‘FEHB Protection Act of 2025’. “(b) Definitions.—In this section:“(1) Director.—The term ‘Director’ means the Director of the Office of Personnel Management. “(2) Health benefits plan; member of family.—The terms ‘health benefits plan’ and ‘member of family’ have the meanings given those terms in section 8901 of title 5, United States Code. “(3) Open season.—The term ‘open season’ means an open season described in section 890.301(f) of title 5, Code of Federal
Regulations
, or any successor regulation. “(4) Program.—The term ‘Program’ means the health insurance programs carried out under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, including the program carried out under section 8903c of that title. “(5) Qualifying life event.—The term ‘qualifying life event’ has the meaning given the term in section 892.101 of title 5, Code of Federal
Regulations
, or any successor regulation. “(c) Verification Requirements.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [July 4, 2025], the Director shall issue
Regulations
and implement a process to verify—“(1) the veracity of any qualifying life event through which an enrollee in the Program seeks to add a member of family with respect to the enrollee to a health benefits plan under the Program; and “(2) that, when an enrollee in the Program seeks to add a member of family with respect to the enrollee to the health benefits plan of the enrollee under the Program, including during any open season, the individual so added is a qualifying member of family with respect to the enrollee. “(d) Fraud Risk Assessment.—In any fraud risk assessment conducted with respect to the Program on or after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall include an assessment of individuals who are enrolled in, or covered under, a health benefits plan under the Program even though those individuals are not eligible to be so enrolled or covered. “(e) Family Member Eligibility Verification Audit.—“(1) In general.—During the 3-year period beginning on the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall carry out a comprehensive audit regarding members of family who are covered under an enrollment in a health benefits plan under the Program. “(2) Contents.—With respect to the audit carried out under paragraph (1), the Director shall review marriage certificates, birth certificates, and other appropriate documents that are necessary to determine eligibility to enroll in a health benefits plan under the Program. “(f) Disenrollment or Removal.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall develop a process by which any individual enrolled in, or covered under, a health benefits plan under the Program who is not eligible to be so enrolled or covered shall be disenrolled or removed from enrollment in, or coverage under, that health benefits plan.” Weighted Average for First Year Pub. L. 113–67, div. A, title VII, § 706(d), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 1194, provided that: “For the first contract year for which an employee may enroll for self plus one coverage under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, the Office of Personnel Management shall determine the weighted average of the subscription charges that will be in effect for the contract year for enrollments for self plus one under such chapter based on an actuarial analysis.” Election of Health Benefits Coverage and Entitlement to Health Benefits Under this Chapter Rather Than Under Retired Federal Employees Health Benefits Act Pub. L. 93–246, §§ 2, 4(b), Jan. 31, 1974, 88 Stat. 4, provided that: “Sec. 2. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an annuitant, as defined under section 8901(3) of title 5, United States Code, who is participating or who is eligible to participate in the health benefits program offered under the Retired Federal Employees Health Benefits Act (74 Stat. 849; Public Law 86–724), may elect, in accordance with
Regulations
prescribed by the United States Civil Service Commission, to be covered under the provisions of chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, in lieu of coverage under such Act. “(b) An annuitant who elects to be covered under the provisions of chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, shall be entitled to the benefits under such chapter 89. “[Sec. 4] (b) section 2 [set out above] shall take effect on the one hundred and eightieth day following the date of enactment [Jan. 1, 1974] or on such earlier date as the United States Civil Service Commission may prescribe.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
5 U.S.C. § 8905
Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73