§3516 Health benefits for certain former spouses of Central Intelligence Agency employees

Summary

Former spouses of CIA employees can get federal health insurance if they meet certain rules. To qualify, the marriage must have ended by divorce or annulment before May 7, 1985, the ex-spouse must have been covered as a family member at some time during the 18 months before the divorce became final, and the couple must have been married at least ten years while the employee worked for the CIA, with at least five of those years spent together outside the United States. A similar group of former spouses whose divorce was on or before December 4, 1991, and who were tied to the CIA retirement systems can also qualify. Eligible people can enroll for themselves or for themselves and family if they file within the six-month period starting October 1, 1986 (or within 60 days after notice for the December 4, 1991 group), follow OPM rules, and pay into the Employees Health Benefits Fund an amount equal to the combined employee and agency contributions for the same plan and benefit level. The CIA must try to find and tell eligible former spouses about their rights, and OPM can waive the six-month limit if the CIA Director says it is warranted. A former spouse who enrolled can keep coverage after the participant dies, even if the retirement annuity ends. If a former spouse remarries before age fifty-five, they cannot make the initial election and any coverage ends 31 days after the remarriage. If that remarriage later ends (by death, annulment, or divorce), the former spouse gets back eligibility on the date the remarriage ends and may enroll again under OPM rules if they meet the original coverage conditions. No one can be covered under this rule while covered under another law, and no one can have more than one enrollment here. "Health benefits plan" means a plan approved under chapter 89 of title 5.