§4069c Health Benefits for Certain Former Spouses

Summary

Gives health insurance to people who divorced or had their marriage annulled from a Foreign Service employee before May 7, 1985, if they were on that employee’s family plan at any time in the 18 months before the divorce became final and if they were married at least 10 years during the employee’s government service. Eligible people may sign up for coverage for themselves or for themselves and family if they file an election and pay into the Employees Health Benefits Fund an amount equal to the employee and agency contributions for the same plan and benefit level. They had to enroll within the 6-month period that began on December 22, 1987, following procedures set by the Director of OPM, but the Secretary can waive that deadline. The Secretary must try to find eligible former spouses and tell them about their rights. If a former spouse remarries before turning 55, they cannot make the initial election. If already enrolled and they remarry before 55, coverage ends 31 days after the remarriage. No one can be covered under this rule while covered by another health plan or be enrolled more than once here. “Health benefits plan” means a plan approved under chapter 89 of title 5. A special rule lets certain former spouses of USIA or AID employees who were qualified on February 14, 1981 get benefits if the employee retired under CSRS before the agency could join the Foreign Service system and the marriage included at least five years with the employee assigned overseas.