Health Insurance
(FEHB & PSHB).
The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program is one of the most valuable benefits of federal employment — and one of the most important decisions you make at retirement. Premiums are rising, plan options are evolving, and Medicare coordination is now more critical than ever.
FEHB program
overview.
The FEHB Program provides comprehensive health care coverage for federal employees, annuitants, and their families — with the widest selection of health plans available to any group in the country. No pre-existing condition limitations, no waiting periods.
The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program gives you and your family access to a wide range of plan types — and the flexibility to change plans each year during Open Season. Unlike most private employer plans, there are no pre-existing condition limitations or waiting periods.
When you retire, your agency will automatically transfer your FEHB enrollment to OPM if you are eligible. The key eligibility requirements are an immediate annuity beginning no later than one month after your final separation, and five years of continuous FEHB enrollment immediately preceding retirement — or enrollment since your first opportunity to enroll, if less than five years.
2026 FEHB premiums are increasing an average of 12%. Now is the time to review your plan during Open Season and consider whether Medicare coordination changes your optimal plan choice.
Fee-for-Service (FFS) / PPO
Widest provider network
Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO)
Lower premiums, regional coverage
Consumer-Driven / High-Deductible Plans
Lower premiums + HSA/HRA
Medicare Advantage plans now offered within FEHB
Many FEHB plans now offer a Medicare Advantage (MA) option that includes Part D drug coverage. These plans can reduce out-of-pocket costs significantly for retirees enrolled in Medicare — but proceed with caution. MA plans have network restrictions and prior authorization requirements that traditional FFS plans do not. Review the detailed comparison resources before making the switch.
Carrying FEHB into
retirement.
To continue FEHB coverage into retirement, both of the following conditions must be met:
Two requirements to carry FEHB into retirement
1. Immediate annuity: You must retire on an immediate annuity — one that begins to accrue no later than one month after your final separation from federal service.
2. Five years of enrollment: You must have been continuously enrolled (or covered as a family member) in any FEHB plan for the five years immediately preceding retirement, or since your first opportunity to enroll if less than five years.
Tricare counts: Tricare coverage counts toward the 5-year requirement, as long as you have FEHB coverage on the actual date of retirement.
PSHB — Postal Service Health Benefits Program
New in 2025 — Postal employees and annuitants
The Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program replaced FEHB coverage for eligible Postal Service employees, annuitants, and their eligible family members starting January 1, 2025. One key element: postal employees and retirees under a certain age are required to sign up for Medicare Part B to retain their PSHB coverage in retirement.
This Medicare Part B requirement is specific to PSHB for now — but it may be extended to FEHB plans for non-postal federal employees down the road. Watch OPM guidance carefully in coming years.
Open Season
The annual Open Season allows FEHB participants to review their coverage and switch plans. The 2025 Open Season ran November 10 through December 8, 2025 for plan year 2026.
Managing your FEHB account online as a retiree
Retirees can manage their FEHB enrollment online at retireefehb.opm.gov. You'll need your Annuity Claim Number to register and create a unique username and password. You must re-register each Open Season even if you registered the prior year.
The online system allows you to: change your enrollment, view transaction history, update dependent information, and request health plan brochures. Paper brochures are no longer automatically mailed to FEHB members.
Self Plus One enrollment
All FEHB plans now offer three enrollment types: Self Only, Self Plus One, and Self and Family. Self Plus One covers you and one eligible family member you designate.
Tricare and CHAMPVA
Military retirees and certain veterans' family members may have Tricare or CHAMPVA coverage that interacts with FEHB in important ways.
Tricare and FEHB coordination
Tricare holds an annual Open Season concurrent with the FEHB Open Season. Two plan options are available: Tricare Prime and Tricare Select.
Tricare requires participants to have Medicare Parts A and B. If you have Tricare, you can suspend (not cancel) your FEHB enrollment and use Tricare for Life in conjunction with Medicare A & B — and reinstate FEHB in the future if needed.
To suspend your FEHB for Tricare or CHAMPVA: annuitants can call OPM's Retirement Information Office at 1-888-767-6738 (or 202-606-0500 in the DC calling area) to obtain a suspension form. Former spouses can get the form from their employing office or retirement system.
Surviving family member requirements
For your surviving family members to continue your FEHB enrollment after your death, two conditions must be met:
Both requirements must be satisfied
1. You must have been enrolled for Self and Family or Self Plus One at the time of your death.
2. At least one family member must be entitled to a survivor annuity.
All survivors who meet the definition of "family member" can continue FEHB coverage under your enrollment as long as any one of them is entitled to a survivor annuity. If the surviving annuitant is the only eligible family member, the retirement system will automatically change the enrollment to Self Only.
Minimum annuity for spouse FEHB coverage
If your spouse is not a federal employee, they will likely need FEHB coverage in retirement. Whether they can keep it after your death depends on your survivor benefit election — and the rules differ between CSRS and FERS.
| System | Minimum survivor election for spouse FEHB eligibility after your death | Cost to your annuity |
|---|---|---|
| CSRS | Any amount — even a minimal survivor annuity (e.g. $3,600/yr) qualifies your spouse for continued FEHB coverage | 2.5% on the elected base amount — as low as a fraction of a percent of your total annuity |
| FERS | Must elect either 50% or 25% survivor annuity — no other amount qualifies | 10% of full annuity for 50% election; 5% of full annuity for 25% election |
Suspending and reinstating FEHB coverage
Approved reasons to suspend (not cancel) FEHB
You may suspend FEHB and reinstate it later if you are covered by any of the following:
• Medicare Advantage plan • TRICARE • CHAMPVA • Medicaid or similar state-sponsored medical assistance program • Peace Corps Volunteer coverage
To obtain a suspension form, call OPM's Retirement Information Office at 1-888-767-6738 (DC area: 202-606-0500).
Reinstating suspended FEHB coverage
To reinstate suspended FEHB coverage, contact OPM by any of these methods:
• Online: OPM's Open Season Online system at retireefehb.opm.gov
• Phone: Open Season Express at 1-800-332-9798
• Mail: Office of Personnel Management, Open Season Processing Center, P.O. Box 5000, Lawrence, KS 66046-0500
Retiree perspective
I changed from an HMO to the Basic Blue Cross plan before retiring. We knew we would be traveling and that Blue Cross was accepted in most, if not all, major locations nationwide. The change also dramatically reduced our monthly premiums and our level of service actually improved. We were pleasantly surprised at the efficiency of their plan.
When I turned 65 we changed to the GEHA Standard plan to reduce our costs, considering we were also paying Medicare monthly Part B premiums. Once you are on Medicare, GEHA picks up all of the copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles. Plus, you can use any medical facility or doctor that accepts Medicare regardless of whether or not they are in the GEHA provider network.
— Dennis V. Damp, Retired FAAFEHB guides
& plan tools.
OPM plan selection tools, premium rates, the FEHB handbook, and expert articles on Medicare coordination and plan selection.