Federal employees enjoy a variety of benefits for themselves and their families. Let’s go over what you need to know about dependent child eligibility.
Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program:
Children are covered under a self-and-family plan until they turn 26. If they lose coverage at that point, they can apply for temporary continuation of coverage for up to 36 months. To switch to a non-group plan, you or your child need to apply within 31 days of their coverage ending. There’s a 31-day free coverage extension for this conversion, even if they qualify for temporary continuation coverage. If your child goes with the temporary coverage, they can still switch to a non-group plan when that coverage ends (unless they cancel it).
Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program:
For this program, children must be unmarried and under 22. If they’re 22 or older, they can still qualify if they have a mental or physical disability that started before 22. This rule also applies to the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Option C family coverage.
Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA):
Benefits stop when a child marries or turns 18. However, they can continue up to age 22 if the child is unmarried, a full-time student, and hasn’t completed four years of post-high school education. Benefits can also keep going if the child has a disability that prevents them from supporting themselves.
Child Survivor Retirement Annuity Benefits:
These benefits usually end when a child turns 18 or gets married. However, they can continue beyond age 18 if the child has a disability that started before 18 or is a full-time student. If benefits end because the child turns 18, they can be resumed if the child becomes a full-time student before age 22 and remains unmarried. If benefits stop due to marriage, they won’t start again if the marriage later ends in divorce or death, though they may continue in some cases if the marriage is annulled.
For more details on your benefits, visit OPM.gov.
