Federal Benefits Question of the Week: FEHB and TRICARE

Q. I’m retired from federal civil service and my husband, who is retired from military service, is under my Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plan. He recently turned age 65 and is enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B along with TRICARE For Life (TFL) through his military service. He no longer needs coverage under my FEHB plan. How can I suspend his coverage under my FEHB plan?

A. Retirees are not able to suspend the FEHB coverage on a spouse unless the coverage is suspended for the retiree as well. One option to avoid paying for FEHB coverage for your spouse would be to change to a Self Only enrollment under FEHB. This change can be made at any time and does not require a qualifying life event (QLE). Changing your enrollment from Self Only back to Self Plus One, however, does require that the change be made during the annual Open Season or be due to a QLE. Be aware that if you predecease your spouse and you were enrolled in a Self Only FEHB plan on your date of death, your husband would never be able to reenroll in FEHB as a surviving spouse. It might be a better option to wait until you are both enrolled in Medicare Parts A and B along with TFL and then suspend your enrollment in FEHB. You may suspend FEHB coverage to use TRICARE, TRICARE For Life, Medicare Advantage, Peace Corps or CHAMPVA. Use form RI 79-9 – “Health Benefits Suspension/Cancellation Confirmation,” or form OPM 2809 – “Health Benefits Election Form.”