Children's eligibility in the FEHB Program
It is your responsibility to know when a family member is no longer eligible for coverage – your agency will not notify you. Your child can be covered
under your Self and Family enrollment until he or she turns age 26. It does not matter whether he or she attends college.
Your foster children are included
in your Self and Family enrollment if they live with you in a regular parent-child relationship.
A child age 26 or over who is incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical disability that existed before age 26
is also an eligible family member.
Options when your child turns 26
When your child reaches age 26, he/she is no longer an eligible family member until January 1, 2011. Your child's coverage continues at no cost for 31 days after the enrollment terminates.
Your child is also eligible to enroll in Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) or to convert to an individual policy with your carrier.
If your child is interested in TCC, you must contact your Human Resources Office and inform them your child is turning age 26.
After your notification, your Human Resources Office will give you information about enrolling your child for TCC. You have 60 days from
the 26nd birthday to notify your Human Resources Office your child turned 26. Your child has 60 days from the later of (1) the 26nd
birthday, or (2) the date of the TCC notice from the Human Resources Office to request enrollment for TCC. For more information about
TCC, please review the TCC coverage pamphlet at www.opm.gov/insure/health/eligibility/tcc/.
When your child's TCC enrollment terminates, he/she is entitled to convert to an individual policy by your plan.
Your child is not required to provide evidence of insurability. To apply for conversion, you or your child must make a written request
to the carrier of your plan. You or your child must apply for conversion within 31 days after his/her coverage as a family member
terminated.