5 C.F.R. PART 892—FEDERAL FLEXIBLE BENEFITS PLAN: PRE-TAX PAYMENT OF HEALTH BENEFITS PREMIUMS


Title 5 - Administrative Personnel


Title 5: Administrative Personnel

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PART 892—FEDERAL FLEXIBLE BENEFITS PLAN: PRE-TAX PAYMENT OF HEALTH BENEFITS PREMIUMS

Section Contents

Subpart A—Administration and General Provisions

§ 892.101   Definitions.
§ 892.102   What is premium conversion and how does it work?
§ 892.103   What can I do if I disagree with my agency's decision about my pre-or post-tax election?

Subpart B—Eligibility and Participation

§ 892.201   Who is covered by the premium conversion plan?
§ 892.202   Are retirees eligible for the premium conversion plan?
§ 892.203   When will my premium conversion begin?
§ 892.204   How do I waive participation in premium conversion before the benefit first becomes effective?
§ 892.205   May I waive participation in premium conversion after the initial implementation?
§ 892.206   Can I cancel my waiver and participate in premium conversion?
§ 892.207   Can I make changes to my FEHB enrollment while I am participating in premium conversion?
§ 892.208   Can I change my enrollment from self and family to self only at any time?
§ 892.209   Can I cancel FEHB coverage at any time?
§ 892.210   Does premium conversion change the effective date of an FEHB enrollment, change in enrollment, or cancellation of enrollment?
§ 892.211   What options are available to me if I go on a period of leave without pay (LWOP) or other types of non-pay status?

Subpart C—Contributions and Withholdings

§ 892.301   How do I pay my premium?
§ 892.302   Will the Government contribution continue?
§ 892.303   Can I pay my premiums directly by check under the premium conversion plan?

Subpart D—Reemployed Annuitants and Survivor Annuitants

§ 892.401   Am I eligible for premium conversion if I retire and then come back to work for the Federal Government?
§ 892.402   I am a survivor annuitant as well as an active Federal employee; am I eligible for premium conversion?


Authority:  5 U.S.C. 8913; 5 U.S.C. 1103(a)(7); 26 U.S.C. 125.

Source:  65 FR 44646, July 19, 2000, unless otherwise noted.

Subpart A—Administration and General Provisions
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§ 892.101   Definitions.
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Days mean calendar days.

Dependent means a family member who is both eligible for coverage under the FEHB Program and a dependent as defined in section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code.

FEHB Program means the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program described in 5 U.S.C. 8901.

Open Season means the period of time each year as described in §890.301(f) of this chapter when all individuals eligible for FEHB coverage have the opportunity to enroll or change their enrollment. These changes become effective with the first pay period that begins in the following year. For additional open seasons authorized by OPM, the effective date is specified.

OPM means the Office of Personnel Management.

Qualifying life event means an event that may permit changes to your FEHB enrollment as well as changes to your premium conversion election as described in Treasury regulations at 26 CFR 1.125–4 and includes the following:

(1) Change in family status that results in an increase or decrease in the number of eligible family members as follows:

(i) Marriage, divorce, annulment, legal separation;

(ii) Birth, adoption, acquiring a foster child that meets the definition in §890.101(a) or a stepchild, issuance of a court order requiring an employee to provide coverage for a child;

(iii) Last dependent child loses coverage, for example, the child reaches age 22 or marries, stepchild moves out of employee's home, disabled child becomes capable of self support, child acquires other coverage by court order; and

(iv) Death of a spouse or dependent.

(2) Any change in employment status that could result in entitlement to coverage; for example:

(i) Reemployment after a break in service of more than 3 days;

(ii) Return to pay status from non-pay status if employee previously elected to terminate coverage (if employee did not elect to terminate see §892.101 (5);

(iii) Return to receiving pay sufficient to cover premium withholdings if coverage terminated;

(iv) Your spouse or dependent changes hours from either full-time to part-time status, or the reverse, which significantly affects their eligibility for coverage;

(v) Start or end of a period of unpaid leave of absence (leave without pay [LWOP], or other non-pay status) by you or your spouse. A period of unpaid leave is a continuous unpaid leave of absence of more than one pay period; and

(vi) Start or end of your spouse's employment that affects you or your spouse's eligibility for coverage.

(3) Any change in employment status that could affect the cost of insurance, including:

(i) Change from temporary appointment with eligibility for coverage under 5 U.S.C. 8906a to an appointment that permits receipt of government contribution; and

(ii) Change from full-time to part-time status or the reverse.

(4) An employee is restored to a civilian position after serving in uniformed services as described in §890.304 (a)(vi)(vii).

(5) Start of non-pay status and end of non-pay status if employee did not terminate coverage (if coverage terminated see §892.101 (2)(ii)).

(6) An employee enrolled in a health maintenance organization (HMO) or a covered family member moves or becomes employed outside the geographic area from which the carrier accepts enrollments, or if already lives or works outside the area, moves further from this area.

(7) Transfer from a post of duty within the United States to a post of duty outside the United States, or the reverse.

(8) Separation from Federal employment when the employee or employee's spouse is pregnant.

(9) An employee becomes entitled to Medicare. (For change to self only, cancellation, or change in premium conversion status see §892.101 (11)).

(10) An employee or eligible family member loses coverage under FEHB or another group insurance coverage including the following:

(i) Loss of coverage due to termination of membership in an employee organization sponsoring the FEHB plan;

(ii) Loss of coverage of employee or eligible family member due to discontinuance in whole or part of FEHB plan;

(iii) Loss of coverage under another Federally-sponsored health benefits program, including, TRICARE, Medicare, or Indian Health Service;

(iv) Loss of coverage under Medicaid or similar State-sponsored program of medical assistance for the needy; and

(v) Loss of coverage under a non-Federal health plan, including foreign, State or local government, or private sector group health plan as described in §890.301 (i)(6).

(11) An employee or eligible family member gains coverage under FEHB or another group insurance plan, including the following:

(i) Another Federally-sponsored health benefits program, including, TRICARE, Medicare, or Indian Health Service;

(ii) Medicaid or similar State-sponsored program of medical assistance for the needy; and

(iii) A non-Federal health plan, including foreign, State or local government, or private sector group plan.

(12) A change in an employee's spouse or dependent's coverage options, for example:

(i) Employer starts offering a different type of coverage;

(ii) Employer stops offering the type of coverage that the employee's spouse or dependent has (if no other coverage is available);

(iii) A health maintenance organization (HMO) adds a geographic service area that now makes the employee's spouse eligible to enroll in that HMO;

(iv) Employee's spouse is enrolled in an HMO that removes a geographic area that makes the spouse ineligible for coverage under that HMO, but other health plans or options are available (if no other coverage is available see §892.101 (10); and

(v) Change in the cost of coverage.

[65 FR 44646, July 19, 2000, as amended at 68 FR 56527, Oct. 1, 2003]

§ 892.102   What is premium conversion and how does it work?
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Premium conversion is a method of reducing your taxable income by the amount of your contribution to your FEHB insurance premium. If you are a participant in the premium conversion plan, Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code allows you to reduce your salary (through an employer allotment) and provide that portion of your salary back to your employer. Instead of being paid to you as taxable income, this allotted amount is used to purchase your FEHB insurance for you. The effect is that your taxable income is reduced. Because taxable income is reduced, the amount of tax you pay is reduced. You save on Federal income tax, Social Security and Medicare tax and in most States and localities, State and local income taxes.

§ 892.103   What can I do if I disagree with my agency's decision about my pre-or post-tax election?
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You may use the reconsideration procedure set out at §§890.104 of this chapter to request an agency to reconsider its initial decision affecting your participation in the premium conversion plan.

Subpart B—Eligibility and Participation
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§ 892.201   Who is covered by the premium conversion plan?
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(a) All employees in the Executive Branch of the Federal Government who are participating in the FEHB Program (as described in 5 U.S.C. 8901), and whose pay is issued by an agency of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government, are automatically covered by the premium conversion plan. Certain reemployed annuitants may be considered employees for purposes of premium conversion, as described in subpart D of this part.

(b) Employees of organizations that have established a premium conversion plan under separate authority prior to October 2000 may not participate in the premium conversion plan described here because they are already covered by their employing agency's plan.

(c) Individuals enrolled in FEHB who are not employees of the Executive Branch of the Federal government or are not employees of the Federal government, will be covered by the premium conversion plan if their employer signs an adoption agreement that is accepted by OPM.

(d) Individuals enrolled in FEHB who are appointed by an agency in the Executive Branch, but whose pay is not issued by that agency, will be covered by the premium conversion plan if the entity that makes their FEHB contribution signs an adoption agreement that is accepted by OPM.

(e) Individuals may waive premium conversion by filing a waiver form with their employer in accordance with this part.

§ 892.202   Are retirees eligible for the premium conversion plan?
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No, only current employees who are enrolled in the FEHB Program are covered by the premium conversion plan. Former employees are not eligible. If you are a reemployed annuitant, see subpart D of this part.

§ 892.203   When will my premium conversion begin?
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If you are newly employed or newly eligible for FEHB in a covered Executive Branch agency (as described in §892.201(a)), your salary reduction (through a Federal allotment) and pre-tax benefit will be effective on the 1st day of the first pay period beginning on or after your employing agency receives your enrollment.

[68 FR 56528, Oct. 1, 2003]

§ 892.204   How do I waive participation in premium conversion before the benefit first becomes effective?
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You must file a waiver form by the date set by your employing office, but not later than the day before the effective date of coverage. The waiver form is available from your employing office.

§ 892.205   May I waive participation in premium conversion after the initial implementation?
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Yes, but the opportunity to waive premium conversion is limited. You may waive premium conversion:

(a) During the annual FEHB open season. The effective date of the waiver will be the first day of the first pay period that begins in the following calendar year;

(b) At the same time as you sign up for FEHB when first hired or hired as a reemployed annuitant. Employees who leave Federal service and are rehired after a three-day break in service or in a different calendar year also may waive;

(c) In conjunction with a change in FEHB enrollment, on account of and consistent with a qualifying life event (see §892.101); or

(d) When you have a qualifying life event and the waiver is on account of and consistent with that qualifying life event (even if you do not change your FEHB enrollment). You have 60 days after the qualifying life event to file a waiver with your employer. The waiver is effective on the first day of the pay period following the date your employer receives the waiver.

§ 892.206   Can I cancel my waiver and participate in premium conversion?
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Yes, you may cancel a waiver and participate in premium conversion if:

(a) You have a qualifying life event; the change in FEHB coverage is consistent with the qualifying life event; and you complete an election form to participate in premium conversion within 60 days after the qualifying life event; or

(b) You cancel your waiver during an open season, including an extended open season authorized by OPM.

§ 892.207   Can I make changes to my FEHB enrollment while I am participating in premium conversion?
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(a) Subject to the exceptions described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section, you can make changes to your FEHB enrollment for the same reasons and with the same effective dates listed in §890.301 of this chapter.

(b) However, if you are participating in premium conversion there are two exceptions: you must have a qualifying life event to change from self and family enrollment to self only enrollment or to drop FEHB coverage entirely. (See §892.209 and §892.210.) Your change in enrollment must be consistent with and correspond to your qualifying life event as described in §892.101. These limitations apply only to changes you may wish to make outside open season.

(c) If you are subject to a court or administrative order as discussed in §890.301(g)(3) of this chapter, your employing agency can limit a change to your enrollment as long as the court or administrative order is still in effect and you have at least one child identified in the order who is still eligible under the FEHB Program, unless you provide documentation to your agency that you have other coverage for your child or children. See also §892.208 and §892.209.

[69 FR 56929, Sept. 23, 2004]

§ 892.208   Can I change my enrollment from self and family to self only at any time?
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If you are participating in premium conversion you may change your FEHB enrollment from self and family to self only under either of the following circumstances:

(a) During the annual open season. A change to self only made during the annual open season takes effect on the 1st day of the first pay period that begins in the next year.

(b) Within 60 days after you have a qualifying life event. A change to self only made because of a qualifying life event takes effect on the first day of the first pay period that begins after the date your employing office receives your appropriate request. Your change in enrollment must be consistent with and correspond to your qualifying life event. For example, if you get divorced and have no dependent children, changing to self only would be consistent with that qualifying life event. If both you and your spouse are Federal employees, and your youngest dependent turns age 22, changing from a self and family to two self only enrollments would be consistent and appropriate for that event.

(c) If you are subject to a court or administrative order as discussed in §890.301(g)(3) of this chapter, you may not change your enrollment to self only as long as the court or administrative order is still in effect and you have at least one child identified in the order who is still eligible under the FEHB Program, unless you provide documentation to your agency that you have other coverage for your child or children. See also §892.207 and §892.209.

[68 FR 56528, Oct. 1, 2003, as amended at 69 FR 56929, Sept. 23, 2004]

§ 892.209   Can I cancel FEHB coverage at any time?
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If you are participating in premium conversion you may cancel your FEHB coverage:

(a) During the annual open season. A cancellation made during the annual open season is effective at midnight of the day before the first day of the first pay period that begins in the next year.

(b) Within 60 days after you have a qualifying life event. A cancellation made because of a qualifying life event takes effect at midnight of the last day of the pay period in which your employing office receives your appropriate request to cancel your enrollment. Your cancellation of coverage must be consistent with and correspond to your qualifying life event. For example, if you get married and you gain other insurance coverage because your spouse's employer provides health insurance for your spouse and you, then canceling FEHB coverage would be consistent with that qualifying life event. If you add an eligible family member, canceling coverage would generally not be consistent with that qualifying life event.

(c) If you are subject to a court or administrative order as discussed in §890.301(g)(3) of this chapter, you may not cancel your coverage as long as the court or administrative order is still in effect and you have at least one child identified in the order who is still eligible under the FEHB Program, unless you provide documentation to your agency that you have other coverage for your child or children.

[65 FR 44646, July 19, 2000, as amended at 68 FR 56525 and 56528, Oct. 1, 2003; 69 FR 56929, Sept. 23, 2004]

§ 892.210   Does premium conversion change the effective date of an FEHB enrollment, change in enrollment, or cancellation of enrollment?
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No. If you are participating in premium conversion, the effective date of an FEHB enrollment, change in enrollment, or cancellation of enrollment is the same effective date as provided in §890.301 of this chapter.

§ 892.211   What options are available to me if I go on a period of leave without pay (LWOP) or other types of non-pay status?
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(a) Your commencement of a period of LWOP is a qualifying life event as described in §892.101. You may change your premium conversion election (waive if you now participate, or participate if you now waive).

(b)(1) You may continue your FEHB coverage by agreeing in advance of LWOP to one of the payment options described in paragraph (b)(2), (b)(3), or (b)(4) of this section.

(2) Pre-pay. Prior to commencement of your LWOP you may allot through payroll deduction the amount that will be due for your share of your FEHB premium during your LWOP period, if your employing agency, at its discretion, allows you to do so. Contributions under the pre-pay option may be made through premium conversion on a pre-tax basis. Alternatively, you may pre-pay premiums for the LWOP period on an after-tax basis.

(3) Direct pay. Under the direct pay option, you may pay your share of your FEHB premium on the same schedule of payments that would be made if you were not on LWOP, as described in §890.502(b) of this chapter. You must make the premium payments directly to your employing agency. The payments you make under the direct pay option are not subject to premium conversion, and are made on an after-tax basis.

(4) Catch-up. Under the catch-up option, you must agree in advance of the LWOP period that: you will continue FEHB coverage while on LWOP; your employer will advance your share of your FEHB premium during your LWOP period; and you will repay the advanced amounts when you return from LWOP. (Described in §890.502(b) of this chapter.) Your catch-up contributions may be made through premium conversion.

(5) If you remain in FEHB upon your return from LWOP, your catch-up premiums and current premiums will be paid at the same time.

(c) Your return from LWOP constitutes a qualifying life event as described in §892.101. You may change your premium conversion election (waive if you now participate, or participate if you now waive). The election you choose upon return from LWOP will apply to your current as well as your catch-up premiums.

[68 FR 56528, Oct. 1, 2003]

Subpart C—Contributions and Withholdings
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§ 892.301   How do I pay my premium?
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As a participant in premium conversion, instead of having your premium withheld from after-tax salary, your salary will be reduced (through a Federal allotment) by the amount equal to your FEHB premium, which you will allot to your agency. The allotment from salary satisfies the FEHB premium payment requirement of 5 U.S.C. 8906. Your employer is authorized to accept this allotment under §550.311(a)(8) and §550.312 of this chapter or, for employers not subject to those regulations, a similar mechanism. Your agency will use the allotment to pay your share of your FEHB premium. This will reduce your taxable income as described in §892.102.

§ 892.302   Will the Government contribution continue?
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Yes, your employer will still pay the same share of your premium as provided in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Act, and §890.501 of this chapter. Employee allotments do not count toward the Government's statutory maximum contribution.

§ 892.303   Can I pay my premiums directly by check under the premium conversion plan?
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No, your employer must take your contribution to your FEHB premium from your salary to qualify for pre-tax treatment.

Subpart D—Reemployed Annuitants and Survivor Annuitants
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§ 892.401   Am I eligible for premium conversion if I retire and then come back to work for the Federal Government?
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(a) If you are a retired individual enrolled in FEHB who is receiving an annuity and you are reemployed in a position that conveys FEHB eligibility and is covered by the premium conversion plan, you are automatically covered by premium conversion, unless you waive participation as described in §892.205.

(b)(1) If you do not waive premium conversion, your FEHB coverage will be transferred to your employing agency, and your employing agency will assume responsibility for contributing the Government share of your FEHB coverage. Your coverage, including what FEHB plans you are eligible to enroll in, will be based on your status as an active employee and your employing agency will deduct your premiums from your salary.

(2) If you elect to waive participation in premium conversion, you will keep your FEHB coverage as an annuitant, but your contributions towards your FEHB premiums will be made on an after-tax basis. Your employing agency must receive your waiver no later than 60 days after the date you return to Federal employment. A waiver will be effective at the beginning of the first pay period after your employer receives it.

(c) If you did not carry FEHB into retirement and you are reemployed as an employee in a position covered by the premium conversion plan, you may enroll in the FEHB Program as a new employee as described in §890.301 of this chapter. Upon enrolling in FEHB, you are automatically covered by the premium conversion plan, unless you waive participation as described in §892.205.

(d) Your status as an annuitant under the retirement regulations and your right to continue FEHB as an annuitant following your period of reemployment is unaffected.

[65 FR 44646, July 19, 2000, as amended at 68 FR 56529, Oct. 1, 2003]

§ 892.402   I am a survivor annuitant as well as an active Federal employee; am I eligible for premium conversion?
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(a) If you are a survivor annuitant enrolled in FEHB who is receiving an annuity and you are employed in a position that conveys FEHB eligibility and is covered by the premium conversion plan, you are eligible to participate in premium conversion.

(b)(1) If you wish to participate in premium conversion, you must notify your employing agency. Your employing agency will transfer in your FEHB coverage from the retirement system, and your employing agency will assume responsibility for contributing the government share of your FEHB coverage. Your coverage, including what FEHB plans you are eligible to enroll in, will be based on your status as an active employee and your employing agency will deduct your premiums from your salary.

(2) If you do not notify your employing agency that you wish to participate in premium conversion, you will keep your FEHB coverage as a survivor annuitant, but your contributions towards your FEHB premiums will be made on an after-tax basis. Your status as an annuitant under the retirement regulations and your right to continue FEHB as a survivor annuitant following your period of employment is unaffected.

[68 FR 56529, Oct. 1, 2003]

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