If you are enrolled in FEHB and are called to active military duty, you must elect whether you want to terminate your health insurance enrollment or continue the enrollment for up to 24 months.

The cost to continue FEHB while on active military duty depends upon whether it is in support of a contingency operation.

1. In Support of Contingency Operations. If your active military duty is in support of a contingency operation, the Department of the Navy will pay the employee share of the premium for up to 24 months. To be eligible to continue your FEHB enrollment at no cost, you must:
   • Be enrolled in FEHB and elect to continue that enrollment.
   • Be a member of a Reserve component of the armed forces. The Reserve components are: Army National Guard of the U.S., Army Reserve, Naval Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air National Guard of the U.S., Air Force Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve.
   • Be called or ordered to active duty (voluntarily or involuntarily) in support of a contingency operation as defined in Section 101(a)(13) of Title 10, USC.
   • Be placed on Leave Without Pay or separated from civilian service to perform active duty.
   • Serve on active duty for a period of more than 30 consecutive days.
2. Not In Support of Contingency Operations. If your active military duty is not in support of a contingency operation:
   • You are responsible for paying only the employee share of the premium during the first 12 months. You may pay the premiums on a current basis or incur a debt for the premiums to be paid when you return to a pay and duty status.
   • For the final 12 months, you must pay 102 percent (the employee and Government shares, plus an administration fee of 2 percent of the total premium). You cannot incur a debt during the final 12 months of coverage; you must pay premiums on a current basis to your payroll office.

1. As soon as you know you will be entering active duty military service, contact the Benefits Line for counseling.
2. You can receive information about continuing your health insurance and a form to elect whether you want to continue your coverage. You must make your election within 31 days (45 days for employees residing outside the United States) or your FEHB enrollment will automatically continue.
3. If you elect to terminate your enrollment before you go on active duty, the termination will be effective on the day you are separated, furloughed, or placed on leave of absence to enter military service. If you elect to terminate after you go on active duty and within 31 days of receiving the notice from the Civilian Benefits Center, the termination will be effective at the end of the last pay period in which premiums were withheld from pay.
4. If your active military duty is in support of a contingency operation and you wish to continue your health insurance, complete the election form and return it to the address on the form with a copy of your active military duty orders.
5. If your active military duty is not in support of a contingency operation and you want to continue your health insurance and pay the premiums on a current basis:
   1. Complete the election form and return it to the address on the form.
   2. You must send a check or money order on a biweekly basis to your servicing payroll office and include a note with your name, Social Security number, a remark that the payment is for “FEHB Premium,” and the pay period for which the payment is being made.
6. If your active military duty is not in support of a contingency operation and you want to continue your health insurance and incur a debt for the premiums:
   1. Complete the election form and return it to the address on the form.
   2. When you return to a pay and duty status, your servicing payroll office will follow indebtedness procedures to recover the premiums.
7. As soon as you return to a pay and duty status, contact the Benefits Line for counseling.

• Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Insurance Web Site
• OPM FEHB Handbook
• Entering Active Military Duty FAQ
• Entering Active Military Duty Frequently Asked Questions
• Returning From Active Military Duty Frequent Asked Questions