You are eligible to continue your health insurance coverage for up to 365 days in a nonpay status, but you are responsible for paying the employee’s share of premiums. When you enter a nonpay status, you must elect whether to terminate your health insurance enrollment or continue the enrollment and either pay the premiums on a biweekly basis or incur a debt. The Civilian Benefits Center will send you an election notice at the time you enter nonpay status so you can make your election regarding the continuation of your health insurance coverage. If you do not respond to the election notice within the specified timeframe, your health insurance enrollment will automatically terminate.

1. As soon as you know you will be entering into a nonpay status, contact the Benefits Line for counseling.
2. You will receive information about continuing your health insurance and a form to elect whether you want to continue your enrollment. You must make your election within 31 days (45 days for employees residing outside the United States) or your enrollment will automatically terminate.
3. If you do not want to continue your health insurance enrollment:
   1. Complete the election form and return it to the address on the form.
   2. The termination will be effective at the end of the last pay period in which premiums were withheld from your pay. The termination is not considered a break in the continuous coverage necessary for continuing FEHB coverage into retirement.
   3. Your health insurance coverage will continue at no cost to you for an additional 31 days. During the 31 days, you and your covered family members may convert to a nongroup contract.
   4. When you return to a pay and duty status, and want health insurance coverage, you must reenroll within 60 days.
4. If you want to continue your health insurance enrollment and pay 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.
5. If you want to continue your health insurance enrollment 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.
6. After 365 days in a nonpay status, your health insurance enrollment will terminate. Your health insurance coverage will continue at no cost to you for an additional 31 days. During the 31 days, you and your covered family members may convert to a nongroup contract.
7. As soon as you return to a pay and duty status, contact the Benefits Line for counseling.

• OPM FEHB Handbook
• OPM FEHB-PC
• OPM FEHB-PC Frequently Asked Questions