The Office of Personnel Management has issued guidance to agencies on carrying out authority contained in last year’s Defense Department authorization act (P.L. 108-375) providing up to 180 days of “transitional” benefits under the military Tricare health program for members of the military who are discharged from active duty, including federal employees and retirees. The result is that those returning from duty may postpone reinstating their Federal Employees Health Benefits enrollment until their Tricare coverage expires. Employees may ask their agencies to postpone reinstatement of their FEHB enrollment from the date they are restored to their civilian positions until the day after their transitional Tricare ends, or any date within that timeframe, OPM said. Annuitants may ask their retirement office to postpone reinstatement of their FEHB coverage from the date they are separated from the uniformed services until the day after their transitional Tricare ends, or any date within that timeframe. In both cases, the individuals must sign a waiver of immediate reinstatement of FEHB, which they may revoke at any time before the transitional Tricare ends. Agencies were asked to help individuals avoid any breaks in health insurance coverage.