No Domestic Partner Coverage, Either

OPM also rejected suggestions that it broaden the definition of “qualified relative” to include domestic partners of federal employees; OPM has some authority to extend coverage to groups beyond those specified in the underlying law. “We have determined that at this time we are not going to add any additional groups to those defined in statute,” OPM said. OPM made its comments in issuing rules that update the FLTCIP regs in several areas, mainly to reflect laws that expanded eligibility somewhat and to more easily accommodate any future additions of eligible groups.