Provisions Differ from FEHB’s

Unlike in FEHB, where retirees generally cannot get back into the program if they drop it after retiring, annuitants will be able to enroll in FEDVIP during any open season regardless of whether they have continued coverage. As a related policy, there is no requirement that a retiree have been under FEDVIP for five years before retiring in order to keep the coverage, as generally applies in FEHB. But FEDVIP will not offer some features offered by FEHB after separation for retirement (or other purposes) such as a 31-day extension of coverage, the right to purchase temporary continuation of coverage, the right to suspend coverage under circumstances with the right to rejoin later, or the right to convert to an individual policy. Those policies are unnecessary for retirees in FEDVIP because there is no requirement to keep the coverage continuously in order to remain eligible.