Benefits Newsletter: September, 2022

If you are getting married or divorced, or if you are having or adopting a child, those are qualifying life events (QLE) that will allow you to make certain changes to your benefits. View the timeline and process on the Retirement & Employee Benefits Branch's website.

The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) is conducting free TSP webinars. Registration is required for these events.

To register, participants must:

The cost for Basic insurance is shared between you and the Federal government, and your age does not affect the cost for Basic coverage. For Optional insurance, you pay the full cost and the cost depends on your age. The change in premiums resulting from age begins at age 35 and continues to increase in five year increments. If you notice a change in your FEGLI premiums on your Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), you should verify the cost based on your salary and age.

When your child reaches age 26, he or she is no longer eligible to be covered under your health benefits enrollment, unless your child is incapable of self-support because of a mental or physical disability that existed before age 26.

When your child reaches age 22 (or marries before age 22) he or she is no longer eligible to be covered under your life insurance family enrollment, except as indicated below. This is true even if your child is still in school.

When your child reaches age 22, he or she is no longer eligible to be covered under your Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) enrollment, unless your child is incapable of self-support due to a mental or physical disability that existed before age 22. If your child turning age 22 means that you have no other eligible covered family members, or you have only one remaining eligible family member under your “Self and Family” enrollment, you must notify BENEFEDS at 877-888-3337.

Periodically, the Retirement & Employee Benefits Branch of the Office of Human Resources (OHR) receives calls from NIH employees who have been contacted by financial planning company representatives by telephone or mailings. The representatives are asking to meet to discuss benefits and are implying they represent the NIH or the Federal Government in an attempt to target employees as clients. The OHR Retirement & Employee Benefits Branch administers the Federal benefits program for NIH.