Onboarding: Health Insurance for Clinical Fellows

Welcome Clinical Fellows!

This page provides information and resources to help Clinical Fellows choose a health insurance plan under the Federal Employees’ Health Benefits (FEHB) program.

Key Information

• Health insurance enrollment is not automatic.
• You have 60 days from your Entrance on Duty (EOD) date to enroll in a FEHB health insurance plan.
• You cannot enroll before your Entrance on Duty (EOD) date.
• Coverage starts the first day of the pay period after you submit your enrollment form.
• To cover family members, you must provide documentation to verify their eligibility.

Before Your First Day

1. If you have health insurance through your current or previous employer, contact that employer to confirm when your coverage will end.
2. Compare FEHB plans to find one that meets your needs and review common FEHB questions.
3. Review the SF-2809 enrollment form you will need to complete.
4. If you want your health insurance to cover family members, begin gathering the required documents to verify their eligibility.

How to Enroll

1. Wait until your Entrance on Duty (EOD) date.
2. Visit USA Staffing and Onboarding for New Hires to submit your FEHB Enrollment Form (SF 2809) electronically along with any applicable family member eligibility documents.

When Coverage Begins

Your coverage will start on the first day of the pay period after you submit your enrollment form. The table below shows when coverage can begin based on your submission date.

The earliest your health insurance can begin is July 12. To receive the earliest effective date, you must complete and submit your enrollment form in Onboarding Manager between July 1 and July 11.

If You Already Have Health Insurance

If you have health insurance through your current or previous employer, contact your employer or health plan to find out when your coverage will end.

If coverage ends before your NIH health insurance begins, you may have options to avoid a gap in coverage. Ask your previous employer or health plan about COBRA and whether you qualify for a temporary extension of coverage.

If you use COBRA or another coverage extension, contact the Benefits Office to coordinate the start date of your NIH health insurance and help avoid a gap in coverage.

ECFMG J-1 Physicians Special Requirements

You and your dependents must have comprehensive health insurance coverage by the program start date shown on your DS-2019 form. This insurance must remain active for the entire time you are in the U.S. as a J-1.

If you have questions about this requirement, contact the NIH Division of International Services (DIS) at [email protected].

Have Questions?

If you have questions, contact your assigned Human Resources Assistant. Please copy [email protected] on any emails with the subject: “Clinical Fellow 2026”.

Benefits Office
NIH/OHR/Retirement and Employee Benefits Branch
31 Center Drive, Room 1B37
Bethesda, MD 20892

Email: [email protected]
Phone: (301) 496-2404
Fax: (301) 402-5506