Yes. The employee’s FEHB coverage will continue even if an agency does not make the premium payments on time. Following the lapse, each employee who returns to pay status will automatically begin to repay their share of FEHB premium that accumulated during the lapse through payroll withholding. If FEHB premiums are not withheld from retroactive pay, one additional payment in addition to the current pay period amount will be withheld in each subsequent pay period until the employee’s accumulated share of premiums have been paid.

Yes. An employee who is furloughed and experiences a qualifying life event can enroll or make changes in enrollment in the FEHB Program. (See 5 CFR 890.301.) Employees can also enroll or make changes during the annual Open Season. Employees are encouraged to contact the appropriate agency’s human resources staff to ensure they follow the proper processes.

Yes. Federal retirees under the CSRS and FERS retirement systems will continue to receive their scheduled annuity payments on the first business day of each month. 

The employee can maintain their FEGLI coverage for up to 12 months in a nonpay status. When the lapse ends, the employee will receive retroactive pay under 31 U.S.C. 1341(c)(2), and retroactive FEGLI premiums may be withheld from that pay. If FEGLI premiums are not withheld from retroactive pay, no more than one additional payment will be withheld in each subsequent pay period until all premiums have been paid.

Payroll deductions will cease for any employee that does not receive pay. The employee remains enrolled in FSAFEDS, but claims for eligible health care expenses incurred during a non-pay status will not be reimbursed until the employee returns to a pay status following the lapse and allotments are successfully restarted. The remaining allotments are recalculated over the remaining pay periods to match the participant’s election amount. However, any claim submitted with dates of service prior to an employee entering non-pay status will be paid in accordance with existing procedures, up to the balance of the employee’s annual election.  

Eligible dependent care expenses incurred during a non-pay status may be reimbursed up to whatever balance is in the employee’s dependent care account— as long as the expense incurred during the non-pay status allows the employee (or spouse if married) to work, look for work, or attend school full-time. 

FLTCIP coverage will continue for enrollees who are furloughed or excepted from furlough and working without pay during a shutdown furlough based on a lapse in appropriations. In addition, FLTCIP coverage may not be canceled as a result of non-payment of premiums or other periodic charges due to a lapse in appropriations. (See 5 CFR 875.302.) Employees paying premiums via Direct Bill or Automatic Bank Withdrawal will continue to be billed, but the insurer will not terminate for non-payment of premium during the lapse in appropriations. Regarding claims eligibility requests for FLTCIP during a shutdown furlough, claim benefits will not be reimbursed to the enrollee until all past due premiums are paid. At the end of the shutdown, FLTCIP premiums will be paid from retroactive pay provided under 31 U.S.C. 1341(c)(2) or may be paid back from another source (i.e., automatic bank withdrawal) for FLTCIP enrollees who elected to make payments directly to the Carrier.  

If missed premium payments are unable to be collected via automatic bank withdrawal or deductions from the enrollee’s payroll or annuity/pension, enrollees will be billed directly for the premium amount due. After the shutdown, if the enrollee elected to pay their premium via automatic bank withdrawal, past due premiums will be collected by withdrawing up to two months of premiums from the enrollee’s bank account each month until it is current. For enrollees who did not elect to make payment directly, FLTCIP premiums will be paid to the Carrier from enrollees’ retroactive pay made available as soon as practicable upon the end of the lapse. 

Coverage will continue for an individual enrolled in FEDVIP who is furloughed or excepted from furlough and working without pay during a lapse in appropriations, and an enrollment may not be canceled as a result of nonpayment of premiums or other periodic charges due to a lapse. (See 5 CFR 894.405.) Payroll deductions will temporarily cease for any employee that does not receive pay.  

Employees are entitled to retroactive pay under 31 U.S.C. 1341(c)(2) for excepted work performed during the lapse and for furlough periods at the standard rate of compensation. At the end of the shutdown, the accumulated FEDVIP premium for this period will be withheld from their pay. If FEDVIP premiums are not withheld from retroactive pay, no more than one additional payment will be withheld in each subsequent pay period until all premiums have been paid.