Insurance options for federal employees: a guide
Federal employees can choose from several insurance programs run by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). They cover a lot, but not everything. This guide walks through each program, what it costs you, and the gaps worth knowing about.
Health insurance: FEHB and PSHB
The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program offers employees, retirees and survivors a choice of plan types, including consumer-driven, high-deductible, fee-for-service, PPO and HMO plans.
Postal Service employees and annuitants have their own program. Since January 1, 2025, they can no longer enroll in FEHB and instead use the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program, which is a separate program within FEHB.
Dental and vision: FEDVIP
The Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) offers group dental and vision plans with no pre-existing condition limits. You pay the full premium; there is no government contribution. Premiums for employees are taken from pay before taxes. You can enroll during the Federal Benefits Open Season in November and December, or within 60 days of becoming eligible.
Life insurance: FEGLI
Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) is group term life insurance. Most employees are enrolled in Basic coverage automatically, and you can add Options A, B and C within 60 days of becoming eligible. For the details, see how FEGLI works and keeping FEGLI after you retire.
Long-term care: FLTCIP is closed to new applicants
OPM suspended new applications to the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) in December 2022 and extended the suspension on December 19, 2024 for 24 months. As of October 2026, people who are not already enrolled cannot apply, and current enrollees cannot increase coverage, unless OPM ends or extends the suspension. We will update this article when OPM announces what happens after December 19, 2026.
What the federal programs do not include
OPM's insurance programs cover health, dental and vision, life, long-term care, and flexible spending and health savings accounts. None of them is a disability insurance plan. Three gaps come up often:
- Short-term disability. If an illness or injury keeps you from working, your sick leave and annual leave are the first cushion. FERS disability retirement is for longer-term conditions: it requires at least 18 months of creditable civilian service, a disability expected to last at least a year, and your agency's certification that it cannot accommodate you. A private short-term disability plan can pay a weekly or monthly benefit in between.
- A lump sum for a serious diagnosis. Health insurance pays providers for care. Critical illness coverage pays you cash on a covered diagnosis, to use for deductibles, travel or bills.
- Life insurance that stays level after 65. Most free FEGLI coverage reduces after you retire and turn 65. Private life insurance can be arranged to stay level.
Sources
- OPM, Healthcare and insurance programs, checked October 7, 2026
- OPM, Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), checked October 7, 2026
- OPM, Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program, checked October 7, 2026
- OPM, Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), checked October 7, 2026
- OPM, Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP), checked October 7, 2026
- OPM, Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Handbook, checked October 7, 2026
- OPM, FERS retirement eligibility (disability retirement), checked October 7, 2026
- Federal Register, Notice of FLTCIP suspension of applications (87 FR 69345, November 18, 2022), checked October 7, 2026
- Federal Register, FEGLI final rule (October 1, 2010, document 2010-24493): Optional insurance election window changed from 31 to 60 days, checked October 7, 2026