Personnel Management Office
The FEHB Protection Act of 2025 (FPA) requires OPM to issue regulations and implement a process to verify: The veracity of any qualifying life event (QLE) through which a health benefits plan enrollee seeks to add a member of family to their enrollment and that when an enrollee adds a family member to the health benefits plan, including during any open season, the individual is a qualified member of family. This final rule also clarifies responsibilities for initial family member eligibility determinations for the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Office of Personnel Management 5 CFR Part 890 [Docket ID: OPM-2026-0002] RIN 3206-AP08 ( printed page 32875) AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The FEHB Protection Act of 2025 (FPA) requires OPM to issue regulations and implement a process to verify: The veracity of any qualifying life event (QLE) through which a health benefits plan enrollee seeks to add a member of family to their enrollment and that when an enrollee adds a family member to the health benefits plan, including during any open season, the individual is a qualified member of family. This final rule also clarifies responsibilities for initial family member eligibility determinations for the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program. DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective on July 2, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Louise Dyer Yinug, Senior Benefits Analyst, at (202) 972-0913. Sophia Iwanaga, Benefits Analyst, at (202) 936-2782. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A. Executive Summary The FPA (Sec. 90101, Public Law 119-21 , 139 Stat. 362) directs OPM to issue regulations and implement a process to verify: (1) that a member of family is eligible to participate as a covered family member, including during any open season; and (2) any QLE through which an Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) or PSHB plan enrollee seeks to add a member of family to their enrollment, by July 4, 2026. These regulations apply to both the FEHB and PSHB Programs. For clarity and brevity, thi…
Citation: 91 FR 32875
