On December 2, the Office of Personnel Management published an interim final rule that amends Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program regulations.
This regulatory action amends §§ 890.302 and 894.101 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations to create a regulatory exception that allows children of same-sex domestic partners living overseas to maintain their Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) coverage until September 30, 2018.
Due to a recent Supreme Court decision, as of January 1, 2016, coverage of children of same-sex domestic partners under the FEHB Program and FEDVIP will generally only be allowed if the couple is married, as discussed in Benefits Administration Letter (BAL) 15-207 dated October 5, 2015. OPM recognizes there are additional requirements placed on overseas federal employees that may not apply to other civilian employees with duty stations in the United States making it difficult to travel to the United States to marry same-sex partners.
FEHB Program and FEDVIP Coverage Exception for Children of Same-Sex Domestic Partners
