Effective date of coverage
If you lose FEHB coverage other than by cancellation
(including cancellation by nonpayment
of premiums), you have a 31-day temporary
extension of coverage, at no cost, in the same
enrollment category held at separation. TCC
(temporary continuation of coverage) takes effect
on the day that the 31-day temporary extension
of coverage ends. Coverage is retroactive to that
date if the enrollment processing is completed
later.
As previously discussed, depending on the
circumstances, a timely election can be made
up to 120 days after the qualifying event. If
you wait that long to enroll, you are billed for
the entire 89-day period of retroactive coverage.
In cases where the employing office accepts
a belated election, the period of retroactive
coverage for which you are billed is even longer.
If you do not pay the bill for the retroactive
coverage, the TCC enrollment is canceled retroactively
to the beginning date and you are not
eligible to reenroll.