# Federal Employee Health Benefits for Administrators (Self-Paced)

Canonical URL: <https://www.graduateschool.edu/courses/federal-employee-health-benefits-for-administrators-self-paced>

## Overview

Federal Employee Health Benefits for Administrators provides federal HR specialists, benefits officers, and administrative professionals with the essential skills and regulatory knowledge required to manage federal employee and retiree benefits effectively. Using real-world scenarios and OPM-aligned references, the course covers the full suite of federal benefits programs — including the Federal Employees’ Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAFEDS), Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP), and Social Security and Medicare provisions that affect federal employees and retirees.

Participants learn how to process benefits elections, cancellations, terminations, and qualifying life events; determine eligibility across varied employment scenarios; counsel employees and retirees on complex coverage questions; support retirement processing; and ensure compliance with relevant statutes, regulations, and agency procedures. Through structured instruction and detailed guidance drawn directly from federal law, OPM handbooks, and benefits policies, the course prepares administrators to respond accurately and confidently to employee inquiries and benefits actions.

## What you'll learn

- Understand eligibility requirements, enrollment processes, and key features of FEHB, FEGLI, FLTCIP, FSAs, Social Security, and Medicare.
- Apply federal regulations and agency procedures to accurately process benefits actions, life events, and retirement-related transactions.
- Confidently counsel employees and retirees by explaining benefit options, coverage rules, and regulatory requirements.
- Identify and resolve common benefits issues using OPM guidance, handbooks, and program-specific policies.

## Curriculum

#### Module 1: Federal Employees’ Health Benefits (FEHB)

- Explain FEHB eligibility, plan types, government contributions, and coverage rules for employees, family members, retirees, and special populations.
- Apply procedures for processing FEHB actions (SF 2809 and SF 2810), determining effective dates, handling late elections, and administering premium conversion.
- Identify qualifying life events (QLEs), rules for TCC, terminations, cancellations, Children’s Equity, and former spouse provisions.
- Understand FEHB retirement requirements, five-year rule exceptions, waivers, VSIP/VERA provisions, and retiree enrollment change rules.

#### Module 2: Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS)

- Describe Health Care FSAs, Dependent Care FSAs, and Limited Expense FSAs, including eligibility, allowable expenses, and annual limits.
- Explain enrollment rules, open season requirements, new employee deadlines, and mid-year changes due to qualifying life events.
- Advise employees on tax benefits, contribution planning, reimbursement rules, grace periods, and interaction with FEHB, HDHPs, and HSAs.

#### Module 3: Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)

- Explain Basic, AD&D, Extra Benefit, and Optional FEGLI (A, B, C), including eligibility, effective dates, age-based premiums, and life-event elections.
- Apply procedures for waivers, conversions, living benefits, assignments, reconsiderations, and court-ordered beneficiary requirements.
- Determine eligibility to continue Basic and Optional FEGLI into retirement, including the five-year rule, reduction options, and post-retirement coverage.
- Process survivor and death-in-service FEGLI claims and apply the statutory order of precedence.

#### Module 4: Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP)

- Explain the purpose of FLTCIP and the types of long-term care services the program is designed to cover.
- Summarize historical FLTCIP contract evolutions (1.0, 2.0, 3.0) and major program features.
- Understand the OPM suspension of new enrollments (effective December 19, 2022) and what current enrollees may and may not change during the suspension.
- Identify where to access updated FLTCIP resources for employees, retirees, and family members.

#### Module 5: Social Security and Medicare Benefits

- Define Social Security benefit types (retirement, disability, survivor, Medicare) and explain credit requirements, full retirement age, and eligibility rules.
- Understand AIME and PIA calculations, delayed retirement credits, and spousal, survivor, and former-spouse benefits, including the repeal of WEP/GPO.
- Apply earnings test rules, disability qualification criteria, and the relationship between Social Security, CSRS, and FERS.
- Explain Medicare Parts A–D, enrollment timing, penalties, and coordination with FEHB coverage for retirees.

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $649