Effective October 30, 1998, foster children are eligible for coverage under Option C of the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program. Option C is the Optional coverage on your family members.

What Are The Requirements For Covering A Foster Child?

The requirements for a foster child's eligibility under Option C are the same as those for eligibility under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. All the requirements must be met. These requirements are:

• The foster child must be unmarried and under the age of 22. (If over age 22, he/she must be incapable of self-support because of a disabling condition which began before the child turned 22.



• The child must be living with you.



• The parent-child relationship must be with you, not with the biological parent. A parent-child relationship means that you are exercising parental authority, responsibility, and control over the child. You are caring for, supporting, disciplining, and guiding the child. You are the one making decisions about the child's education and health care.



• You must be the primary source of financial support for the child.



• You must expect to raise the child to adulthood.

There is no prohibition against a foster child's biological parent living in your home or contributing to the child's support. However, the parent-child relationship as described above must be with you, not the biological parent, and you must be the primary source of financial support for the child.

A child placed in your home by a welfare or social service agency under an agreement where the agency retains control of the child or pays you for maintenance does not qualify as a foster child.

What About Grandchildren?

Grandchildren, as such, are not eligible family members. However, grandchildren can qualify as foster children if all the requirements are met. This means your grandchild must be living with you; you must be the primary source of financial support for your grandchild; the parent-child relationship (as described above) must be with you, not with your grandchild's biological parent; and you must expect to raise your grandchild to adulthood.

If My Foster Child Meets These Requirements, What Should I Do?

If all of the requirements are met, your foster child is eligible for coverage. You must sign a certification regarding your foster child's eligibility.

If you have already completed a certification for your foster child for FEHB purposes, and you already have Option C coverage for your other eligible family members, you do not have to complete a new certification for FEGLI; your foster child is automatically covered under Option C. If you haven't completed a certification for your foster child, you can get the certification form from your servicing personnel office.

When you file a claim due to the death of a foster child, your agency must verify that your child's eligibility has been certified. If you do not have a certification on file, you will be asked to complete one before the claim can be paid.

What If My Foster Child Moves Out Of My Home To Live With His/Her Biological Parent?

If your foster child moves out of your home to live with a biological parent, the child loses eligibility under Option C (as well as under FEHB). That child cannot again be covered as a foster child unless the biological parent dies, is imprisoned, or becomes unable to care for the child because of a disability, or unless you obtain a court order taking parental responsibility away from the biological parent.

What If I Don't Have Option C? Can I Elect It?

Yes. You can elect Option C within 60 days from the date you submit the certification form to your servicing personnel office. The coverage will be effective the day you turn in the election form (SF 2817). Note that, while normally you don't have to complete a new certification if you already have a foster child certification on file for FEHB, you will have to complete one if you don't already have Option C and you want to elect it.

Will My Foster Child Receive Life Insurance Benefits Under The Order Of Precedence If I Die?

No. While foster children now qualify for coverage under Option C, they are not included under the order of precedence to receive benefits upon your death. If you want your foster child to receive benefits if you die, you must complete a designation of beneficiary. You can get this form from your servicing personnel office.

Should you have questions concerning eligibility of your foster child or need the certification form, please contact your servicing personnel office.