Federal employees must now prove family members are actually eligible for health benefits

Federal employees must now prove that family members added to their health plans are actually eligible. This means they will have to provide documentation for life events or during open enrollment periods.

For years, federal health plans largely relied on employees to self-report family eligibility. This rule means the government will now actively check if people added to plans are actually qualified. It aims to prevent ineligible individuals from receiving benefits, which saves taxpayer money by reducing improper payments.