# The Five-Year Rule for the FEHB Plan

**URL:** <https://www.fedwork.net/t/the-five-year-rule-for-the-fehb-plan/4150>\
**Category:** Pay, Perks, and Retirement\
**Created:** [July 6, 2026, 2:48pm UTC](https://www.fedwork.net/t/the-five-year-rule-for-the-fehb-plan/4150 "2026-07-06T14:48:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DDamp](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/www.fedwork.net/ddamp/32/316_2.png) [@DDamp](https://www.fedwork.net/u/DDamp)\
**Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 2:48pm UTC](https://www.fedwork.net/t/the-five-year-rule-for-the-fehb-plan/4150/1 "2026-07-06T14:48:58Z")

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Federal employees must be continuously enrolled in their FEHB plan for five consecutive years immediately preceding their retirement date. Otherwise, they lose their eligibility to carry their health benefits into retirement. Understand this [critical timeline](https://fedretire.net/federal-retirement-5-year-rule-what-employees-need-to-know/) and keep you and your family’s health care coverage intact throughout your retirement.