[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 5, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 5CFR892.211]

[Page 543-544]
 
                    TITLE 5--ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL
 
          CHAPTER I--OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)
 
PART 892_FEDERAL FLEXIBLE BENEFITS PLAN: PRE-TAX PAYMENT OF HEALTH BENEFITS PREMIUMS--Table of Contents
 
                 Subpart B_Eligibility and Participation
 
Sec.  892.211  What options are available to me if I go on a period of leave 

without pay (LWOP) or other types of non-pay status?

    (a) Your commencement of a period of LWOP is a qualifying life event 
as described in Sec.  892.101. You may change your premium conversion 
election (waive if you now participate, or participate if you now 
waive).
    (b)(1) You may continue your FEHB coverage by agreeing in advance of 
LWOP to one of the payment options described in paragraph (b)(2), 
(b)(3), or (b)(4) of this section.
    (2) Pre-pay. Prior to commencement of your LWOP you may allot 
through payroll deduction the amount that will be due for your share of 
your FEHB premium during your LWOP period, if your employing agency, at 
its discretion, allows you to do so. Contributions under the pre-pay 
option may be made through premium conversion on a pre-tax basis. 
Alternatively, you may pre-pay premiums for the LWOP period on an after-
tax basis.
    (3) Direct pay. Under the direct pay option, you may pay your share 
of your FEHB premium on the same schedule

[[Page 544]]

of payments that would be made if you were not on LWOP, as described in 
Sec.  890.502(b) of this chapter. You must make the premium payments 
directly to your employing agency. The payments you make under the 
direct pay option are not subject to premium conversion, and are made on 
an after-tax basis.
    (4) Catch-up. Under the catch-up option, you must agree in advance 
of the LWOP period that: you will continue FEHB coverage while on LWOP; 
your employer will advance your share of your FEHB premium during your 
LWOP period; and you will repay the advanced amounts when you return 
from LWOP. (Described in Sec.  890.502(b) of this chapter.) Your catch-
up contributions may be made through premium conversion.
    (5) If you remain in FEHB upon your return from LWOP, your catch-up 
premiums and current premiums will be paid at the same time.
    (c) Your return from LWOP constitutes a qualifying life event as 
described in Sec.  892.101. You may change your premium conversion 
election (waive if you now participate, or participate if you now 
waive). The election you choose upon return from LWOP will apply to your 
current as well as your catch-up premiums.

[68 FR 56528, Oct. 1, 2003]