FEHB Retirement Cost Calculator

Estimate your Federal Employees Health Benefits premiums during retirement based on 2026 rates.

Select Your Coverage

FEHB Premium Cost Sharing in Retirement

One of the greatest benefits of FEHB is that the government continues to subsidize your health insurance premiums even after you retire.

How Premium Sharing Works

  • Government Pays: Up to 75% of the weighted average premium (currently ~72% on average)
  • You Pay: The remaining 25-28% (withheld from your annuity)
  • Same as Active Employees: The sharing formula is identical to when you were working

2026 Average FEHB Premiums (Estimated)

Enrollment Type Total Premium Your Share (~28%) Gov't Share (~72%)
Self Only $650/mo $182/mo $468/mo
Self Plus One $1,350/mo $378/mo $972/mo
Self and Family $1,550/mo $434/mo $1,116/mo

Note: Actual premiums vary by plan, region, and specific options selected.

Eligibility to Keep FEHB in Retirement

To continue FEHB coverage into retirement, you must meet the "5-Year Rule":

The 5-Year Rule: You must have been enrolled in FEHB (or covered as a family member) for at least 5 consecutive years immediately before retirement. Alternatively, you must have been enrolled since your first opportunity (if less than 5 years of service).

Exceptions to the 5-Year Rule

  • Early Retirement (Voluntary Early Retirement Authority): Must still meet the 5-year rule
  • Disability Retirement: 5-year rule is waived
  • Immediate Retirement with Less Than 5 Years: Cannot continue FEHB unless you meet alternative requirements

Plan Your Complete Retirement

FEHB is just one piece of your retirement puzzle. Use our other tools to build a comprehensive plan:

FEHB Retirement Guide FERS Annuity Calculator TSP Growth Calculator

Educational use only: Results are estimates. For official benefit determinations, use your agency HR/OPM retirement services—not this page alone.

Retiree FEHB cost scenarios

Use the sections below to align this calculator with your real planning questions—each block matches a common search intent.

Biweekly vs monthly view

Retirees often budget monthly—convert biweekly premiums to match Social Security and annuity deposits.

Family tiers

Self-only, self+one, and family tiers differ materially—pick the tier that matches your SF 2809 election.

Part-time to full retirement

If you transition from phased retirement, verify when FEHB eligibility locks in.

Data freshness

  • Premiums change every plan year—check OPM’s premium tables for the current year.

Related Calculators & Guides

Authority & primary sources

Official rules change periodically. Cross-check estimates with Retirement Services at OPM.gov and your agency’s human resources office.

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