Changes

Basic coverage is paid 2/3 by the employee and 1/3 by the government (except for [[United States Postal Service]] employees who pay zero for their Basic coverage) and is a flat rate for all employees (and retirees under age 65) regardless of age.  Option coverage is paid 100 percent by the employee and the rates increase with age (the rates are calculated in five-year age bands, as one passes into a higher-age band the rates increase; notably after age 50 the rates increase significantly).

Basic coverage is paid 2/3 by the employee and 1/3 by the government (except for [[United States Postal Service]] employees who pay zero for their Basic coverage) and is a flat rate for all employees (and retirees under age 65) regardless of age.  Option coverage is paid 100 percent by the employee and the rates increase with age (the rates are calculated in five-year age bands, as one passes into a higher-age band the rates increase; notably after age 50 the rates increase significantly).

In order to take coverage into retirement, the employee must have been covered for the five years preceding (or, if less than five years, since the earliest opportunity to enroll); the rule cannot be waived.<ref>This differs from a similar requirement for continuous coverage of health insurance under the Federal Employees Health Benefit program, which in "exceptional circumstances" allows the five-year rule to be waived.</ref>  Also for continuous coverage, the employee must retire on an immediate annuity (if the employee takes a deferred annuity, coverage is suspended -- but not terminated --- from the date of separation until the annuity begins).  At retirement, the employee must decide how much coverage to take into retirement (an employee cannot increase coverage in retirement except as noted below):

In order to take coverage into retirement, the employee must have been covered for the five years preceding (or, if less than five years, since the earliest opportunity to enroll); the rule cannot be waived.<ref>This differs from a similar requirement for continuous coverage of health insurance under the Federal Employees Health Benefit program, which in "exceptional circumstances" allows the five-year rule to be waived.</ref>  Also for continuous coverage, the employee must retire on an immediate annuity (if the employee takes a deferred annuity, coverage is suspended -- but not terminated --- from the date of separation until the annuity begins).  At retirement, the employee must decide how much coverage to take into retirement (an employee cannot increase coverage in retirement except as noted below):