5 C.F.R. § 894.809
Who is a TEI certifying family member, and may I be the enrollee if I accept this responsibility?
Cite as 5 C.F.R. § 894.809 (2026)
(a)
TEI certifying family member
means, where the
sponsor
is not an
enrollee
under § 894.309, the
TEI family member
in order of precedence, as set forth in paragraph (b) of this section, who may accept responsibility to self-certify as the
enrollee
by enrolling and, if appropriate, covering the
sponsor's TEI family members
by electing a self plus one or self and family
type of enrollment.
Accepting responsibility to self-certify as the
enrollee
includes consulting all
TEI family members
regarding their preference for coverage under the enrollment, electing an appropriate plan, option, and
type of enrollment.
(b) The following order of precedence governs which
TEI family member
may self-certify as the
enrollee:
(1) An unremarried surviving spouse of a retiree or Medal of Honor recipient, if any, is the
TEI certifying family member
who may enroll and cover surviving
TEI child
(ren) of the retiree.
(2) If there is no unremarried surviving spouse of a retiree or Medal of Honor recipient, the surviving
TEI child
of a retiree who accepts responsibility to self-certify as the
enrollee
is the
TEI certifying family member
who may enroll and cover other surviving child(ren) who are
TEI family member(s)
of the deceased retiree.
(3) The
TEI family member
who is a
spouse
is the
TEI certifying family member
who may enroll and cover other
TEI family member(s).
(4) If there is no spouse, the
TEI family member
who accepts responsibility to self-certify as the
enrollee
is the
TEI certifying family member
who may enroll and cover other
TEI family member(s).
(c) In the event that the
TEI family member
or
TEI certifying family member
is a minor child or a disabled adult dependent, a legal guardian may exercise the
TEI's
rights on his or her behalf.
(d) Accepting responsibility to self-certify as the
enrollee
means that you accept the
Administrator's
authority to make reconsideration decisions under § 894.104 and OPM's authority to correct enrollments under § 894.105.
- Cross-references to the CFR
- 894.104894.105.894.309