For federal employees who have received a Reduction in Force (RIF) notice, your Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) should continue until 31 days after your separation date (not your RIF notice date). 

Healthcare Marketplace 

For most folks who lose healthcare coverage, your best option will likely be coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Healthcare Marketplace at HealthCare.gov.  

• If you are in Georgia, you can access the marketplace through Georgia Access. Losing health coverage qualifies as a life event and should allow you to enroll as a Special Enrollment Period (learn more at Georgia Access: Special Enrollment Periods). As you are unemployed and ACA is based on income and not assets, you may qualify for a rebate. 

COBRA/ Temporary Continuation of Coverage 

⁠Following your separation date, you will be eligible for either Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC; if FTE) or Continuation of Health Coverage (COBRA; if other). TCC and COBRA both allow you to continue receiving your current employer-provided health insurance for up to 18 months (TCC) or sometimes up to 36 months (COBRA) following your separation date. Both of these can be expensive options as you will be responsible for paying the full plan premium (both employee and government shares) plus a 2% admin fee. However, if something happens medically to you or your family in 60 days following the loss of your FEHB, you can RETROACTIVELY opt-in to either TCC or COBRA, though you will have to pay premiums for retroactive periods of coverage. 

• FEHB Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) Pamphlet with FAQs - OPM 

• COBRA Continuation Coverage Questions and Answers - CMS 

US Department of Labor

Retirement and Healthcare coverage (Q and A for Dislocated Workers) 

• USDOL Retirement and Health Care Coverage Manual 

• Atlanta's Rosefinch Spa offering free use of their recovery room to federal workers 

• Decatur's Intown Retreat offering CDC workers 30% off all products and services with code WELOVECDC 

• Findhelp.org: Enter your Zipcode and navigate to find specialized and localized resources and assistance on the following topics: food, housing, transit, health, finance, care, education, work, and legal 

• Atlanta Area Trauma Recovery Network - A local chapter of a national organization that volunteers to provide 6 sessions of pro bono EMDR therapy to help relieve the impact of recent stressful events (witness or victim of violent crime, fire, etc.) and possibly prevent PTSD. 

• Mental Health Support for Current and Recent Federal Employees - List of psychologists who have volunteered to take on current and recent federal workers as clients, including those without insurance. 

• Free Virtual Support Group - Reclaim ATL is waiving fees for an 8-week virtual support group for individuals affected by terminations and RIFs called Finding Calm in the Storm: A Support Group for Those Affected by Federal Funding Cuts. For more information, email Tricia Anbinder, LCSW, at info@reclaimatl.com. 

• List of Georgia therapists with immediate openings 

• Free therapy (Free therapy for federal workers offered by new group - Axios Washington D.C.) 

• Patient Advocate Foundation – Patient Advocate Foundation (PAF) is a national 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization which provides case management services and financial aid to Americans with chronic, life threatening and debilitating illnesses.  

• Cancer Care Resources - Comprehensive resource with information on financial help available for people with cancer. Includes info on finding assistance for medicine and treatment, finding assistance for navigating benefits and entitlements, co-pay relief and prescription assistance, and more. 

If you have resources to share, please email us today!