Same-sex domestic partners

Revised regulations

Regulations published in the Federal Register on June 1, 2010, add a section (5 CFR 875.213) expanding the definition of "qualified relative" to include same-sex domestic partners of eligible Federal and U.S. Postal Service employees and annuitants. Like all "qualified relatives," same-sex domestic partners are subject to full underwriting.

Certification Required

To apply for the FLTCIP, a same-sex domestic partner must check a box on the FLTCIP application certifying that documentation of the domestic partnership has been submitted to the employee/annuitant’s agency or retirement system, as applicable.

If you are an eligible same-sex domestic partner interested in applying for coverage under the FLTCIP, please read below for more information on how to apply.

Required documentation

Before you submit an application for coverage under the FLTCIP, you need to provide documentation (the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form) that you and your partner meet the definition of domestic partnership.

If you are eligible because your partner is a Federal or U.S. Postal Service employee, you or your partner (the employee) must file the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form with the employee’s agency.

If you are eligible because your partner is a Federal or U.S. Postal Service annuitant, you or your partner (the annuitant) must file the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form with the annuitant’s retirement system (OPM for most annuitants).

The FLTCIP application

Once you have submitted the Declaration of Domestic Partnership form to the appropriate location, you can then submit an application to us. You can apply online, download an application, or call us.

Requirements for same-sex domestic partnership

Domestic partnership is defined as a committed relationship between two adults of the same sex in which the partners:

1. Are each other’s sole domestic partner and intend to remain so indefinitely;
2. Have a common residence, and intend to continue the arrangement indefinitely;
3. Are at least 18 years of age;
4. Share responsibility for a significant measure of each other’s financial obligations;
5. Are not married to anyone else;
6. Are not a domestic partner of anyone else;
7. Are not related in a way that, if they were of opposite sex, would prohibit legal marriage in the State in which they reside; and
8. Will certify they understand that willful falsification of information within the documentation may lead to disciplinary action, loss of insurance coverage and/or the recovery of the cost of benefits received related to such falsification and may constitute a criminal violation under 18 U.S.C. 1001.

Underwriting

The FLTCIP is medically underwritten and all applicants must answer questions about their health on their application. Certain medical conditions, or combinations of conditions, will prevent some people from being approved for coverage.

Effective date

Eligible same-sex domestic partners can submit an application now. If approved, the effective date of coverage will be the first day of the month following the application approval date.

Read Frequently Asked Questions

Download the declaration form:

Declaration of Domestic Partnership form

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