5 CFR § 894.809 - Who is a TEI certifying family member, and may I be the enrollee if I accept this responsibility?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t5/s894.809"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "5 CFR § 894.809 - Who is a TEI certifying family member, and may I be the enrollee if I accept this responsibility?"
title_number: 5
title_name: "Administrative Personnel"
section_number: "894.809"
section_name: "Who is a TEI certifying family member, and may I be the enrollee if I accept this responsibility?"
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT"
subchapter_number: "B"
subchapter_name: "CIVIL SERVICE REGULATIONS"
part_number: "894"
part_name: "FEDERAL EMPLOYEES DENTAL AND VISION INSURANCE PROGRAM"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 8962; 5 U.S.C. 8992; Subpart C also issued under section 1 of Pub. L. 110-279, 122 Stat. 2604 (2 U.S.C. 2051); and Sec. 894.601(b) also issued under Pub. L. 116-92, 133 Stat. 1198 (5 U.S.C. 8956 note)."
regulatory_source: "73 FR 50184, Aug. 26, 2008, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "894"
---


# 894.809 Who is a TEI certifying family member, and may I be the enrollee if I accept this responsibility?

(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.