OPM finds 50,000 deceased people still listed in federal health benefits program
The Office of Personnel Management said it identified about 50,000 deceased people still listed in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, and $96.3 million in payments made after the date of death.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management said Monday it has identified approximately 50,000 deceased people who remain listed in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, known as FEHB. OPM said it found them by matching the Treasury Department's August 2026 Death Record Confidence Scoring Tool against OPM's FEHB enrollment records.
The review identified $96.3 million in improper payments made after the date of death, according to OPM. That includes $70.6 million in government health premium contributions and $25.7 million in retirement payments.
Separately, OPM estimates $10.4 million in carrier costs tied to more than 20,000 people who remain on carrier rolls even though no government premium is being paid for them. Carriers charge FEHB funds each month for administrative and per-member costs. OPM said it will examine claims that may have been paid after date of death in the coming weeks.
OPM's release does not say how much of the money has been or will be recovered, and it does not describe any finding of fraud by individuals. OPM Director Scott Kupor said the findings are "a drop in the bucket" of what the agency expects to find as it expands its integrity program.
(The photo is a generic file photo of a medical checklist and is not an OPM record.)