The Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI)

Federal Benefits

FastFacts

The Federal Employees’ Group

Life Insurance Program (FEGLI)

* What is FEGLI? FEGLI provides

term life insurance at group rates with

payroll deductions available through

your Federal agency. Benefits are paid

if you or a family member die or if you

become dismembered while insured.

It’s important protection to help you

plan for the future financial needs of

your family and loved ones.

* What types of coverage are

available? There are two types of

FEGLI life insurance: Basic and

Optional.

Basic: Equals your salary rounded up

to the next even $1,000, plus $2,000;

includes Accidental Death and

Dismemberment coverage at no

additional cost; plus “Extra Benefit”

coverage for enrollees under age 45.

The Extra Benefit doubles the amount

payable for Basic if you are age 35 or

younger when you die. This extra

amount decreases each year by 10%

until there is no “extra” coverage

payable if you die at age 45 or older.

Optional: There are three types of

Optional insurance: Option A-Standard

($10,000 of life insurance), Option B-

Additional (you choose from 1 to 5

times your salary), and Option C–

Family (coverage on your spouse and

eligible dependent children).

* Am I eligible? Most Federal

employees are eligible. If you are

employed in a “FEGLI-eligible” position,

you are automatically covered the first

day you are in a pay and duty status

with your employing agency for basic

coverage.

You may also purchase additional

coverage, or elect to cover your spouse

and eligible dependent children under

this Program.

If you elect to waive basic coverage,

you may not elect optional

coverage(s).

* How much do I pay? For Basic

insurance, you pay $.15 biweekly for

each $1,000 of your coverage. The

Federal Government pays the

remaining 1/3

of the cost of Basic

insurance. (Basic is free for U.S. Postal

Service employees).

For Optional insurance, you pay the full

cost, which varies depending on the

option(s) you elect, your salary, and

your age. Optional insurance

premiums increase based on five-year

bands. Premiums are available at

www.opm.gov/healthcare-

insurance/life-insurance/program-

information/

* When can I enroll? Newly hired

and newly eligible employees are

automatically enrolled in Basic

insurance on their first day in pay and

duty status.

If you want Optional insurance, you

must elect coverage within 60 days

after becoming eligible.

You have a few other opportunities to

enroll in Basic insurance or increase

coverage after your opportunity as a

new employee ends:

); or

 If you experience a FEGLI-

specific qualifying life event

(QLE), you may elect Basic and

all optional coverage (Option A,

Option B, and Option C) or

increase Option B and/or Option

C up to the maximum of five

multiples.

 FEGLI QLEs are:

o marriage

o divorce

o spouse’s death

o acquisition of an eligible

child

 By providing satisfactory medical

information (SF 2822

 During rare FEGLI Open Seasons

(the FEGLI Program does not

participate in the annual Federal

Benefits Open Season).

* How do I enroll? Complete a

Standard Form (SF 2817) “Life

Insurance Election” form and submit it

to your servicing Human Resources

(HR) office. Some agencies allow

electronic elections. Contact your HR

office to see if this applies to you.

* Can I continue my coverage

after I leave government or retire?

 You cannot continue FEGLI

coverage if you leave the

government, but you get 31 days

of free coverage after you

separate and you have the right

to convert your FEGLI coverage

to an individual (non-FEGLI)

policy.

 You can continue FEGLI coverage

as a retiree if you meet certain

eligibility and enrollment

requirements.

* Who receives the FEGLI

benefits after I die?

You can designate the recipient of

the insurance benefits by completing

an (SF 2823) “Designation of

Beneficiary”. If you don’t specify,

benefits are paid in a particular

order, with your spouse first. If no

spouse, then benefits are paid to

your child(ren) and if no children,

then to your parent(s), etc. For

more information on this payment

order go to

www.opm.gov/healthcare-

insurance/life-insurance/death-

claims/#url=Annuitant

You should submit your completed

“Designation of Beneficiary” form to

your agency Human Resources

office. As an employee, your HR

office maintains all of your FEGLI

records.

* Where can I go for more

details or additional

information? You can find these

resources on our website at

www.opm.gov/healthcare-

insurance/life-insurance/

 FEGLI Booklet for Federal

Employees

 FEGLI Booklet for Postal

Employees