These Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) discuss the FEGLI 2004 Open Season. They do not include general questions about the FEGLI Program.
For general information on the FEGLI Program, click here to read the FEGLI Program Booklet for Federal employees or the FEGLI Program Booklet for Postal employees.
General Information
What's New
Eligibility
Electing Coverage
Elections Timing
Effective Dates
Newly Hired Employees and the Open Season
Premiums
Open Season Materials
Continuation into Retirement
2. When is the FEGLI 2004 Open Season?
3. If I make an Open Season election, when will my coverage become effective?
4. Is there any advantage to turning in my election at the start of the Open Season vs. at the end?
5. Why is OPM holding an Open Season?
6. Will we now have an Open Season every year?
8. Will I have to start paying premiums for my Open Season coverage right away?
9. I'm happy with the coverage I have now. Do I have to do anything?
9.A. What is included in my annual rate of Basic pay?
9.B. How can I find out my current level of FEGLI coverage?
10. Is there any new coverage available during this Open Season?
11. How do I know if I am eligible to participate in the FEGLI 2004 Open Season?
12. What if I recently waived or cancelled my coverage. May I participate in the FEGLI 2004 Open Season?
14. I'm a retiree?
15. I'm a retiree, but I am also reemployed?
16. I'm receiving compensation benefits from U.S. DOLOWCP?
17. I'm receiving compensation benefits from U.S. DOLOWCP? and reemployed on a parttime basis?
19. Can someone with my power of attorney elect coverage for me?
20. Can my assignee elect coverage for me?
23. Who can make elections during this Open Season?
24. I'm happy with the coverage I have now. Do I have to do anything?
25. What are the advantages of electing coverage during the FEGLI 2004 Open Season?
26. How do I elect coverage during this Open Season?
26.A. I received an FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election form before Open Season started. If I submit it before Open Season stats will it still be valid?
27. Where can I get the FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election form?
27.B. Can I fax or scan my FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election form to my human resources office?
28. Can I use the SF 2817 Life Insurance Election to make an Open Season election?
29. Can I use the FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election form for other elections of coverage?
30. Can I cancel all of my current coverage using the FE2004 form?
31. Can I cancel only some of my current coverage using the FE2004 form?
32. How do I complete the FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election form?
34. What can I elect during this Open Season?
38. What if I'm in the hospital for the entire time or otherwise can't submit the form on time?
39. What is a belated election?
40. When are belated elections effective?
41. I'll be on vacation for most/all of the Open Season. Can I wait to turn in my form?
44. When will my new coverage become effective?
45. What is pay and duty status?
46. What are the pay and duty status requirements?
47. I am an intermittent employee. How can I determine the number of hours I customarily work?
48. When are belated elections effective?
51. What if I retire before my Open Season Election is effective?
52. Can I carry my new coverage into retirement?
54. What if I transfer to another agency before my new coverage is effective?
55. Why is there a delayed effective date?
56. What if I want coverage to be effective before 2005?
56.A. Where can I find SF 2817 Life Insurance Election and SF 2822 Request for Life Insurance?
58. When is the effective date of coverage I elect as a new employee?
59. As a new employee, can I participate in the Open Season?
60. Will I have to start paying premiums for my Open Season coverage right away?
61. What are the current FEGLI premiums for employees?
62. Why are the Option B premiums changing in January 2005?
63. When do my premiums change for moving to a new age group?
64. What if my pay is not high enough to cover the premiums?
65. Where can I read more about the Open Season?
66. Where can I read more about the FEGLI Program in general?
67. Can I carry my new coverage into retirement?
68. Is the FEGLI 2004 Open Season a first opportunity to elect coverage?
3. If I make
an Open Season election, when will my new coverage become effective?
Your Open Season election will become
effective on the first day of your first pay period that begins
on or after September 1, 2005, and that immediately follows a
pay period in which you were in pay and duty status for the required
amount of time (32 hours for fulltime employees). Click
here for more details on pay and duty status
requirements.
9.A.
What is included in my annual rate of Basic pay?
Your annual rate of Basic Pay includes:
Your salary, including:
Your annual rate of Basic pay does not
include other types of pay such as: bonuses, allowances, overtime,
holiday and military pay or supplemental payments from the Office
of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). See your Human Resources
office if you are not sure what your annual rate of basic pay
is.
9.B. How can
I find out my current level of FEGLI coverage?
You can check your most recent SF
50 Notification of Personnel Action to determine the coverage
you currently have. On that form, in block 27, there is a 2character
code that represents your current FEGLI coverage and a definition
of the code. For example, if block 27 shows "C0Basic only",
that means you have Basic life only with no optional coverage.
You can look up the codes in the FEGLI Handbook, the
SF
50 Equivalents of Insurance Codes
chapter.
If you cannot find the documents listed above, you should go to
your human resources office at your agency. OPM and OFEGLI do
NOT have your records and cannot verify your current coverage.
12. What if
I recently waived or cancelled my coverage. May I participate
in the FEGLI
2004
Open Season?
Yes. It does not matter when you
last waived or cancelled coverage.
12.A. What
if I don't have any coverage now, not even Basic. May I participate
in the
FEGLI
2004 Open Season?
Yes. The Open Season is open for
all FEGLI eligible employees.
12.B. What
if I was previously denied coverage after I filled out the SF
2822 Request
for
Insurance. May I participate in the FEGLI 2004 Open Season?
Yes. It doesn't matter if you have been
denied coverage in the past.
May I participate in the FEGLI 2004 Open Season if:
13. I'm Over
Age 50?
Yes. There is no age restriction.
Anyone in an eligible position can enroll.
14. I'm a retiree?
No. Retirees, other than reemployed
annuitants, cannot participate in the FEGLI 2004 Open Season.
15. I'm a retiree,
but I am also reemployed?
Yes, if you are reemployed in a position
that allows FEGLI coverage. Your human resources office can tell
you if you are in an eligible position. Or, you can check your
most recent SF 50 Notification of Personnel Action from
your reemployed position. Look in Block 27FEGLI. If that block
shows "Ineligible" or code "A0", then you cannot participate in
the Open Season. If that block shows coverage or shows that you
waived coverage, you are eligible to elect new coverage during
the Open Season.
16. I'm receiving
compensation benefits from the U.S. Department of Labor?
It depends. If you are within the
first 12 months of nonpay status, you may elect coverage. But,
any coverage you elect during the Open Season cannot be effective
until you are back at work, receiving pay, and meet the other
effective
date requirements. If your first 12 months of nonpay
status has ended, you cannot elect coverage during the FEGLI 2004
Open Season.
17. I'm receiving
compensation benefits from the U.S. Department of Labor, but I
am
also
reemployed on a parttime basis?
Yes, if you are reemployed in a position
that allows FEGLI coverage. Your human resources office can tell
you if you are in an eligible position. Or, you can check your
most recent SF 50 Notification of Personnel Action from
your reemployed position. Look in Block 27. FEGLI. If that block
shows "Ineligible" or code "A0", then you are not eligible to
enroll. If that block shows coverage or shows that you waived
coverage, you are eligible to enroll.
18. I'm in nonpay
status?
Yes, employees in nonpay status can
participate in the Open Season. But, any coverage you elect during
the Open Season cannot be effective until you are back at work,
receiving pay and meet the other effective
date requirements.(Employees in nonpay status who are
receiving compensation benefits should read question #16.)
19. Can someone
with my power of attorney elect coverage for me?
No. Only you, the employee, may elect
coverage. You must sign the FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election Form
(FE2004). A guardian, conservator, someone with your power of
attorney or anyone else cannot sign the form for you.
20. Can my assignee
elect coverage for me?
No. Assignees may not participate in
the Open Season.
21. I assigned
my life insurance coverage to someone using an Assignment, Federal
Employees
Group Life Insurance (RI 7610). What happens to the new coverage
I
elect during
the FEGLI 2004 Open Season?
Your existing assignment will cover
any new coverage you elect (except for Option C Family, which
cannot be assigned).
22. What if
I have to separate from my Federal job to go on active duty; can
I
participate in the Open Season?
If you separate, your agency will treat
your current life insurance coverage, if any, as if you were on
leave without pay, for up to 12 months. This means that your current
coverage will be free for 12 months. You will still be able to
elect coverage during the Open Season, but again, the coverage
won't be effective until the first pay period that starts on or
after September 1, 2005, and immediately follows a pay period
in which you were at your Federal job and not on leave for at
least 32 hours (for fulltime employees).
23. Who can
make elections during this Open Season?
Employees (other than those in a position which
does not allow life insurance coverage). Annuitants and compensationers
cannot.
24. I'm happy
with the coverage I have now. Do I have to do anything?
No. You only need to fill out a form
if you are not enrolled and wish to enroll or if you are already
enrolled and wish to change your coverage. If you are happy with
what you have now, do nothing.
25. What are
the advantages of electing coverage during the FEGLI 2004 Open
Season?
During the Open Season you can increase
your life insurance without the need to answer any medical questions,
regardless of your current health status.
26. How do I
elect coverage during this Open Season?
To make an Open Season election, you
must complete and send the FEGLI 2004 Open
Season Election Form (FE2004)
to your human resources office (HRO) during Open Season (September
1 through September 30, 2004).
26A. I received
an FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election form before Open Season
started.
If I submit it before Open Season starts will it still be valid?
To avoid any confusion, you may want
to wait until the Open Season starts before submitting your FE
2004 form. However, it will still be valid even if you submit
it before Open Season starts, as long as your human resources
office receives it on or before September 30, 2004.
27. Where can
I get the FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election form?
You should have received one directly,
in the FEGLI 2004 Open Season Enrollment Packet sent to all employees.
You can also get the form from our web site by clicking
here or you may be able to get a form from your human
resources office.
27.A. Does
it matter if the FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election form
is the white
hardcopy
version with the gold 50th anniversary eagle logo
or a form printed
from
the website?
No, it does not matter. Both the
white hardcopy with the logo and a white locallyprinted version
from the website are acceptable.
27.B. Can I
fax or scan my FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election form to
my
human
resources office?
Yes. You may submit a .pdf, .jpeg or
other scanned version, or a fax of the completed FE2004 to your
human resources office. It will be accepted as valid as long as
you submit the signed original within 30 days after the agency
received the other version AND that signed original is identical
to the other version. The use of these alternative formats should
truly be exceptions in special circumstances only.
28. Can I use
the SF 2817 Life Insurance Election to make an Open Season
election?
No. You may only use the FE2004
FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election form to make an Open Season election.
29. Can I use
the FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election form for other elections
of
coverage?
No. You can use the FE2004 only for
Open Season Elections. If you are electing coverage for any other
reason (for example, you just began your Federal job, or you get
married and want to add coverage, or you get a physical exam),
you must use the SF 2817, Life Insurance Election.
30. Can I cancel
all of my current coverage using the FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season
Election
form?
No. You must use the SF 2817 Life
Insurance Election to cancel all of your coverage. You cannot
cancel all coverage using the FE2004 form.
31. Can I cancel
only some of my current coverage using the FE2004 form?
Yes. If you want the coverage to
stop now, you should cancel it by using the SF 2817 Life Insurance
Election. Sign only for the coverage you have now and wish
to keep. The coverage you have now that you do not sign for will
stop at the end of the last day of the pay period during which
your agency receives your form.
If you want your coverage to stop when your Open Season election will be effective, then use the FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election form. Sign for the coverage you have now and wish to keep, and sign for the new coverage you want to elect. The coverage you have now, but you do not sign for, will stop at the same time the new coverage you elect begins. See details on effective dates.
32. How do I
complete the FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election form?
Read Sections 1 and 2 on the form.
Fill in your name and other identifying information in Section
3. Sign Section 4 for Basic insurance. Sign Section 5, where indicated,
if you want to elect any or all Optional insurance. Be sure to
sign for the coverage you already have and wish to keep and sign
for any new coverage you wish to elect. If you do not sign for
coverage you currently have, you cancel that coverage. It will
stop on the same date your Open Season election is effective.
33. What happens
if I do not sign on the FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election
form
for coverage I have now and want to keep?
The coverage you do not sign for
will be cancelled on the effective
date of your Open Season election.
34. What can
I elect during this Open Season?
You can elect Basic insurance and any
or all Optional insurance:
Option A Standard
Option B Additional
Option C Family
35. Do I have
to answer any health questions or submit evidence of medical
insurability
in order to make an Open Season election?
No.
35.A. Do I
have to provide a marriage or birth certificate to elect or increase
Option C Family coverage during the Open Season?
No, you do not have to submit any
type of certificates to elect coverage during the Open Season.
36. What if
my form is postmarked on or before September 30, 2004 but my Human
Resources
Office (HRO) doesn't receive it until after September 30, 2004?
Generally, postmarks don't count. Your
human resources office must receive your form on or before September
30, 2004. However, there is an exception, if you can show that
you could not submit the form on time due to circumstances beyond
your control. If you think this exception applies to you, you
should ask your human resources office for a reconsideration.
37. I turned
in an FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election form last week but
now
want to change my mind. Can I submit another one?
You can always void the form, but
you cannot always submit a new one. It depends on the date:
If it is on or before September 30, 2004 (the last day of the Open Season), you may turn in another FE2004 election form. Be sure your agency receives your new form on or before September 30th. Ask your agency to void the first FE2004 form.
If it is after September 30, 2004, you cannot submit a new FE2004 form. You can notify your human resources office in writing that you want to reduce the amount of coverage elected during the Open Season or that you want to void the Open Season election completely. Your agency will document this action in your Official Personnel Folder (OPF) or its electronic equivalent.
38. What if
I'm in the hospital for the entire time or otherwise can't submit
the form on
time?
Then you need to talk to your human resources
office. They can let you know if you can submit a belated election.
But don't count on it. You should submit your FE2004 election
form to your human resources office so they receive it on or before
September 30, 2004.
39. What is
a belated election?
Within 6 months after the open season
ends (meaning by March 31, 2005), an agency may determine that
an employee was unable to make a timely election due to circumstances
beyond his/her control. The employee has 31 days after being notified
of the agency determination to make his/her Open Season election
on an FE2004 or its electronic equivalent, where applicable.
So, for example, if on March 31, 2005, the agency determined that
an employee was entitled to make a belated election, and notified
that employee the same day, then the employee would have until
May 1, 2005, to submit his/her Open Season election.
40. When are belated elections effective?
Belated elections are effective the same
as elections made on time -- the first day of your first pay period
that begins on or after September 1, 2005, and that immediately
follows a pay period in which you meet the pay and duty status
requirements.
41. I'll be
on vacation for most/all of the Open Season. Can I wait to turn
in my form?
The Open Season is the month of September.
You don't need to be at work to participate. (But you do need
to be at work one year later for it to be effective.) You can
complete and mail the FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open
Season Election form to your human resources office
(HRO). You don't have to submit the form in person. Remember --
your HRO must receive your form on or before September 30, 2004.
42. I'm a reservist
(or in the National Guard). What if I'm called up during the Open
Season
and haven't turned in my election yet?
Of course, the best thing for you
to do is complete an FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open
Season Election Form before you leave. However, if
that is not possible, you should contact your human resources
office to ask for a belated election opportunity.
Please remember that your coverage won't be effective until your first pay period that starts on or after September 1, 2005, and that immediately follows a pay period in which you were at your Federal job and not on leave (meaning in a pay and duty status) for at least 32 hours (for fulltime employees).
If you want coverage earlier, and you have time before your deployment, you may want to obtain satisfactory medical evidence of insurability. If the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI) approves it, you will automatically be enrolled in Basic, and eligible to elect Option A ($10,000) and/or Option B (1 to 5 multiples of your salary). Click here for more details.
43. I'm a civilian employee deployed in a combat
support role overseas. Can I
participate
in the Open Season?
Yes, civilian employees who are deployed can participate in
the FEGLI 2004 Open
Season. The FE2004 FEGLI Open Season Election Form
should be submitted to your
human resources office (HRO). You don't have to submit the form
in person. Remember -- your HRO must receive your form on or before
September 30, 2004.
Please remember that your coverage won't be effective until your first pay period that starts on or after September 1, 2005, and that immediately follows a pay period in which you were at your Federal job and not on leave (meaning in a pay and duty status) for at least 32 hours (for fulltime employees).
If you want coverage earlier, you may want to obtain satisfactory medical evidence of insurability. If the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI) approves it, you will be automatically enrolled in Basic, and eligible to elect Option A ($10,000) and/or Option B (1 to 5 multiples of your salary). Click here for more details.
44. When will my new coverage become effective?
New coverage becomes effective on the first day of your first
pay period that begins on or after
September 1, 2005, and that immediately follows a pay period in which you meet
the pay and duty status requirements.
45. What is pay and duty status?
This means that you were at work and not on any type of leave,
such as annual leave, sick leave, donated leave or any other type
of leave.
46. What are the pay and duty status requirements?
A fulltime employee on a biweekly pay period must be in a
pay and duty status for at least 32 hours during the pay period
right before the one in which the coverage is to become effective.
A fulltime employee on a monthly pay period must be in a pay and duty status for at least 64 hours during the pay period right before the one in which the coverage is to become effective.
A parttime employee must be in pay and duty status for one-half of the regularlyscheduled tour of duty shown on a current SF 50 Notification of Personnel Action.
An intermittent employee or employees without a regularlyscheduled tour of duty must be in pay and duty status for onehalf of the hours customarily worked in a pay period.
Annual leave, sick leave, donated leave or any other type of leave is not pay and duty status.
47. I am an intermittent employee. How can I
determine the number of hours I
customarily
work?
Add up the number of hours that you worked in the calendar
year quarter ending September 30, 2004 (meaning July 1 through
September 30). Then divide by the number of pay periods during
those three months. The answer is the number of hours you customarily
work in a pay period.
48. When are belated elections effective?
Belated elections are effective the same as elections made
on time -- the first day of your first pay period that begins
on or after September 1, 2005, and that immediately follows a
pay period in which you were in pay and duty status for the required
amount of time.
49. What if I die or a family member dies before
September 1, 2005, but after I turn in
my Open Season Election.
Will my survivors receive benefits on the new coverage?
No. The Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI)
can only pay benefits based on coverage that is in effect. If
your Open Season election is not effective when you die or a family
member dies, OFEGLI cannot pay those benefits.
50. Can you make an exception for me? This is the first time I've been able to elect
coverage in
years. I'm sick and might die before 2005.
There are no exceptions. OFEGLI can only pay benefits based
on coverage that is in effect.
51. What if I retire before my Open Season Election
is effective?
Then you will never have the new coverage
and cannot have it in retirement.
52. Can I carry my new coverage into retirement?
It depends. The FEGLI 2004 Open Season is not the first opportunity
for electing coverage. Therefore, you must have the newly elected
coverage for the five years of service immediately before retiring
or starting to receive workers' compensation benefits in order
to continue that coverage as an annuitant or compensationer. So
that means the very earliest most employees can retire or start
receiving compensation and carry new coverage from the FEGLI 2004
Open Season into retirement or compensation is September 3, 2010
(September 4, 2010, for Postal employees).
53. What if I start receiving benefits from
the Department of Labor (Compensation)
before
my new coverage is effective?
Then you will never have the new coverage
as an employee and cannot have it as a compensationer. However,
if you return to duty as an employee and meet the effective date
requirements, your new coverage can go into effect. You should
work closely with your human resources office if this scenario
applies.
54. What if I transfer to another agency before
my new coverage is effective?
Then your old agency must attach your
Open Season election to your personnel folder or its equivalent.
Your new agency must process your Open Season election at the
appropriate time.
55. Why is there a delayed effective date?
The 1999 Open Season also had a delayed effective date and
it worked very well. The idea behind it is to avoid adverse selection
to avoid people electing increased insurance coverage based
on the knowledge that there is a high probability that the insurance
will become payable within a year.
56. What if I want coverage to be effective
before 2005?
Then you should not make an Open Season election using the
FE2004 election form. Remember, Open Season elections have a
delayed effective date and are not effective until September 1,
2005, at the earliest.
If you do not want to wait, you can elect coverage without
a delayed effective date by providing satisfactory medical information
on a Request for Insurance (SF 2822). If the Office of
Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI) approves your
request, you automatically get Basic insurance (your salary, rounded
up to the next higher thousand dollars, plus $2,000). You will
have 31 days to elect Option A ($10,000 coverage) or Option B
(from 1 to 5 multiples of your salary) or both. You must use the
SF 2817 Life Insurance Election to elect coverage based on a physical
exam. Do not use the FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open Season Election form.
You cannot elect Option C Family by submitting medical information.
If you have a qualifying life event (marriage, birth or adoption
of a child, death of your spouse or divorce), you can elect Option
B and/or Option C insurance within 60 days of the life event.
You must use the SF 2817 Life Insurance Election to elect coverage
based on a life event. Do not use the FE2004 FEGLI 2004 Open
Season Election form. You cannot elect Basic or Option A Standard
because of a life event.
56.A. Where can I find SF 2817 Life Insurance Election
and SF 2822 Request for Life
Insurance?
The SF 2822 is only available online
http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/pubslist/index.asp.
However, if you cannot print a copy your human resources office
should be able to print one for you.
The SF 2817 can be obtained from your agency human resources office
or from the FEGLI website http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/pubslist/index.asp.
Clicking on the links above will open the FEGLI Publications and
Forms page on the OPM website.
57. I began working for the Federal Government
in September 2004, with no previous
Federal
Employment. Is a new employee election different from an Open
Season
Election?
Yes. Assuming you are eligible
for life insurance coverage , you need to consider a few things.
Coverage you elect as a new employee will be effective before
coverage you elect as an Open Season election.
Your agency automatically enrolled you in Basic life insurance
(your annual
rate of basic pay, rounded up to the next higher thousand
dollars, plus $2,000) on the first day you were at work and not
on leave, unless you turned in a form (the SF 2817 Life Insurance
Election) to waive Basic. You have 31 days from becoming eligible
to elect any or all Optional insurance on the SF 2817 form.
58. When is the effective date of optional coverage
I elect as a new employee?
Your election as a new employee is effective
on the day you begin working in a pay status on or after the day
your employing office receives your election form.
59. As a new employee, can I participate in
the Open Season?
Yes. You can elect coverage during the
Open Season on the FE2004 Open Season Election form. However,
Open Season elections have a delayed effective date and will not
be effective until you meet the effective date requirements. Click
here to read Frequently Asked Questions on effective
dates.
60. Will I have to start paying premiums for
my Open Season coverage right away?
No. You don't start paying premiums for
your new coverage until it goes into effect the first day of the
first pay period that begins on or after September 1, 2005, and
that immediately follows a pay period in which you meet the pay
and duty status requirements.
61. What are the current FEGLI premiums for
employees?
The FEGLI premiums
for employees are available on the FEGLI Open Season website.
62. Why are the Option B premiums changing in
January 2005?
The Option B premium increases for the
new age bands (6569), (7074), (7579) and (80 and over) are
being phased in over a three year period. The 3rd and final phase
will be January 2005. The 2004 and 2005 Option
B premiums are on the FEGLI Open Season website. No
other premium changes are planned at this time. However, premiums
may change in the future.
63. When do my premiums change for moving to
a new age group?
We assume you reach the next age group
in your first pay period that starts after your birthday. For
example, if you turn age 50 on September 4, you will begin paying
the premiums for the 5054 age group in your first pay period
that starts after September 4.
64. What if my pay is not high enough to cover
the premiums?
Then you will have two choices. You can
choose to terminate some or all of your coverage or you can choose
to pay your premiums directly. You can contact your human resources
office for more detailed information.
65. Where can I read more about the 2004 FEGLI
Open Season?
Click
here to read the FEGLI 2004 Open Season Enrollment
Packet materials. You can also ask your human resources office
(HRO) for Open Season materials.
66. Where can I read more about the FEGLI Program
in general?
Click
here to read the FEGLI Program Booklet for Federal
employees (or the Federal Program Booklet for Postal Employees)
or ask your human resources office (HRO) for one.
You can also go to the FEGLI
website. Clicking on this link will open the OPM website.
67. Can I carry my new coverage into retirement?
It depends. The FEGLI 2004 Open Season is not the first opportunity
for electing coverage. Therefore, you must have the newly elected
coverage for the five years of service immediately before retiring
or starting to receive compensation benefits in order to continue
that coverage as an annuitant or compensationer.
So that means the very earliest most employees can retire or start receiving compensation benefits and carry new coverage from FEGLI 2004 Open Season into retirement or compensation is September 4, 2010 (September 3, 2010, for Postal employees).
Some examples may help:
James currently has Basic and four multiples of Option B, which he elected when he was hired back in 2000. He elects one new multiple of Option B during FEGLI 2004. He signed an FE2004 Open Season Election form for Basic and five multiples of Option B (the four he currently has plus the one he adds as new coverage). He retires in 2008. He can carry Basic and only four multiples of Option B into retirement. James cannot carry into retirement the one new multiple of Option B he elected during the Open Season because he did not have that multiple from his first opportunity (which was in 2000) nor for the five years of service immediately before his retirement.
Bradford currently has Basic, Option A and one multiple of Option C. He elects four new multiples of Option C during the FEGLI 2004 Open Season. He signed an FE2004 Open Season Election form for Basic, Option A and five multiples of Option C (the one he currently has plus the four he adds as new coverage). He retires on December 31, 2010. Bradford can carry the Basic, Option A and five multiples of Option C into retirement. He met the pay and duty status requirements and has had the newly elected coverage since September 3, 2005. Bradford has had the coverage for the five years of service immediately before his retirement.
Jessica has had FEGLI Basic since she started working in 1985. She elects to increase her coverage and adds two multiples of Option B during the FEGLI Open Season. She signed an FE2004 Open Season Election form for Basic, and two multiples of Option B. Her Open Season election became effective on September 17, 2005, since she did not meet the pay and duty status requirements until that date. She retires September 3, 2010. Jessica cannot carry the two multiples of Option B into retirement. She did not have the coverage since her first opportunity in 1985 nor for the 5 years of service immediately before her retirement. She would need to retire September 17, 2010, or later to carry the Option B coverage into retirement.
68. Is the FEGLI 2004 Open Season a first opportunity
to elect coverage?
No, it is not the first opportunity to
elect Basic, Option A, Option B or Option C.
69. I'd like to have more coverage, but I know
that I won't be able to carry it into
retirement, since I plan
to retire before 2010. Is there any reason why I
should still
participate in the Open Season?
Yes. First of all, you may want to elect more coverage to protect
you and your family until you do retire. Secondly, when you separate
for retirement, you will be able to convert your coverage to a
private policy. You won't have to have a physical exam in order
to convert. The premiums are higher than group coverage, but depending
on your age and physical health, you may not otherwise be able
to purchase private insurance
The earliest your Open Season coverage can be effective is September 2005. Your new coverage MUST be effective before you can convert it to a private policy.