Coverage
BASIC INSURANCE: AUTOMATIC COVERAGE
Acquiring Basic Insurance
As a Federal employee, you automatically have Basic
insurance (unless you are in a category of employees
specifically excluded
by law or regulation), unless you waive it on the
Life Insurance Election form (SF 2817).
You have the first 31 days from becoming eligible for coverage to change your mind about waiving coverage. If you have waived coverage and then decide you want it, complete a new SF 2817. Your employing office will void your previous waiver and note on that waiver that it is superceded by the new election. You will automatically have Basic coverage and you will owe premiums from your first day of eligibility. (You may also elect Optional coverage at the same time.) The last SF 2817 that you submit to your employing office within that first 31-day period of eligibility is the election that governs.
Break
in Service of Less than 180 Days
If you are returning after a break in service of less
than 180 days, any prior waiver of coverage remains in
effect. You automatically get whatever life insurance you
had before leaving Government, if any, and do not
get an opportunity to make a new election to
increase coverage (you can cancel or decrease
coverage at any time, unless you have a valid assignment in effect).
Exception: if you had a qualifying life event (e.g., marriage, divorce, death of your
spouse, or acquiring an eligible child) during your
separation from covered service or during the 60-day
period immediately before your separation, you will have
31 days from the date of reinstatement or 60 days from
the date of the event, whichever gives you more time, to enroll or increase the multiples of Option B or Option C, as applicable.
Effective
Date of Basic Coverage
New Employees
Coverage is effective on the day you enter on duty in
pay status, unless you have a waiver of coverage from
previous employment that remains in effect.
Transferred
Employees
Coverage is effective on the day you enter on duty in
pay status in the new position, unless you have a
previous waiver that remains in effect.
Employees
Who Return to Pay and Duty Status after More Than 12
Months' Nonpay Status
The coverage you lost after 12 months in nonpay status
is automatically restored on the day you enter on duty in
pay status. Exception: your coverage will
not be restored if you return to a position that is excluded
from FEGLI coverage by law or regulation.
OPTIONAL INSURANCE: ELECTION
Insurance Not Automatic
Unlike Basic insurance, Optional insurance is not automatic. You must specifically elect it.
Who Can Elect?
You may elect Optional insurance if you have Basic insurance and do not have a previous waiver of Optional insurance that is still in effect.
You are not eligible for Optional insurance if you have a waiver
of Basic insurance that is still in effect.
When Can You Make the Election?
You must make the election within the first 31 days of becoming eligible for coverage, unless a previous election from
earlier employment remains in effect. You can change your election any number of times within this 31-day period, and the last election you submit within this time period governs.
How Do You Make an Election?
To elect Optional insurance, you must complete the Life Insurance Election form (SF 2817) [159 KB] stating which type(s) of Optional insurance you want.
If you fail to elect Optional insurance you are considered to
have waived Optional insurance.
Belated Election
Your employing office can accept a belated election
if:
- your employing office determines that you didn't
make the election on time because of reasons
beyond your control, and
- your employing office makes this determination
within six months after you first became
eligible.
If both these conditions are met, your employing
office must notify you. You then have another 31-day
period from the date of the notification in which to make
the election.
If your employing office accepts a belated election, it
must record on the Life Insurance Election form (SF 2817)
that it determined you were unable to make the election
on time for reasons beyond your control and give the date
you were notified of the determination.
If six months or more have passed since you became
eligible, your employing office cannot accept a belated
election.
Effective Date of Optional Insurance
Timely Elections
Optional insurance is effective on the first day you actually enter on duty in pay status on or after the day your employing office receives the election.
Belated Elections
A belated election of Optional insurance is effective retroactive to the pay period beginning immediately after the one in which you first became eligible. You must pay the back premiums.
WAIVER/CANCELLATION OF INSURANCE
Waiving Basic Insurance as a New Employee
If you are a new employee and don't want Basic insurance, you must waive the insurance by completing the
Life Insurance Election form (SF 2817) [159 KB] and filing it with
your employing office before the end of your first pay
period. If you do not complete the SF 2817, you will automatically
get Basic insurance.
When you waive Basic insurance, you automatically
waive Optional insurance. No withholdings will be
made from your first paycheck.
Waiving
Optional Insurance as a New Employee
If you are a new employee and don't want Optional
insurance, complete the Life Insurance Election Form (SF
2817) [159 KB] waiving any or all types of Optional insurance and
file it with your employing office. You waive Optional
insurance by electing only the types of insurance you
want to have on the SF 2817.
If you don't elect a particular type of Optional
insurance, you are considered to have waived it.
If you elect fewer than 5 multiples of Option B or Option C
coverage, you are considered to have waived the multiples
not elected.
Example
Allison is a new employee and she elects Basic,
Option A and two multiples of Option B coverage. By doing
so, she is waiving multiples 3-5 of Option B coverage and
multiples 1-5 of Option C coverage.
Cancelling
Basic Insurance
Unless you have assigned your insurance, you may cancel your Basic insurance at any time by
completing the Life Insurance Election form (SF 2817) [159 KB] and
filing it with your employing office. The
cancellation is effective, and Basic insurance stops, at
the end of the pay period in which you properly file the
waiver. When you cancel Basic insurance, you
automatically cancel all forms of Optional insurance.
Cancelling
Optional Insurance
You may cancel or reduce any or all types of Optional insurance
you carry at any time by electing only the types of
insurance you still want to have on the Life Insurance
Election form (SF 2817). In doing so, you cancel the
type(s) or number of multiples of Optional insurance you don't want. Exception: If you have
assigned your insurance, you cannot cancel your Option A or Option B coverage.
Cancelling Optional insurance has no effect on Basic
insurance.
Your cancellation is effective, and Optional insurance
stops, at the end of the pay period in which you properly
file the waiver with your employing office. Exception: If you cancel Option C because you don't have any eligible family members, the effective date is retroactive to the end of the pay period in which there stopped being any eligible family members.
Example
Minh has Basic, Option A, and three multiples of
Option B coverage. He wants to cancel his Option A
coverage and reduce his Option B coverage to one
multiple. On his Life Insurance Election form, he elects
Basic and one multiple of Option B. This action cancels
his Option A coverage and two multiples of Option B
coverage.
1981
Automatic Cancellation of Optional Insurance
Prior to April 1, 1981, the only Optional insurance
available was what is now Option A.
If you elected Optional insurance on or before
February 28, 1981, the election was automatically
cancelled effective at the end of the pay period which
included March 31, 1981.
Exception: If you did not actually enter on duty in
pay status during the first pay period which began on
or after April 1, 1981, the election was automatically
cancelled on the first day after the end of the next pay
period in which you did actually enter on duty in pay
status.
CANCELLING A WAIVER
Break
in Service of 180 Days or More Automatically Cancels
Waiver
If you are reinstated after a break in service of at
least 180 days, any previous waiver of insurance is
automatically cancelled. Unless you file a new waiver,
Basic insurance becomes effective on the first day you
actually enter
on duty in pay status in a position in which you are
eligible for coverage.
You can elect any amount of Optional insurance within
31 days of returning to service, regardless of the
coverage you had during previous employment. If you fail
to elect any type of Optional insurance, you will
automatically get the Optional insurance you carried
immediately before your break in service.
This automatic cancellation of waiver became effective
April 1, 1981 for Basic and Option A insurance.
Requirements
for Cancelling Your Waiver of Basic Insurance
You can become insured by cancelling your waiver of
Basic insurance if you meet both of the
following requirements:
- At least one year has passed since the effective
date of your waiver, and
- You provide satisfactory medical evidence of
insurability.
Exception: Under Public Law 106-398 certain Department of Defense employees may cancel a waiver of Basic insurance without waiting one year and providing medical evidence of insurability.
If
You Want to Cancel Your Waiver of Optional Insurance
You may cancel your waiver of Option A and/or Option B
and become insured if you meet the same requirements as for
cancellation of a Basic insurance waiver.
You may elect any number of multiples of Option B. If
you elect fewer than five multiples, you are considered
to have waived the multiples not elected. (The one year
requirement for cancellation of a waiver does not apply
if your previous election was limited to fewer than five
multiples due to a
life event.)
Once you have waived or cancelled any or all multiples of Option C, you can
only get the insurance if you have a life event or there is an Open Season that allows such an election. You may not cancel your
waiver of Option C by providing medical evidence of
insurability.
How to Cancel
a Waiver
If you want to cancel a waiver, you must complete the
Request for Insurance form (SF 2822). This form is a
combination:
- request to cancel a waiver,
- medical certificate, and
- authorization for insurance.
You must sign the request portion and have your
personal doctor complete the medical certificate. You are
responsible for any fee charged for medical examination
and certification.
Your doctor must send the completed SF 2822 to the
Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance
(OFEGLI), and OFEGLI must receive the form within 60 days
of the date of the medical examination. OFEGLI will
review the SF 2822 and return it to your employing office
either approving or denying coverage. Your employing
office will file the returned SF 2822 in your Official
Personnel Folder.
It is important that your employing office notify you
of OFEGLI's decision promptly. You are allowed 31 days
from the date of OFEGLI's approval to cancel
your waiver of Option A and/or Option B, regardless
of when your employing office notifies you of OFEGLI's
decision.
Effective
Date of Insurance after Cancellation of a Waiver
If the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life
Insurance (OFEGLI) approves coverage, Basic insurance
becomes effective on the first day you actually enter on duty in
pay status after the date of OFEGLI's approval, as
shown on the Request for Insurance form (SF 2822).
Withholdings begin with that pay period. You don't need
to complete another form if Basic insurance is all that
you want.
If you want to cancel your waiver of Option A and/or
Option B coverage, you must submit a Life Insurance
Election form (SF 2817) [159 KB] to your employing office within
31 days following the date of OFEGLI's approval,
regardless of when your employing office informed you of
OFEGLI's approval. (When you see withholdings for Basic
insurance being made from your pay, then you know that
your request for insurance was approved.) The effective
date is the first day you actually enter on duty in pay
status on or after the day the employing office receives
the Life Insurance Election form (SF 2817) following the
Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance's
(OFEGLI) approval.
If you do not enter on duty in pay status within 31
days after the date of OFEGLI's approval, the approval
expires and you are not insured. You will then have to
start the process over again.
If Coverage is
Denied
If the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life
Insurance (OFEGLI) denies coverage, you cannot appeal the decision
to OPM or the Merit Systems Protection
Board. You or your doctor can write OFEGLI at P. O. Box 2627, Jersey City, NJ 07303-2627 to find out why your
request was denied.
1981
Automatic Cancellation of Waiver
If you waived Basic and/or Optional insurance on or
before February 28, 1981, the waiver was automatically
cancelled effective on the first day you entered on duty
in pay status on or after April 1, 1981.
Basic insurance coverage was automatically effective
on the date of the waiver's cancellation, unless you
filed a new waiver of Basic insurance before the end of
the pay period during which the coverage became
effective.
If you filed an election of Option A during the March
1, 1981, through March 31, 1981, open enrollment period,
Option A was effective on the date of the waiver's
cancellation. If you did not file the election form with
your employing office during the March 1981 open enrollment period,
you are considered to have waived Option A on March 31,
1981.
Exception: If you:
- waived Basic and/or Optional insurance after
February 28, 1981, and
- separated, and
- returned to Federal service before December 9,
1983,
the waiver of Basic insurance remained in effect. You
were permitted to elect Basic insurance and any form of
Optional insurance by applying to your employing office
before March 7, 1984. If you did not make such an
election and have remained continuously employed without
a break in service of at least 180 days, the waiver is
considered to remain in effect.
Option
A Coverage Prior to 1981
Prior to March 1981, Option A coverage was the only
type of Optional insurance available under FEGLI and was
called "optional coverage." This coverage first
became available in 1968. If your Federal service
predates April 14, 1968, that was your first opportunity
to elect Option A coverage. If you entered Federal
service in a non-excluded position between April 15, 1968
and March 1, 1981, your date of hire was your first
opportunity to elect Option A coverage.
If you had previously waived "optional
coverage" and elected Option A coverage during the
March 1981 open enrollment period, but retired less than
5 years later, you were not eligible to continue
Option A into retirement since you were not insured
for the full period of service during which you were
eligible to be insured.
Effect
of a Life Event on a Waiver
A life event has no effect on
a waiver of Basic or Option A coverage. The waiver cannot
be cancelled, and you cannot elect Basic or Option A insurance, because of a life event.
You can elect Option B or Option C or increase the number of
multiples you carry (up to five), because of one of these
events:
How
Many Multiples of Option B Can Be Obtained or Added Due
to a Life Event?
The number of multiples of Option B that you can obtain or add (up to a total of five) is:
- For marriage, the number of additional family
members (spouse and eligible
children) acquired with your marriage
- For acquisition of children, the number of eligible children
acquired (Exception: you cannot elect or increase Option B because of acquiring a foster child)
- For divorce or death of your spouse, the total
number of eligible
children you have.
How Many Multiples of Option C Can Be Obtained or Added Due to a Life Event?
You may choose any number of multiples (up to a total of five) of Option C. Unlike Option B, the number of multiples you elect is not tied to the number of eligible family members.
When
Can You Make the Election?
You must file the election with your employing office
on the Life Insurance Election form (SF 2817) [159 KB], along with
proof of the event. You can either file the election
before the event, to be followed up with the necessary
proof after the event has taken place, or you can file
the election and provide the necessary proof no later
than 60 days after the date of the event.
Proof of an
event may include a marriage certificate, birth records,
divorce decree, or death certificate; your employing
office determines what is acceptable proof of the event. For Option C elections due to acquiring a foster child, the "proof" is the certification, and the 60-day time limit starts on the day you sign the certification.
This 60-day time limit can be extended if you had a life event during a break in service of less
than 180 days or during the 60 day period immediately
before separation. Also, for Option C only, the time
limit can be extended if you had a life event during the year following a waiver of Basic
insurance. You will have 31 days from the date of
reinstatement (or for Option C, 31 days after you become
eligible to cancel a waiver of Basic insurance) or 60
days from the date of the event, whichever gives you more
time, in which to enroll in Option B and/or Option C or
increase the number of multiples.
Example 1
Dave has Basic insurance and two multiples of
Option B. He marries Debbie on July 1. He is eligible to
add one multiple to his Option B coverage for a total of
three multiples, through August 30. However, on August
15, he separates from service and is reinstated on
September 30. He now has until October 31 to increase his
Option B coverage.
Example 2
Mary waived Basic insurance on September 30, 1999.
She adopts an eligible child on August 11, 2000 and
decides she wants to elect Option C coverage. She must
first cancel her waiver of Basic insurance, and she has
to wait until September 30, 2000 (one year from her
waiver) to make her request. Her request to cancel her
waiver is approved on October 31, 2000. She has until
December 1, 2000 to elect any number of Option C multiples, since this is 31 days
from the date of her first eligibility to cancel her
waiver.
Election
of Option C for Child Incapable of Self-Support
If you elect or increase Option C based solely on acquiring a
child age 22 or over, at the time you make the election
you must submit to your employing office a doctor's
certificate stating that your child is incapable
of self-support because of a physical or mental
disability that existed before the child reached age 22
and that is expected to continue for more than one year.
The certificate must include the name of the child, the
type of disability, how long the disability has existed,
and its expected future course and duration. The
certificate must be signed by the doctor and show his/her
phone number and office address.
The criteria
for your employing office's determination of the
incapability of self support are the same as those for
the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The
employing office must document its determination in your
Official Personnel Folder.
Effective Date of Option B
Obtained with a Life Event
Option B is effective the first day you actually enter on duty
in pay status on
or after the day your employing office receives your
completed election.
If you submit the SF 2817 BEFORE the event, the effective date is the date of event if you are at work in a pay and duty status on that day; if not at work, then the first day after the event that you come to work in a pay and duty status.
If you submit the SF 2817 AFTER the event, the effective date is the date your human resources office receives the form, if you are at work in a pay and duty status, OR the first day after receipt of the form that you are at work in a pay and duty status.
Effective Date of Option C
Obtained with a Life Event
If you file an election before the qualifying event,
Option C is effective on the date of the event,
regardless of whether you are in pay and duty status. If
you file an election after the date of the event but
within the eligible time period, Option C is effective on
the day the employing office receives your completed
election, regardless of whether you are in pay and duty
status.
If you are making an Option C election because you have acquired a foster child, the coverage is effective on the later of:
- The date your employing office receives your Life Insurance Election
form (SF 2817 [159 KB]); or
- The date your employing office receives your certification.
EMPLOYING OFFICE RESPONSIBILITIES
Counseling
for New Employees
During the orientation for new employees, your
employing office must explain the life insurance program
to you and provide you with a copy of the Life Insurance
Election form (SF 2817) [159 KB], and the FEGLI booklet,
FE 76-21
(FE 76-20 for Postal employees).
If
You Have Prior Federal Service
When you have previously worked for the Federal or
District of Columbia Government, it is important that
your employing office determine whether you have an uncancelled
waiver of life insurance coverage or assignment of
insurance in effect.
If you had a break in
service of less than 180 days, any prior waiver of
coverage remains in effect. If your break
in service was for 180 days or more, any prior waiver
of coverage is automatically cancelled. You automatically
get Basic insurance (unless you waive it) and you can
elect any amount of Optional insurance within 31 days of
reinstatement.
If you assigned your
insurance and are returning after a break of less
than 31 days, your assignment remains in effect. If
you are returning after a break of 31 days or more,
your assignment is cancelled. If you wish to assign your
insurance coverage, you will need to complete a new
Assignment of Life Insurance form (RI 76-10).
OPEN SEASONS
Schedule
There are no regularly scheduled Open Seasons for life insurance. Open
seasons are
held only when specifically scheduled by OPM.
Elections Allowed
When OPM schedules an Open Season for life
insurance, we will announce the types of changes and
elections that will be allowed.
Effective
Date of Open Season Elections
OPM will set the effective date for Open Season elections. We will announce the effective date at the same time we announce the scheduling of an Open Season. For example: coverage elected during the last Open Season September 1 - September 30, 2004, becomes effective on the first day of the first pay period that begins on or after September 1, 2005, which immediately followed one in which you meet the pay and duty status requirements.
Pay and Duty
Status
Unless specifically announced otherwise, you must be on duty in pay
status for at least 32 hours during the preceding pay
period before insurance newly elected during an Open Season becomes effective.
If you are a part-time employee, you must be on duty in pay
status for one-half the regularly scheduled tour of
duty shown on your current SF 50 for newly elected
coverage to become effective.
If you have no regularly scheduled tour of duty or are
employed on an intermittent basis, you must be on duty in pay
status for one-half the hours customarily worked
before newly elected coverage can become effective. Your
employing office can determine the number of hours you
customarily work by averaging the number of hours you
worked in the most recent calendar year quarter prior to
the start of the Open Season.
Belated
Open Season Changes
Within 6 months after an Open Season ends,
your employing office may determine that you were unable,
for reasons beyond your control, to make a life insurance
election during the Open Season. In this case,
if you want to make an election, you must submit a Life
Insurance Election form (SF 2817) within 31 days after
being notified of the determination. Coverage is
retroactive to the first pay period which begins on or
after the effective date set by the Office of Personnel
Management and which follows a pay period during which
you were on
duty in pay status for the number of hours specified
in "Pay
and Duty Status" (unless OPM waived the duty in
pay status requirement for that Open Season).
If you don't file an election within this 31-day time
limit, you will be considered to have waived coverage.
Open Season History
Dates |
Elections Permitted |
Positive Reenrollment Required? |
Effective Date: |
Pay and Duty Status Requirement |
September 1 - September 30, 2004 |
All |
No |
1st day of 1st pay pd beginning on or after September 1, 2005 |
Yes |
April 24 - June 30, 1999 |
All |
No |
1st day of 1st pay pd beginning on or after April 23, 2000 |
Yes |
May 22 - July 21, 1995 |
Basic only |
No |
1st day of 1st pay pd beginning on or after date employing office received SF2817 |
None |
March 29 - April 30, 1993 |
All |
No |
1st day of 1st pay pd beginning on or after May 30, 1993 |
Yes |
June 1 - July 1, 1985 |
All |
No |
1st day of 1st pay pd beginning on or after August 1, 1985 |
Yes |
March 1 - 31, 1981 |
All |
Yes. If you did not file an election, you automatically had Basic only. |
April 1, 1981 |
Yes |
March 1 - 31, 1970 |
All (Options B and C didn't exist) |
No |
April 1, 1970 |
Yes |
February 14 - April 14, 1968 |
All (Options B and C didn't exist) |
Yes. All previous Basic waivers cancelled 1st day of 1st pay pd on/after 2/14/68. You had from 2/14/68 - 4/14/68 to elect or decline Optional insurance. |
Day after previous waiver was cancelled (unless you filed new Basic waiver). Optional insurance was effective day of employing office receipt. |
None |
NONPAY STATUS
Continued Coverage
You are entitled to continue life insurance for up to
12 months in nonpay status. No premium payments are
required, unless you are receiving Workers' Compensation.
Your life insurance coverage terminates at the end of the
12 month period, with a 31-day
extension of coverage and a right to convert to an
individual policy.
Your 12 month period of continued coverage while in
nonpay status may be interrupted by periods of less
than four months in pay status, but your 12 month
eligibility period is retained. If you return
to pay status for four months or more (in a position
that is not excluded from life insurance coverage), and
then return to nonpay status, you begin a new 12 month
eligibility period.
Temporary
Appointments
If you are entitled to 12 months of insurance at no
cost while in nonpay status and accept a temporary
appointment to a position in which you would normally be
excluded from insurance, your insurance continues for the
remainder of the 12 month period and is
terminated thereafter.
Your Basic
Insurance Amount is based on your higher salaried
position. Withholdings are made from your pay in the
temporary position.
Appointments
to Employee Organizations
If you go into nonpay status to serve as a full-time
officer or employee of an employee organization, within
60 days of the start of the nonpay status you may elect
to continue life insurance.
Your insurance continues for the length of your
appointment, even if the nonpay status lasts longer than
12 months. You must pay to the employing office the full
cost of Basic and Optional insurance. There is no
Government contribution. You must pay your premiums to
your employing office before, during, or within three
months after the end of each pay period.
Failure to pay your premiums within this time frame
will result in termination of your coverage, subject to
the 31-day
extension of coverage and conversion
privilege. Coverage cannot be resumed until you enter on duty in
pay status in Federal service. Exception:
your coverage will be restored retroactively if OPM finds
that you were unable to make the premium payments for
reasons beyond your control and you make the payments at
the first opportunity.
If you elect not to continue your life insurance upon
your appointment to an employee organization, your life
insurance will continue at no cost to you for the first
12 months of nonpay status and terminate thereafter,
subject to the 31-day extension of coverage and
conversion privilege.
Appointments
to State or Local Governments or Institutions of Higher
Education
If you go into nonpay status while assigned to a State
or local government or institution of higher education,
your life insurance continues for the length of your
assignment, even if the nonpay status lasts longer than
12 months. You must elect to continue life
insurance and pay your premiums to your employing office
before, during, or within three months after the end of
each pay period. Your employing office must continue to
pay its contributions as long as you make your payments.
Failure to pay your premiums will result in
termination of your coverage, subject to the 31-day
extension of coverage and conversion
privilege. Coverage cannot be resumed until you enter on duty in
pay status in Federal service. Exception:
your coverage will be restored retroactively if OPM finds
that you were unable to make the premium payments for
reasons beyond your control and you make the payments at
the first opportunity.
If you elect not to continue your life insurance upon
your appointment to a State or local government or
institution of higher education, your life insurance will
continue at no cost to you for the first 12 months of
nonpay status and terminate thereafter, subject to the
31-day extension of coverage and conversion
privilege.
Transfers
to International Organizations
You may continue life insurance coverage if you are
transferred to an international organization as provided
in 5 U.S.C. 3582. You must elect to continue life
insurance and pay your premiums to your employing office
before, during, or within three months after the end of
each pay period. Your employing office must continue to
pay its contributions as long as you make your payments.
Failure to pay your premiums will result in
termination of your coverage, subject to the 31-day
extension of coverage and conversion
privilege. Coverage cannot be resumed until you enter on duty in
pay status in Federal service. Exception:
your coverage will be restored retroactively if OPM finds
that you were unable to make the premium payments for
reasons beyond your control and you make the payments at
the first opportunity.
Regulations governing these transfers are
in 5 CFR
part 352.