Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI)

Most Federal employees, including part-time employees, are eligible to enroll in the FEGLI Program. (You are ineligible for life insurance if your appointment is limited to one year or less or your work schedule is other than full or part-time.) If you are eligible, you are automatically enrolled in Basic coverage effective on the first day you enter in a pay and duty status. You may waive life insurance coverage at any time.

Basic life insurance provides term life insurance at low group rates, and the Federal Government pays one-third of the cost of your Basic life insurance. Your Basic Insurance Amount is equal to the greater of (a) your annual basic pay rounded up to the next $1,000 plus $2,000, or (b) $10,000. If your official tour of duty is part-time, your Basic Insurance Amount is prorated (reduced) based on the part-time tour. Your bi-weekly cost is $0.1500 per $1,000 of insurance coverage. FEGLI also offers an extra benefit to employees under age 45 at no additional cost. This Extra Benefit doubles the amount of life insurance payable if you are age 35 or younger. Beginning on your 36th birthday, the Extra Benefit decreases 10% each year until, at age 45, there is no Extra Benefit.

The FEGLI Program also offers you three types of Optional insurance. You will be enrolled in Optional insurance only if you elect it by completing the Life Insurance Election, Form SF-2817 (pdf). You have 31 days from the date of your appointment in which to elect Optional insurance. You pay the full cost, which is based on your age, with no Government contribution.

Option A-Standard

In the amount of $10,000

Option B-Additional

You may elect an amount equal to one, two, three, four or five times your annual basic pay (after rounding up to the next $1,000).

Option C-Family

You may elect to provide coverage for your spouse and eligible dependent children under age 22. When you elect Option C, all of your eligible family members are automatically covered. Each multiple is equal to $5,000 for your spouse and $2,500 for each child. You may elect either one, two, three, four, or five multiples of coverage.

Unlike the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, there is no annual Life Insurance Open Season and opportunities to enroll or change coverage elections are limited.

Additional FEGLI Program information is available at http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/76-21/PAGE1.HTM

New Withholding Rates, effective January 1, 2004 (pdf)

The FEGLI online calculator determines the cost and benefit of various optional insurance coverage and you can access the calculator at http://www.opm.gov/calculator/index.htm

Sign up or cancel life insurance coverage by completing the Life Insurance Election, Form SF-2817 (pdf).

(Remember, Basic life insurance coverage is automatic unless waived.)