A Handbook For Employees, Annuitants, Compensationers, and Employing Offices
Introduction
WHAT IS FEGLI?
The Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program is a life insurance program for Federal and Postal employees and annuitants, authorized by law (chapter 87 of title 5, United States Code). The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) administers the Program and sets the premiums. The FEGLI regulations are in title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, part 870.
FEGLI is group term life insurance. It does not build up cash value. You cannot take a loan out against your FEGLI insurance.
OPM has a contract with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) to provide this life insurance. The MetLife has an office called OFEGLI (the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance). OFEGLI is the contractor that adjudicates claims under the FEGLI Program.
FEGLI AT A GLANCE
Purpose
This section provides a summary of the major features of the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program. This information is repeated in more detail in the individual chapters of this Handbook. This section also provides links from the summary information to the individual chapter that provides more detailed information on each topic.
Law and Regulations
Public Law 83-598 authorized the creation of the FEGLI Program; the law governing the Program is found in chapter 87 of title 5, United States Code. FEGLI Program regulations are found in part 870 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations. Links to the law and regulations are on the FEGLI homepage.
Basic Insurance
As an eligible employee, you are automatically enrolled in Basic insurance, unless you waive this coverage. Basic insurance is based on your annual rate of basic pay, rounded up to the nearest $1,000, plus $2,000 (called the Basic Insurance Amount, or BIA). The Government pays one-third of the premium cost for Basic and you pay two-thirds. The U.S. Postal Service pays the entire cost of Basic insurance for its employees. FEGLI insurance does not build any cash value.
If you are under age 45, you automatically have extra coverage without paying any additional premium. This Extra Benefit increases the amount of Basic insurance payable at the time of your death, if you die before age 45.
Optional Insurance
If you have Basic insurance, you may also elect Optional insurance. You are not automatically covered by Optional insurance like you are with Basic insurance. You must take action to elect Optional insurance. You pay the full cost for all Optional insurance you elect. There are three types of Optional insurance: Option A-Standard, Option B-Additional, and Option C-Family.
Option A insurance provides $10,000 of coverage.
Option B insurance coverage comes in 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 multiples of your annual rate of basic pay.
Option C coverage insures your spouse and eligible dependent children. It comes in 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 multiples of coverage. Each multiple is equal to $5,000 for a spouse and $2,500 for each of your eligible dependent children.
Accidental Death & Dismemberment Benefits
Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage is an automatic part of Basic and Option A insurance for employees, at no additional cost. There is no accidental death and dismemberment coverage with Options B and C, and there is none for annuitants or people on workers' compensation, who will be referred to as "compensationers" throughout the rest of this handbook.
AD&D benefits are payable when you sustain injuries by accidental means, and within one year afterwards, you die or lose a limb or sight in one or both eyes. Under Basic insurance, accidental death benefits are equal to your BIA (without the Extra Benefit) and accidental dismemberment benefits are equal to one-half of your BIA for the loss of one limb or sight in one eye. Under Option A, accidental death benefits are equal to your Option A coverage and accidental dismemberment benefits are equal to one-half of your Option A coverage for the loss of one limb or sight in one eye.
Election
Unless your position is excluded from FEGLI coverage by law or regulation, you are automatically enrolled in Basic insurance. If you do not want this coverage, you can either waive it when you first become eligible for coverage, or cancel it at a later date. Optional insurance is not automatic; you must specifically elect the types of Optional insurance you want within 31 days of becoming eligible.
Effective Date
Basic insurance coverage is effective on the first day you are in a pay and duty status in an eligible position. Option A and Option B insurance coverage is effective on the first day you are in a pay and duty status on or after the day your employing office receives your election. Option C insurance coverage is effective on the day your employing office receives your election without regard to pay and duty status.
Waiver/Cancellation of Insurance
When you first become eligible for FEGLI coverage, you must specifically waive Basic insurance if you do not want it. If you do not want any Optional insurance, you do not have
to do anything. Any Optional insurance you do not elect is automatically waived.
You may cancel your Basic and/or Optional insurance coverage at any time, unless you have assigned your insurance. When you cancel Basic insurance, you automatically cancel all Optional insurance. Canceling Optional insurance has no effect on Basic insurance.
The cancellation is effective on the last day of the pay period in which you file it with your employing office. As an employee your employing office maintains your FEGLI records.
Cancellation of Waiver by Providing Medical Information
You can cancel your waiver and obtain Basic insurance and/or Options A and B if at least one year has passed since the effective date of your last waiver and you provide satisfactory medical information at your own expense. You must have Basic insurance to elect Optional insurance.
If you want to cancel a waiver, you must complete a Request for Insurance (SF 2822). You and your agency complete part of the form. Your physician or other medical professional will examine you and complete the rest of the form.
Your physician 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. If OFEGLI approves coverage it will notify your human resources
office. The human resources office will automatically enroll you in Basic insurance. Basic coverage becomes effective on the first day you enter on duty in pay status on or after OFEGLI's approval.
You have 31 days from the approval date to elect Option A and/or Option B or increase your Option B multiples (up to a total of five times your salary rounded to the next one thousand dollars).
Cancellation of Waiver Due to Life Event
You can cancel a waiver of Option B and/or Option C and elect coverage (or increase the number of multiples you carry) because of one of these events:
- Marriage;
- Divorce;
- Death of a spouse;
- Acquiring an eligible child.
You must already be enrolled in Basic. You must file the election with your employing office on a Life Insurance Election (SF 2817), along with proof of the event, no later than 60 days after the date of the event.
Open Seasons
There are no regularly scheduled open seasons to elect or increase coverage under FEGLI. Open seasons are held only when specifically scheduled by OPM.
Nonpay Status
Your FEGLI coverage continues during your first 12 months in nonpay status. No premium payments are required, unless you are receiving benefits from OWCP. Your life insurance coverage terminates at the end of this 12-month period, with a 31-day extension of coverage and right to convert to an individual policy.
Employees who separate from service to enter the military, are considered to be in a nonpay status for FEGLI purposes. As long as you have reemployment rights under USERRA (The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994), you can keep your FEGLI coverage for up to 24 months in nonpay status, or until 90 days after your military service ends, whichever date comes first. Coverage is free for the first 12 months however, employees must pay both the employee and agency contributions of premiums for their Basic coverage and continue to pay the entire cost (there is no agency share) for any Optional insurance they may have for the additional 12 months of coverage. See "Separation From Service".
Effect of Separation from Service on Waiver
When you return to work after a break in service of less than 180 days, you automatically get back whatever life insurance coverage you had before leaving Government service. Any previous waiver of coverage remains in effect.
When you return to work after a break in service of 180 days or more, you will automatically get Basic insurance (even if you previously waived it) and the same optional insurance (if applicable) that you had in your prior position. You can elect any type of optional coverage or increase the multiples of optional coverage within 31 days of returning to service. If you do not submit an election of optional insurance, you will get back whatever optional insurance you had before you separated, and you will be considered to have waived any other optional insurance.
Termination of Insurance
Your life insurance stops when:
- You cancel it;
- You separate from service;
- You complete 12 months in nonpay status;
- You move to a position that is excluded from FEGLI coverage;
- You retire and are not eligible to continue coverage into retirement;
- Your annuity terminates; or
- Your compensation stops (or when OWCP finds that you are able to return to duty);
- When you die.
31-Day Extension of Coverage and Conversion of Insurance
When your life insurance terminates, except by your waiver or cancellation, your coverage automatically continues without cost for another 31 days. You are entitled to convert to an individual policy. You may convert all or any part of your Basic and Optional coverage. No medical examination is required, although you may be asked a few questions about your health to see if you qualify for a lower premium. You do not have to answer these questions, but if you do not, you may be paying a higher premium than necessary. You must request conversion information within 31 days from the date of the terminating event. Conversion is effective at the end of the 31-day extension of coverage.
Eligibility for Life Insurance as an Annuitant or Compensationer
When you retire, you are eligible to continue FEGLI if you meet all of the following requirements:
- You are entitled to retire on an immediate annuity under a retirement system for civilian employees;
- You have been insured for the 5 years of service immediately before the starting date of your annuity, or for the full period(s) of service during which you were eligible to be insured if less than 5 years;
- You are enrolled in FEGLI on the date of retirement; and
- You have not converted to an individual policy.
The requirements for continuing life insurance as a compensationer are similar. Compensationers must meet the 5-year/all-opportunity requirement as of the date they started receiving compensation.
Post-65 Reductions in the Amount of Insurance
If you are eligible to continue your Basic insurance as an annuitant or compensationer, you must choose the amount of Basic insurance you want to continue after age 65 (or retirement, if you are already age 65 or older when you retire). The choices are 75 Percent Reduction, 50 Percent Reduction, and No Reduction. Your coverage does NOT reduce when you reach age 65 if you are still an employee at that time.
If you choose 75 Percent Reduction, your Basic insurance reduces by 2 percent of the pre-retirement amount each month until 25 percent of the pre-retirement amount remains. If you choose 50 Percent Reduction, your Basic insurance reduces by 1 percent of the pre-retirement amount each month until 50 percent of the pre-retirement amount remains. If you choose No Reduction, your Basic insurance will not reduce and 100 percent of the pre-retirement amount is payable as a death benefit.
If you choose 75 Percent Reduction, the coverage will be free after you are retired and age 65.
If you choose 50 Percent Reduction or No Reduction, you will pay an extra premium for this coverage, starting at the time of your retirement.
When you are retired and age 65, Option A coverage starts reducing by 2 percent of the pre-retirement amount each month until 25 percent of the pre-retirement amount remains. Option A is free once it starts to reduce. There is no election for Option A.
At the time you retire or become insured as a compensationer, you must choose how many of your Option B and/or C multiples you want to continue. You must also choose whether to have all of those multiples reduce ("Full Reduction") or none of them reduce ("No Reduction") after age 65 (or retirement, if later).
If you choose Full Reduction, once you are retired and age 65, each multiple starts reducing by 2 Percent of the pre-retirement amount each month until the amount has been reduced by 100 Percent. Until the reduction starts, you pay the same premiums as active employees, appropriate to your age. Withholdings stop when the reduction starts, and Options B and/or C are free.
If you choose No Reduction, your Options B and/or C coverage will not reduce at all. After age 65, you will continue to pay the same premiums as active employees, appropriate to your age.
Order of Precedence
When you die, OFEGLI will pay benefits in a particular order, as set by law:
- If you assigned ownership of your life insurance by filing an Assignment, Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (RI 76-10), OFEGLI will pay benefits:
First, to the beneficiary(ies) designated by your assignee(s), if any;
Second, if there is no such beneficiary(ies), to your assignee(s).
- If you did not assign ownership and there is a valid court order on file, OFEGLI will pay benefits in accordance with that court order.
- If you did not assign ownership and there is no valid court order on file, OFEGLI will pay benefits:
- First, to the beneficiary(ies) you validly designated;
- Second, if no such beneficiary (ies), to your widow or widower;
- Third, if none of the above, to your child or children and the descendants of any deceased children;
- Fourth, if none of the above, to your parents in equal shares, or the entire amount to the surviving parent;
- Fifth, if none of the above, to the court-appointed executor or administrator of your estate;
- Sixth, if none of the above, to your other next of kin entitled under the laws of the State where you lived.
Option C benefits are paid to you, the insured, upon the death of your spouse or eligible child(ren).
Designation of Beneficiary
You must designate a beneficiary if:
- You want benefits to be paid to a person, firm, organization, or other legal entity not listed in the order of precedence;
- You want benefits to be paid in a different order than the order of precedence;
- You want benefits to be paid to a trust you have established for your minor children; or
- Evidence of a valid marriage or dissolution of a marriage is not readily available.
Completing a Designation of Beneficiary (SF 2823) is the preferred way for you to make a designation of your FEGLI benefits. Your signature must be witnessed (signed) by two persons who are not named as beneficiaries. Your employing office (or OPM, if you are an annuitant or compensationer) must receive the form before you die.
Court Orders
FEGLI benefits must be paid in accordance with the terms of a valid court order, regardless of whether you actually complete a Designation of Beneficiary form. The court order supersedes any of your prior designations (and the rest of the order of precedence), if the appropriate office receives a certified copy of the court order on or after July 22, 1998, and before your death.
Assignment
Assignment is the transfer of ownership of life insurance to another individual, corporation, or trustee. You are still the insured person, but you no longer own the insurance. Assignment is voluntary and irrevocable.
When you make an assignment, you assign Basic insurance, and Option A and Option B insurance if you have them. You cannot assign dismemberment insurance, the Extra Benefit, or Option C. You cannot make a partial assignment or assign only one type of insurance.
After making the assignment, you continue to pay the premiums.
After making the assignment, the assignee has the right to:
- Cancel or reduce insurance;
- Change your Basic post-65 reduction election to 75 Percent Reduction;
- Designate and change beneficiaries;
- Convert to a private policy when FEGLI terminates;
- Reassign the insurance; and
- Change your Option B post-65 reduction election from No Reduction to Full Reduction.
You still have the right to:
- Continue Option C coverage, if you have it;
- Elect more insurance (all of the new insurance, except Option C, will come under the existing assignment);
- Elect a post-65 reduction;
- Change your Option B post-65 reduction election from Full Reduction to No Reduction; and
- Change your Option C post-65 reduction election.
An assignment automatically cancels prior designations of beneficiary. Once your assignment becomes effective, only your assignee has the right to designate a beneficiary for your life insurance proceeds. When you die, benefits are paid to your assignee's beneficiary. If your assignee does not designate a beneficiary, benefits are paid to your assignee. An assignment supersedes the order of precedence and a court order.
Living Benefits
Living benefits are life insurance benefits paid to you while you are still living, rather than paid to a beneficiary or survivor when you die. You can elect a living benefit if you are diagnosed as terminally ill with a life expectancy of nine months or less, and you have not assigned your insurance.
Only Basic insurance is available for a living benefit. Optional insurance cannot be paid as a living benefit. If you are an employee, you can elect either a full living benefit (all of your Basic insurance) or a partial living benefit (expressed as a multiple of $1,000). Annuitants and compensationers can elect only a full living benefit.
Filing a Claim
If you are employed at the time of your death, your claimant(s) should notify your employing office of your death. Your employing office will provide each claimant with a Claim for Death Benefits (FE-6). Each claimant must submit a separate claim form to your employing office or directly to OFEGLI if instructed to do so by the employing office.
If you are retired or insured as a compensationer at the time of your death, your claimant(s) should notify OPM of your death at 1-88-US-OPM-RET (1-888-767-6738) outside the Washington DC metropolitan area or 202-606-0500 within the Washington, DC area. OPM will provide each claimant with a Claim for Death Benefits (FE-6). Each claimant must submit a separate claim form to OFEGLI at P.O. Box 2627, Jersey City, NJ 07303-2627.
OFEGLI can only pay death benefits after it has received:
- Claim for Death Benefits (FE-6) from someone entitled to the benefits;
- Satisfactory proof of death, including a certified copy of the death certificate; and
- Agency Certification of Insurance Status (SF 2821) by the agency for employees or OPM for retirees.
OPM RESPONSIBILITIES
The Office of Personnel Management has the overall responsibility for administration of the FEGLI Program. This includes:
- Receiving all payments from agencies to the Employees' Life Insurance Fund (the Fund);
- Depositing these payments in the Treasury of the United States;
- Authorizing payment of life insurance premiums from the Fund to OFEGLI;
- Determining whether retiring employees and employees receiving workers' compensation benefits are eligible to continue life insurance coverage. (For retirement systems other than the Civil Service Retirement System [CSRS] and the Federal Employees Retirement System [FERS], OPM bases its determination on certifications by the administrative office of the system involved);
- Publishing regulations, forms, and documents (such as the FEGLI Program Booklet and FEGLI Handbook);
- Providing guidance to employing offices; and
- Administering the life insurance contract.
OFEGLI RESPONSIBILITIES
OFEGLI's responsibilities include:
- Processing and paying claims;
- Determining whether an insured individual is eligible for a living benefit;
- Determining whether accidental death and dismemberment benefits are payable;
- Determining an employee's eligibility to cancel a waiver of insurance based on satisfactory medical information; and
- Processing requests for conversion.
AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES
Headquarters Insurance Officer
The head of each agency must designate a person to serve as the headquarters Insurance Officer (Insurance Officer) for the agency. The agency must notify OPM of the designee's name or any change in the designation. The Insurance Officer is OPM's contact for agency-wide insurance matters.
The agency can email their notification to benefits@opm.gov.
Field Installation Responsibilities
The head of each agency is responsible for appointing staff at the employing office level who will be responsible for certifying and processing claims, notices, or other information.
An agency may also delegate responsibility for counseling and advising employees and maintaining records to decentralized local operating offices or field installations.
Counseling
Agencies must make insurance information and counseling available to employees. Agencies must become especially familiar with the participation requirements for continuing Basic and Optional insurance at the time of retirement (as stated in this Handbook) and make this information available to employees, especially those considering retirement. OPM encourages agencies to develop counseling programs which meet the needs of their employees. OPM will provide the necessary technical assistance on insurance benefits to headquarters Insurance Officers upon request.
Other Agency Responsibilities
Agencies are also responsible for:
- Determining employees' eligibility for coverage under OPM's regulations;
- Processing life insurance elections and cancellations;
- Verifying prior insurance elections for employees with previous Federal service;
- Advising employees of the requirements for canceling previously-filed insurance waivers;
- Informing employees of the right to convert insurance at the time group coverage ends, other than by voluntary cancellation;
- Withholding premiums from pay;
- Sending and reporting withholdings and contributions to OPM;
- Maintaining insurance records;
- Ordering and stocking insurance forms;
- Issuing necessary forms, descriptive booklets, and certifications;
- Providing information and counseling;
- Giving assistance to persons filing claims;
- Providing prepayment verification to OFEGLI when requested; and
- Maintaining designation of beneficiary forms, assignments, and court orders.
- Performing reconsiderations of initial decisions regarding life insurance upon an employee's written request;
Life Insurance Questions
Agency personnel offices and field installations must direct their questions to their agency headquarters Insurance Officer.
Agency headquarters Insurance Officers can direct their questions to the FSA, Life and Long Term Care Insurances Group at OPM. The email address is fegli@opm.gov.
INSURED INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibilities
Your responsibilities include:
- Familiarizing yourself with the aspects of the FEGLI Program that affect you, such as your level of coverage, and knowing when you can make changes to your coverage;
- Filing a designation of beneficiary form when the order of precedence is not satisfactory, or filing a new form when your current designation on file is not satisfactory, or when your beneficiary's address changes;
- Knowing where your agency human resources or personnel office is located, and whom to contact if you have a question about your FEGLI coverage; and
- Knowing when your coverage terminates, and requesting conversion on a timely basis (if you wish to convert).
Life Insurance Questions
Current employees must direct questions to their employing office. The employing office maintains the FEGLI records for their employees.
Annuitants and compensationers should direct questions to OPM's Retirement Information Office at 1-88-US-OPM-RET (1-888-767-6738) outside the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area or 202-606-0500 within the Washington area. The email address is retire@opm.gov. Annuitants should send written inquiries to the Retirement Operations Center, P.O. Box 45, Boyers, PA 16017-0045.
CORRECTION OF ERRORS
Employing Office
Your employing office can correct administrative errors regarding coverage or changes in coverage at any time. If the correction involves the election of new coverage, the effective date is the same as if the error had not happened.
OPM
In situations in which your agency does not have the authority to correct an error, OPM may order correction of an administrative error after reviewing evidence that it would be against equity (fairness) and good conscience not to do so. You or your agency should send the request for review to OPM, FSA, Life and Long Term Care Insurances Group, RM 2H24; 1900 E Street, NW, Washington DC 20415.
Premiums
If the correction of an error gives you retroactive coverage, OPM must receive the premiums for the retroactive coverage for all periods during which you were in pay status.
See "Underdeductions" for information on collection and waiver of deductions.
Erroneous Suspensions and Firings
If there is an official finding that you were suspended or fired erroneously, no withholdings are made from your back pay award for any Basic or Optional insurance. Exceptions:
- If you die or have an accidental dismemberment between your removal and the finding that your agency's action was erroneous, premiums will be withheld from the back pay award; and
- If you have Option C, and a covered family member dies between your removal and the finding that your agency's action was erroneous, Option C premiums will be withheld from the back pay award.
If you are awarded a settlement with no determination that your firing or suspension was erroneous, your employing office will ask OPM to determine whether your insurance will be reinstated and whether withholdings are required.
INCONTESTABILITY
What Is Incontestability?
Incontestability is a statutory provision that allows erroneous coverage to remain in effect under certain conditions. Those conditions are:
- The coverage must have been in effect for at least two years between the time the error was made and the time the error is discovered; and
- You must have paid the applicable premiums for the erroneous coverage while it was in effect.
Both conditions must be met for incontestability to apply.
Getting Erroneous Coverage
There are four ways you can get erroneous coverage:
- Your agency may allow you to elect coverage when you are not entitled to do so;
- Your agency may code your SF 50 (Notification of Personnel Action) incorrectly, giving you more coverage than you elected;
- Your payroll office may collect premiums for a coverage that you did not elect on the election form;
- OPM may allow you to continue your coverage as an annuitant or compensationer when you are not eligible to do so.
Note: Erroneous coverage always involves getting more coverage than you are entitled to or more coverage than you elected. If your employing office's error results in premiums being withheld for less coverage than you elected, that is not erroneous coverage; that is, instead, an overpayment of salary, annuity, or compensation. (See "Underdeductions")
If You Do Not Want the Coverage When Incontestability Applies
If you do not want the erroneous coverage, you can cancel it. However, the cancellation is prospective. There are no refund of premiums. Exception: If you got Option C erroneously, and you did not have any eligible family members, that coverage may be cancelled retroactively; you will get a refund of the erroneous Option C premiums in this case.
Example
Andy is single and has no children. As a new employee he waived all FEGLI. Three years later he transferred to another agency with no break in service; his waiver therefore was still in effect. However, Andy's new agency coded his SF 50 "E1", Basic and 1 multiple of Option C. The premiums were withheld from Andy's pay. Four years later Andy looked at his leave and earnings statement (pay stub) and noticed the FEGLI withholdings. He brought the error to his agency's attention. Since the erroneous coverage has been in effect for more than 2 years, and Andy paid the premiums during that time, the coverage is valid because of incontestability.
Andy says he does not want the coverage, and he wants his money back. Since the coverage is now valid, Andy must complete a "Life Insurance lection" (SF 2817) to cancel the unwanted coverage. The cancellation of Basic insurance is prospective, and Andy cannot get a refund of his premiums. However, since Andy had no eligible family members, the cancellation of
Option C will be retroactive; the agency will refund all of the Option C premiums Andy paid.
Documenting Incontestability
Once your employing office or retirement system determines that your coverage should be allowed to stand, it must prepare a note to the file explaining the details of the error, the date it occurred, the date it was discovered, and the fact that your coverage is now valid due to incontestability.
Coverage that is allowed to stand due to incontestability becomes valid. If you were covered under the FEGLI Program for the 5 years immediately prior to retirement (or for all opportunities to be covered), even if the coverage was in error but was allowed to stand because of incontestability, you are entitled to carry the coverage into retirement.
Upon your retirement, your employing office must forward the note explaining the details of the validated coverage, along with any Life Insurance Elections (SF 2817s), to the retirement system. If there is no SF 2817, the employing office must provide an explanatory note to the file to be forwarded to the retirement system. The employing office should also make a note in the "Remarks" section of the Agency Certification of Insurance Status (SF 2821) explaining that incontestability was used to ratify erroneous coverage.
If Incontestability Does Not Apply
If an error is discovered within two years, incontestability does not apply, and the erroneous coverage is not valid. The employing office must void the coverage and refund the premiums.
Example
Alicia had Basic insurance only. She got married and made an Option B life event election. Since Alicia only gained one eligible family member with her marriage, she was allowed to elect only one multiple of Option B. However, her employing office accepted her election of five multiples. One year later Alicia died, and the agency discovered the error when it was preparing the Agency Certification of Insurance Status (SF 2821) for OFEGLI. Since the error was discovered before two years had passed, the erroneous coverage is not valid. The agency must certify the correct amount of Alicia's coverage - Basic and one multiple of Option B - and refund the premiums for the extra four multiples of Option B.
INITIAL DECISION AND RECONSIDERATION
Initial Decision
Your employing office has the initial responsibility for determining whether you are eligible to elect life insurance or change your coverage. Your employing office also has the responsibility for determining whether you may designate a beneficiary or assign your insurance.
This determination is an initial decision when your employing office gives it to you in writing and informs you of the right to an independent level of review (reconsideration) by the appropriate agency office.
Exception: OFEGLI determines your eligibility to cancel a waiver based on satisfactory medical information and your eligibility for a living benefit. There is no reconsideration right for these decisions.
Note: Your employing office cannot make decisions about payment of claims (OFEGLI makes these decisions).
Reconsideration Right
If you disagree with your agency's initial decision, you have the right to request your employing office reconsider its initial decision. The request for reconsideration must be in writing.
The reconsideration review determines if your employing office acted properly and in accordance with the law and regulations in making its initial decision. Initial decisions that comply with law and regulations cannot be overturned by reconsideration.
Example 1
Bruce, who had waived Optional life insurance coverage, separated from service and was reemployed two months later. Upon his reemployment, he attempted to elect Option B. His employing office denied the election and gave him this initial decision in writing. Bruce has the right to request reconsideration of his agency's decision not to allow him to elect Option B. (In this case, the initial decision cannot be overturned by reconsideration, because by regulation previous waivers remain in effect when an employee returns to Federal service with a break in service of less than 180 days. So the agency's initial decision complied with the regulations.)
Example 2
Beth, who had Basic insurance only, got married 6/25/05; her new husband has no children. Two weeks later she completed an SF 2817 (Life Insurance Election) electing five multiples of Option B and five multiples of Option C. Her agency, however, told Beth that she could only elect one multiple of each. Beth requested this decision in writing, and the agency complied. Beth has the right to request reconsideration of her agency's decision to limit her elections to one multiple. (In this case, the initial decision relating to Option B will be upheld, because the regulations limit the number of Option B multiples that may be elected with a life event to the number of eligible family members gained with the event. So the agency's initial decision complied with the regulations. The initial decision relating to Option C, however, will be overturned upon reconsideration, because the regulations place no restrictions on the number of Option C multiples an employee may elect with a life event. So the agency's initial decision did not comply with the regulations.)
How to Request Reconsideration
If you wish to request a reconsideration of an initial decision, you must make your request in writing. The request must include:
- Your full name and address;
- Your date of birth;
- Your Social Security number;
- The reason(s) for the request;
- A copy of the written initial decision; and
- If you are retired or receiving workers' compensation, your retirement claim number or compensation claim number.
Time Limit
If you want the initial decision to be reconsidered, you must request reconsideration within 30 days from the date of the initial decision.
This time limit can be extended if you show that you were not notified of the time limit and were not otherwise aware of it or that you were unable, for reasons beyond your control, to make the request within the time limit.
Who Does the Reconsideration?
Agencies are responsible for performing reconsiderations for employees; OPM is responsible for performing reconsiderations for annuitants and for compensationers who have separated from service or completed 12 months in nonpay status. A reconsideration must take place at or above the level at which the initial decision was made.
Final Decision
After reconsideration, your employing office must issue a final decision. This decision must be in writing and must fully state the findings. There is no further appeal process after the reconsideration.
Effective Date
If your employing office decides that you should have been allowed to make an election or change coverage, it will accept your Life Insurance Election (SF 2817) making the change. The new coverage is effective according to the dates set out in the FEGLI regulations (5 CFR
Part 870) and discussed in this Handbook. If this results in retroactive coverage, you are responsible for the retroactive premiums for all periods during which you were in pay status.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Legislative History
Here is a link to all of the legislative changes affecting the FEGLI Program.
Incontestability
Prior to October 28, 1998, incontestability was not statutory. It was a contractual provision and did not apply if the erroneous coverage was in violation of a statutory provision. Effective October 28, 1998, incontestability became a statutory provision and applies to all erroneous coverage.
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