U.S. Office of Personnel Management - Ensuring the Federal Government has an effective civilian workforce

Retirees are not eligible to enroll in the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program.  When you retire, you are eligible to continue Basic and Optional insurance - or have it reinstated - if you meet all of the following requirements:

• you are entitled to retire on an immediate annuity (or under Section 8413 [Immediate Retirement under FERS] or 8414 [Early Retirement under FERS] of title 5, U.S. Code) under a retirement system for civilian employees;
• you have been insured for the 5 years of service immediately before the date your annuity starts, or for the full period(s) of service during which you were eligible to be insured if less than 5 years (called the "all opportunity" requirement); and
• you have not converted your life insurance coverage to an individual policy or if you have already converted the coverage, you cancel the converted policy.  To cancel the converted policy, contact the insurance company and ask to cancel the policy.  That company will send you a refund of any premiums you already paid for the converted policy.

If you are eligible, and choose to continue your insurance as an annuitant or compensationer, you must complete a Continuation of Life Insurance Coverage form (SF 2818). On this form, you elect if you want to continue your Basic life insurance into retirement or compensation and elect the amount of Basic insurance you want after age 65 (or retirement, if later). The choices are: 75% Reduction, 50% Reduction, or No Reduction.

If you have Optional insurance and are eligible to continue it, you must choose how you wish to have it in retirement (if you choose to keep Option A, it automatically reduces when you reach age 65 [or retire, if later]. For Options B and C, you can choose whether to have all or some of the multiples reduce or not reduce, as described in the FEGLI Handbook.

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