Q. What is a conversion policy? Who is eligible to convert their FEGLI benefit?
A. A conversion policy is an individual (non-group) life insurance policy that you are entitled to when your group life insurance ends, unless it ended because you voluntarily cancelled it.
If you are unable to convert, a person having power of attorney for you may convert your FEGLI coverage on your behalf.
If you have assigned your insurance, the assignee(s), rather than you, is (are) entitled to convert your Basic, Option A, and Option B coverage. You may still convert your Option C coverage.
Under the conversion privilege, you may convert all or any part of your Basic and Optional insurance to an individual
policy. 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.
The individual policy will be a cash-value type of life insurance policy. This means it will build cash value that you can borrow against. You cannot convert to term insurance.
Q. How will I know I am eligible to convert?
A. Your employing office must give you notice of the loss of group coverage and the right to convert whenever your
insurance terminates under conditions that allow you to convert to an individual policy. The form used for this purpose is
the Notice of Conversion Privilege (SF 2819).
Q. If I receive an SF 2819 (Notice of Conversion Privilege), do I have to convert my insurance?
A. No. If you receive an SF 2819, that means that you are eligible to convert your insurance, but you
don't need to — the choice is yours. IF you qualify to carry your coverage into retirement, you may
want to do that and not convert. Just because you receive an SF 2819 does not mean that
you do not qualify to carry your coverage into retirement. All employees whose current coverage as an employee is
terminating (other than by voluntary cancellation) receive a copy of that form — whether or not they qualify to
carry coverage into retirement.
Q. What is the timeframe to request conversion?
A. You must submit the request for conversion information to the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance
(OFEGLI) within 31 days of the date on the SF 2819 Notice of Conversion Privilege that you receive from your agency (60
days if overseas) or within 60 calendar days after the date of the terminating event (90 days if overseas), whichever is
earlier.
Q. What happens if my agency doesn't give me an SF 2819? Can I still convert my FEGLI coverage?
A. Yes. Your agency is supposed to give you notice and the loss of group coverage and the right to convert when your insurance ends. We know, however, that sometimes this does not happen. If your agency does not give you the conversion notice, you can request a conversion by writing directly to the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI) at P.O. Box 8149, Long Island City, NY 11101-8149. For overnight deliveries only (such as express mail): OFEGLI, FEGLI Conversion Team, 5th Floor, 27-01 Queens Plaza North, Queens, NY 11101.
The request must be postmarked within 31 days after the date of the terminating event.
Conversions are effective at the end of the 31-day extension of coverage.
If you are unable to mail the request within 31 days, you may qualify for a belated election. You must mail the request to OFEGLI within six months after the date you first became eligible to convert. Your request must show that you were not notified of the loss of coverage and the right to convert or you weren't able to convert for reasons beyond your control.
Belated conversions are made retroactive to the end of the 31-day extension of coverage and you must pay the retroactive premiums.
Q. What insurance companies will accept conversion of FEGLI coverage?
A. When you are ready to convert your coverage, you may request a list of eligible insurance companies from the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance at P O Box 8149 Long Island City, NY 11101-8149 or 1-800-633-4542. For overnight deliveries only (such as express mail): OFEGLI, FEGLI Conversion Team, 5th Floor, 27-01 Queens Plaza North, Queens, NY 11101.
You can choose any company on that list.
Q. What is the 31-day temporary extension of coverage?
A. When your life insurance terminates, except when you stop it voluntarily by cancellation, the coverage automatically continues for 31 days after the terminating date. You do not pay any premiums during these 31 days.
Q. Can I convert Option C when I no longer have any eligible family members?
A. No. You cannot convert Option C when family members lose eligibility.
You can convert Option C only when you separate from service. If you do not want to convert the coverage when you separate, your family members covered under Option C are eligible to convert their coverage to an individual policy. Eligible family members can also convert their coverage upon your death. They can ask your human resources office for a Notice of Conversion Privilege (SF 2819).
Family members must submit the request for conversion information to OFEGLI within 31 calendar days of the date on the
conversion notification (SF 2819) received from the agency (60 days, if overseas) or within 60 days after the date of the
employee's separation from service (90 days, if overseas), whichever is earlier. There is no extension to this time
limit.
The family member's conversion policy is effective at the end of the employee's 31 day extension of coverage.
Q. Can my family members convert Option C after my death?
A. Yes. Eligible family members may convert Option C (and name beneficiaries of their choice) upon the death of the
insured employee or retiree.
Upon the death of the employee with Option C, the agency employing office must send a conversion notice SF 2819 to the
family members at the employee's last address on file.
Family members must submit the request for conversion information to OFEGLI within 31 calendar days of the date on the
conversion notification (SF 2819) received from the agency (60 days if overseas) or within 60 days after the date of the
employee's death (90 days, if overseas), whichever is earlier. There is no extension to this time limit.
The family member's conversion policy is effective at the end of the employee's 31 day extension of coverage.