Click here to skip navigation
This website uses features which update page content based on user actions. If you are using assistive technology to view web content, please ensure your settings allow for the page content to update after initial load (this is sometimes called "forms mode"). Alert box notification is currently enabled, please follow this link to disable alert boxes for your session profile.
Change Search Collection
Select a Search Collection:
An official website of the United States Government.

Insurance FAQs

General Information (Basic and Optional Coverage)

  • How much FEGLI life insurance coverage do I have? View more
    If you are a Federal RETIREE or compensationer: OPM's Retirement Office is the only office with access to your FEGLI life insurance records.  Your FEGLI records are not available online.  You can contact Retirement at 1-888-767-6738 or retire@opm.gov. You can request a Verification of Life Insurance (VOLI) to be mailed to you.  The VOLI will include information on your life insurance coverage.   Retirement's phone lines are open Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 7:45 pm eastern time. The phone lines can get extremely busy so we recommend calling early in the morning or late in the evening when the lines are less busy. Have your retirement claim number (CSA/CSF) or social security number handy.  If you wish to change your FEGLI life insurance beneficiaries, complete this form and mail it to OPM's Retirement Office at the address on page 3: www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf2823.pdf If you are a Federal EMPLOYEE: Contact your human resources office.  The office that maintains your Official Personnel Folder (OPF) or its equivalent is the only office with access to your FEGLI life insurance records. If you do not know what office that is or how to contact them, check with your supervisor.  You can also look on a copy of your most recent Standard Form 50, Notification of Personnel Action, to determine the coverage you currently have:
    1. In Block 27 on that form, there is a 2-character code that represents your current coverage and a definition of the code. 
    2. You can look up the codes and their translation at http://archive.opm.gov/insure/life/reference/handbook/sf50tbl.asp 
    3. You can then use the FEGLI Calculator to determine the current value of your FEGLI by inputting your current age, salary and type(s) of FEGLI coverage. 
    If you wish to change your FEGLI life insurance beneficiaries, complete this form and submit it to your human resources office: www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf2823.pdf
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close
  • Where can I get more information about FEGLI life insurance? View more
    You can read the FEGLI Program Booklet for Federal Employees or for Postal employees) and review the FEGLI Handbook. Information on current premiums is available here. The FEGLI Calculator can help you figure out your coverage and premiums. Contact your human resources office if you have additional questions.
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close
  • Do I have to wait for a life insurance Open Season to enroll in FEGLI? View more
    No. FEGLI life insurance open seasons are extremely rare.  Outside of an open season, eligible employees can enroll in FEGLI by taking a physical exam or with a Qualifying Life Event. The form to request FEGLI by taking a physical exam is available the SF 2822.  The form is completed partly by you, partly by your agency, and partly by your healthcare provider.  If OFEGLI approves your request, you are automatically enrolled in Basic. If you want Optional insurance as well as Basic, you can enroll in Option A and/or Option B within 60 days from the date of OFEGLI's approval. You cannot enroll in Option C by getting a physical. With a FEGLI Qualifying Life Event, you can enroll in FEGLI Basic, Option A, up to five multiples of Option B, and/or up to five multiples of Option C.  Qualifying Life Events are marriage, divorce, death of spouse, or acquisition of an eligible child. To enroll or increase your FEGLI coverage based on a life event, submit an SF 2817 to your human resources office within 60 days after the life event.
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close
  • A co-worker told me there is an Extra Benefit under FEGLI. If this is true, what is it? View more
    Yes, it is true. As part of the Basic life insurance, employees who are under age 45 get an Extra Benefit at no additional cost. The Extra Benefit doubles the amount of the 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.
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close
  • As my salary goes up, does my FEGLI amount go up automatically? View more
    Yes. The amount of your FEGLI automatically increases when your salary goes up, whenever your annual pay is increased by an amount sufficient to raise the pay to the next $1,000 bracket.
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close
  • How much do I pay for my FEGLI coverage? View more
    The cost of Basic insurance is shared between you and the Government. You pay two-thirds and the Government pays one-third. Your age does not affect the cost of Basic insurance. You pay $0.1500 per $1,000 biweekly or $0.3250 monthly. If you are a Postal employee, the U.S. Postal Service pays the entire cost of your Basic life insurance. You pay the full cost of all Optional insurance. The cost depends on your age and the amount of insurance you have. (You can see the premiums for Optional insurance by clicking here.) Your agency will withhold the premiums from your pay.
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close
  • Can I borrow against my policy and receive money now? View more
    No. The FEGLI Program provides group term insurance. It does not have any cash value and you cannot borrow against your coverage. The only opportunities to get money from your coverage while you are still alive are (1) if you are terminally ill and qualify for Living Benefits, or (2) if you are terminally or chronically ill and assign your coverage to a viatical settlement firm.
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close
  • Is there a maximum amount of Basic insurance that I can have? View more
    No. There is no maximum. The amount is based on your annual basic rate of pay.
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close
  • I am an annuitant. Do I have life insurance coverage? View more
    To inquire about how much coverage you have under the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program, contact OPM's Retirement Office by emailing retire@opm.gov or calling 1-888-767-6738. The phone lines are open from 7:30 am to 7:45 pm (Eastern Standard Time). It is a busy phone number so we encourage you to call early in the morning or after 5:00 pm when the phone lines are less busy. You will need to provide your retirement claim number (CSA) or Social Security Number.   Please note: For privacy reasons, the response to an email request for information on FEGLI coverage will be mailed to the address on file with the OPM Retirement Office. It will not be sent back via email.
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close
  • What if my salary is too low to cover the cost of my insurance? View more
    If your pay is too low to allow a withholding for life insurance premiums and your human resources office expects this to last for more than six months, you will have a choice. You can choose either to terminate some or all of your insurance coverage or to continue the coverage and pay the premiums directly. (See your human resources office for more details).
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close
  • How Much FEGLI Coverage Do I Have? View more
     If you are a Federal RETIREE or compensationer: OPM's Retirement Office is the only office with access to your FEGLI life insurance records.  Your FEGLI records are not available online.  You can contact Retirement at 1-888-767-6738 or retire@opm.gov. The phone lines are open Monday through Friday 7:30 am to 7:45 pm eastern time. The phone lines can get extremely busy so we recommend calling early in the morning or late in the evening when the lines are less busy. Have your retirement claim number (CSA/CSF) or social security number handy. If you wish to change your FEGLI life insurance beneficiaries, complete this form and mail it to OPM's Retirement Office at the address on page 3: www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf2823.pdf If you are a Federal EMPLOYEE: Contact your human resources office.  The office that maintains your Official Personnel Folder (OPF) or its equivalent is the only office with access to your FEGLI life insurance records. If you do not know what office that is or how to contact them, check with your supervisor. You can also look on a copy of your most recent Standard Form 50, Notification of Personnel Action, to determine the coverage you currently have:
    1. In Block 27 on that form, there is a 2-character code that represents your current coverage and a definition of the code. 
    2. You can look up the codes and their translation at http://archive.opm.gov/insure/life/reference/handbook/sf50tbl.asp 
    3. You can then use the FEGLI Calculator to determine the current value of your FEGLI by inputting your current age, salary and type(s) of FEGLI coverage. 
    If you wish to change your FEGLI life insurance beneficiaries, complete this form and submit it to your human resources office: www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf2823.pdf
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close
  • I want to enroll in FEGLI life insurance by taking a physical exam.  When will the new coverage be effective? View more
    Your enrollment in Basic will be effective on the first day you are in pay and duty status on or after the date OFEGLI approves your request. If you also want to enroll in Option A and/or Option B, this coverage will be effective on the first day you are in pay and duty status on or after the date OFEGLI approves your request and your human resources office receives your Life Insurance Election (SF 2817) electing such coverage.
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close
  • I am a new Federal employee. How do I get coverage under FEGLI life insurance? View more
    Most Federal employees are automatically enrolled in Basic insurance unless they waive this coverage. Basic is effective on the first day you enter in a pay and duty status in an eligible position. If you have Basic insurance, you may also elect Optional insurance. You must specifically elect the types of Optional insurance you wish to carry within 60 days of becoming eligible. Optional insurance is effective on the first day you are in a pay and duty status on or after the day your human resources office receives your election. To elect Optional insurance within 60 days of becoming eligible, or to cancel (waive) Basic, submit the FEGLI Election Form to your human resources office.
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close
  • How do I make my FEGLI life insurance election? View more
    When you are newly appointed or transferred to a FEGLI eligible position, you are automatically enrolled in FEGLI Basic life insurance.  To elect any Optional coverage, or to waive Basic, you must complete a Life Insurance Election (SF 2817) and return it to your human resources office. If you do not submit an election form within 60 days of becoming eligible, you remain enrolled in Basic only.
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close
  • What kind of coverage can I get under FEGLI life insurance? View more
    There are two types of FEGLI life insurance: Basic and Optional.  You must enroll in Basic before you can select any Optional coverage. Basic covers your life in the amount of your annual basic pay rounded up to the next $1,000 plus $2,000.  For example, if your annual basic pay is $47,500, Basic covers your life for $50,000.  The minimum Basic coverage is $10,000.
    If you continued Basic into retirement, your Basic coverage is based on your annual basic pay at the time you stopped being insured as an employee.  It is not based on your annuity. Once you have elected Basic, you are eligible for any or all types of Optional insurance. Optional insures provides coverage in addition to what you have with Basic.
    • Option A Standard
      • Covers your life for $10,000.
    • Option B Additional
      • Covers your life for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 multiples of your annual basic pay (after rounding up to the next $1,000).
    • Option C Family
      • Covers the lives of your spouse and eligible children.  You may elect 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 multiples of coverage. Each multiple is equal to $5,000 for your spouse and $2,500 for each eligible dependent child.
    For more information, see the FEGLI Handbook.
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close
  • What happens if I die in an automobile accident or if I lose my sight or a limb as a result of an accident? View more
    FEGLI Basic and Option A each include Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage for employees at no additional charge. AD&D coverage cannot be carried into retirement. AD&D benefits are paid in addition to regular death benefits. For the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance to pay AD&D benefits, the death or loss must occur within one year after the accident and be a direct result of bodily injury sustained from that accident. AD&D coverage in Basic is equal to the amount of your Basic insurance. AD&D coverage in Option A is equal to $10,000. For more information about AD&D, see the FEGLI Handbook.
    How well did this answer your question? Submit
    Submitting rating...
    Thank you for your feedback!
    [x] Close
    An error occurred while trying to submit your feedback.
    Please try again later.
    [x] Close


Total Count: 16, Number of Pages: 0, Page: 1

Related Categories