Insurance FAQs

Life

• 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
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• Who will get my FEGLI life insurance benefits when I die? View more
  When you die, the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI) will pay life insurance benefits in a particular order, set by law:

  • If you assigned ownership of your life insurance, OFEGLI will pay benefits in the following order of precedence: First, to the beneficiary(ies) designated by your assignee(s), if any;  Second, if there is no such beneficiary, 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 in the following order of precedence:
    • First, to the beneficiary(ies) you designated;
    • Second, if there is no such beneficiary, to your widow or widower;
    • Third, if none of the above, to your child or children, with the share of any deceased child distributed among descendants of that child (a court will usually have to appoint a guardian to receive payment for a minor child);
    • Fourth, if none of the above, to your parents in equal shares or the entire amount to your surviving parent;
    • Fifth, if none of the above, to the executor or administrator of your estate;
    • Sixth, if none of the above, to your other next of kin as determined under the laws of the State where you lived.

  To designate new beneficiaries, submit a Designation of Beneficiary to your human resources office (or to OPM's Retirement Office if you are retired). If you would like to know who is listed in your current Designation of Beneficiary, follow these instructions. 
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• Hoe do I report a death? [FEGLI Life Insurance] View more
  If the insured person was a Federal RETIREE or compensationer:  You must report the death to OPM's Retirement Office.  You can use this tool or you can call Retirement at 1-888-767-6738. If you believe the retiree was enrolled in FEGLI Life Insurance and that you are a beneficiary, you can download a claim form and mail it to OFEGLI, an office of MetLife.  MetLife determines who is entitled to FEGLI Life Insurance proceeds, for what amount, and processes all claims.  OPM has no role in this process. Due to privacy restrictions, OPM cannot release information about whether the retiree was enrolled in FEGLI Life Insurance, the amount of life insurance, or the names of the beneficiaries.  MetLife will mail a claim form to each beneficiary.  All inquiries about life insurance claims must be directed to MetLife.  If the insured person was a Federal EMPLOYEE:  You must report the death to the employee's human resources office. If you believe the employee was enrolled in FEGLI Life Insurance and that you are a beneficiary, you can download a claim form and mail it to OFEGLI, an office of MetLife.  MetLife determines who is entitled to FEGLI Life Insurance proceeds, for what amount, and processes all claims.  OPM has no role in this process. Due to privacy restrictions, the employee's human resources office cannot release information about whether the employee was enrolled in FEGLI Life Insurance, the amount of life insurance, or the names of the beneficiaries.  MetLife will mail a claim form to each beneficiary.  All inquiries about life insurance claims must be directed to MetLife.  If the insured person was FAMILY MEMBER covered under FEGLI Option C:  FEGLI Option C covers the lives of the employee/retiree's spouse and eligible children under age 22. If you have Option C coverage and an eligible family member dies, complete this form and submit it to the location indicated on page 1.
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• How does a beneficiary collect on a Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) policy? View more
  If the insured person was a Federal RETIREE or compensationer: You must report the death to OPM's Retirement Office. You can use this tool or you can call Retirement at 1-888-767-6738. If you believe the retiree was enrolled in FEGLI Life Insurance and that you are a beneficiary, you can download a claim form and mail it to OFEGLI, an office of MetLife. MetLife determines who is entitled to FEGLI Life Insurance proceeds, for what amount, and processes all claims.  OPM has no role in this process. Due to privacy restrictions, OPM cannot release information about whether the retiree was enrolled in FEGLI Life Insurance, the amount of life insurance, or the names of the beneficiaries. MetLife will mail a claim form to each beneficiary. All inquiries about life insurance claims must be directed to MetLife. If the insured person was a Federal EMPLOYEE: You must report the death to the employee's human resources office. If you believe the employee was enrolled in FEGLI Life Insurance and that you are a beneficiary, you can download a claim form and mail it to OFEGLI, an office of MetLife. MetLife determines who is entitled to FEGLI Life Insurance proceeds, for what amount, and processes all claims. OPM has no role in this process. Due to privacy restrictions, the employee's human resources office cannot release information about whether the employee was enrolled in FEGLI Life Insurance, the amount of life insurance, or the names of the beneficiaries. MetLife will mail a claim form to each beneficiary. All inquiries about life insurance claims must be directed to MetLife. If the insured person was FAMILY MEMBER covered under FEGLI Option C: FEGLI Option C covers the lives of the employee/retiree's spouse and eligible children under age 22. If you have Option C coverage and an eligible family member dies, complete this form and submit it to the location indicated on page 1.
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• How are FEGLI (Life Insurance) claims paid? View more
  The Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI) is an administrative unit of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company that pays claims for the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program. If OFEGLI is paying the beneficiary less than $5,000, the beneficiary will receive a check. If OFEGLI is paying the beneficiary $5,000 or more, the beneficiary will have a choice of two ways to receive the payment.

  • A check
  • A MetLife Total Control Account or (TCA), an interest bearing account set up in the beneficiary's name, with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife)

  If the beneficiary is receiving $5,000 or more and does not make a decision on how to receive payment, a MetLife Total Control Account will be set up in the beneficiary' s name. For more information, see the FEGLI Handbook chapter on claims.
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• I am a Federal retiree. How do I cancel or reduce my FEGLI life insurance coverage? View more
  If you are a retiree, you can cancel or reduce your FEGLI life insurance at any time. There is no form; you must mail a signed letter to OPM's Retirement Office at: U.S. Office of Personnel Management Retirement Operations Center P.O. Box 45 Boyers, PA 16017-0045 The cancellation or reduction must be in writing and have an original signature by the insured retiree.  Be sure to include your retirement claim number (CSA) or Social Security Number (SSN) and specify what action you want taken.  Please note that you cannot increase your coverage after retirement or reinstate coverage that you cancel.
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• I am a Federal employee. How do I cancel or reduce my FEGLI life insurance coverage? View more
  If you are an employee, you can cancel or reduce your FEGLI life insurance at any time by submitting this form to your human resources office. If you want to reduce life insurance, sign only for the coverage you want to KEEP.   If you want to cancel all life insurance, sign in Box 5. Exception: if you have assigned your life insurance by transferring ownership to another person or to a company, then you cannot cancel or reduce your Basic, Option A, or Option B coverage.
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• I am on leave without pay (LWOP), but not on Workers' Compensation. If I die, what salary will the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI) use to compute the death benefit? View more
  During the first 12 months of LWOP, your FEGLI coverage continues. If you die during the first 12 months, OFEGLI uses the salary at the time of death to compute the benefit. For example:

  Stan had Basic insurance only. He went on LWOP February 1, 2003. His salary at that time was $18,449. In September 2003, he got a within-grade increasing his salary to $20,849.00. He died November 15, 2003. Since he died during the first 12 months of LWOP, life insurance is payable. The basic salary used to compute the benefit is $20,849.00.

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• 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.
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• 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.
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• What happens to my insurance when I go into a leave without pay status (LWOP)? View more
  Your life insurance coverage continues for up to 12 months in a LWOP or nonpay status. You do not have to pay any premiums while you are on LWOP unless you are receiving benefits from the Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs. The life insurance ends at the end of the 12 months with a 31-day extension of coverage and a right to convert to an individual policy.
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• When is the next FEGLI life insurance open season? View more
  FEGLI life insurance open seasons are extremely rare and none are currently scheduled.  Your agency and OPM's website will announce when there is a life insurance open season coming up.  The most recent FEGLI open seasons were held in 2004 and 1999. Outside of an open season, eligible employees can enroll or increase their coverage in FEGLI by taking a physical exam or with a Qualifying Life Event. The form to request FEGLI by taking a physical exam is 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.
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• How do I increase my coverage based on a Life Event? View more
  If you already have Basic, you may elect Option B or you can increase your multiples of Option B based on a life event. A life event is marriage, divorce, death of a spouse, or acquisition of a child. The number of multiples of Option B you can get depends on the event. For example, if you marry, the number of multiples you can get is equal to the number of additional family members acquired with your marriage. There is a table in the FEGLI Booklet (FE 76-21 or FE 76-20 for Postal employees) with the life events and the number of multiples you may elect. You can also elect Option C or increase your multiples of Option C based on a life event. You can elect from one to five multiples, regardless of the number of eligible family members you have or acquired. You can increase your coverage based on a life event by completing a Life Insurance Election(Standard Form 2817 [159 KB]). You must submit the SF 2817 to your human resources office within 60 calendar days after the date of the event.
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• What is the 31-day temporary extension of coverage? View more
  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.
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• I retired, and will soon be reemployed with the Federal Government. Can I obtain more insurance for free as an employee because of my retired status? View more
  No. You may be eligible to obtain insurance as a reemployed annuitant, but you will have to pay the same rates as any other employee for such insurance. Your agency will give you more information when you are reemployed.
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• What does it mean if someone entitled to life insurance benefits "disclaims" them? View more
  This means that the person (a designated beneficiary or person entitled under the order of precedence) advised OFEGLI, in writing, that he/she does not want the money he/she is entitled to receive. A disclaimer by default means that the person doesn't ever file a claim form to claim the benefits. If someone entitled to benefits disclaims them, he/she cannot tell OFEGLI who should get the disclaimed benefits. Rather, OFEGLI must treat those benefits as if the person disclaiming had died before the Insured. If the person disclaiming was a designated beneficiary, OFEGLI would pay the disclaimed share equally to the remaining beneficiaries. If there are no remaining beneficiaries or the person disclaiming was not a designated beneficiary, OFEGLI will pay the proceeds according to the next step in the order of precedence. Perhaps a few examples will help.

  Mary designated John and Susan for 50% each. Mary dies. John disclaims his share. It does not matter that John wanted his mother, Laura, to receive the benefits. OFEGLI will pay 100% to Susan.

  Here's another example.

  Raul is single, childless, and did not designate a beneficiary. Raul dies. His parents are entitled to the benefits based on the order of precedence. His father disclaims his share of the benefits. OFEGLI will pay 100% to his mother.

  And here's a final example.

  Cyndi is married with one child. She did not designate a beneficiary. Cyndi dies. Her husband is entitled to the benefits based on the order of precedence. He disclaims the benefits. OFEGLI moves to the next step in the order of precedence and pays 100% to Cyndi's child.

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• How do I report the death of an annuitant? View more
  Please report it here: https://apps.opm.gov/retire/death/death.cfm.  If you are unable to use the website, you can report it by contacting OPM’s Retirement Office at 1-888-767-6738 or retire@opm.gov.  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.
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• 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.
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• Who can file a court order? View more
  You can submit a court order if you are an employee, an annuitant, a former spouse, the former spouse's attorney or anyone else.
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• Does accidental death and dismemberment coverage continue into retirement? View more
  No. Accidental death and dismemberment coverage ends when your employment ends. You cannot carry this coverage into retirement.
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