Benefits - New Employees - Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
The Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program makes life insurance available to all permanent federal employees. Eligible employees are automatically covered for Basic as of the date of employment unless coverage is waived during the first
pay period.
Basic coverage is equal to your annual basic pay rounded up to the next $1,000 plus $2,000.
In addition to the Basic insurance, the other types and amounts of coverage that are available to you are as follows:
- Option A-Standard provides $10,000 of coverage.
- Option B-Additional is equal to one, two, three, four, or five times your annual basic pay rounded up to the next $1,000.
- Option C-Family is available in multiples of one to five. Each multiple provides $5,000 coverage on your spouse and $2,500 coverage for each eligible dependent child.
The Office of Personnel Management OPM website provides a FEGLI calculator to assist with determining the appropriate amount of life insurance coverage for you, as well as the cost
Complete and submit a FEGLI election form, (Standard Form 2817) to the
Benefits Office within the 60 days of the effective date found on your offer letter (not necessarily your first day at work) if you wish to elect additional FEGLI coverage. (Refer to the Important Information link for specific submission instructions).
You will generally have to wait one year and take a physical examination, or wait for a special event (such as marriage or the birth of a child) to elect additional FEGLI coverage if you waive Basic coverage or elect only Basic coverage during your
first 60 days.
You must be enrolled in FEGLI coverage for the five years immediately before retirement to continue your life insurance as a retiree.
If you have prior government service and did not waive your life insurance coverage, your previous
FEGLI coverage will remain in effect.
If you have prior government service, waived your life insurance coverage, and were separated for 180 days or more, you will receive Basic FEGLI coverage. If you waived your life insurance coverage and were separated
for less than 180 days, your coverage will remain waived and you will not have the option to elect new coverage unless you experienced a Qualifying Life Event within 60 days before or during separation.
EXCEPTION: FEGLI coverage is also available
if you are a temporary employee hired for at least one year as a Pathways intern as long as certain pay status criteria are met. Note that Pathways interns who waive FEGLI coverage do not receive another opportunity to elect FEGLI based on a conversion
to a permanent appointment at a later date.
Remember: You are liable for all FEGLI premiums for any period of time in which you were insured but for which you did not pay. You should report any benefits related errors to the Benefits Office immediately.