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"). Additionally, if you are using assistive technology and would like to be notified of items via alert boxes, please follow this link to enable alert boxes for your session profile.
Change Search Collection
Select a Search Collection:
An official website of the United States Government.

Insurance FAQs

Life

  • What if I die on a Sunday and I mailed my completed Designation of Beneficiary form the day before, Saturday? Will the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI) pay the benefits according to my new designation? View more
    Your employing office or the Office of Personnel Management, if applicable, must receive your Designation of Beneficiary before you die for your Designation to be valid. A Designation delivered on a weekend or Federal holiday is not "received," and is not valid, until the next workday. If you die before your employing office receives the new Designation of Beneficiary, the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance will pay benefits in accordance with the next prior Designation on file or under the order of precedence starting with the widow or widower, if there is no designation.
    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
  • If I elect a Living Benefit, do I have to continue to pay for my Basic FEGLI life insurance benefits? View more
    If you elect a full Living Benefit, you stop paying premiums and the Government no longer pays its contributions for your Basic life coverage. If you elect a partial Living Benefit, your agency will adjust the withholdings and contributions for your post-election Basic Insurance Amount. The amount of the post-election Basic does not change. Subsequent salary changes have no effect on the Basic amount. However, if you have Option B coverage, it will continue to change with salary changes. A Living Benefit election has no effect on your any Optional insurance you may have.
    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 a Power of Attorney, guardian or spouse sign a Living Benefits application? View more
    Only the terminally ill person can apply for a Living Benefit. A guardian, someone with power of attorney, or any other person cannot apply for a Living Benefit on your behalf.
    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 report a technical problem with the opm.gov website or with Retirement Services Online? View more
    To report a technical problem with OPM’s Insure website, please send an email to insure-webmaster@opm.gov.   To report a technical problem with Retirement Services Online, please send an email to rethelp@opm.gov. 
    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 is portability? View more
    Portability is a provision in Public Law 105-311, the Federal Employees Life Insurance Improvement Act, which was enacted October 30, 1998. It applies only to FEGLI Option B insurance, which provides coverage in multiples of 1 to 5 times an employee's annual salary. Employees that met certain requirements were eligible to continue Option B insurance following separation from Government service. The portability provision was a three-year demonstration project. It expired April 24, 2002, and is no longer available. Your agency should not give any employees a Portability Notice or other portability information. For more detailed information refer to Benefits Administration Letter 02-206 of April 26, 2002[119 KB].
    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 to my life insurance if I leave my government job to go into the military? View more
    If you separate from service to enter the military you are considered to be in a nonpay status for FEGLI Purposes. As long as you have reemployment rights under USERRA, you can keep your FEGLI coverage for up to 12 months, or until 90 days after your military service ends, whichever date comes first. This coverage is free. At the end of 12 months (or 90 days after the military service ends), the coverage terminates. You also get the 31-day extension of coverage and the right to convert. Public Law 110-181, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, enacted January 28, 2008, authorizes the continuation of FEGLI coverage for an additional 12 months for Federal employees called to active duty whose coverage terminated after the law's enactment. The law allows employees who enter on active duty or active duty for training in one of the uniformed services for more than 30 days to continue their FEGLI for up to 24 months. FEGLI coverage is free for the first 12 months. However, employees must pay both the employee and agency share of the premiums for their Basic coverage, and also pay the entire cost (there is no agency share) for any Optional insurance they may have for the additional 12 months of coverage. See more details in BAL 08-203. At the end of 12 months, or 90 days after your military service ends, whichever date comes first your former agency must complete an Agency Certification of Insurance Status (SF 2821) and a Notice of Conversion Privilege (SF 2819). If a claim needs to be filed while you are still covered under FEGLI, you or your survivors should contact your former employing agency.
    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'm receiving benefits from the Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP). Do I still have life insurance? View more
    To continue life insurance benefits as an OWCP compensationer, you must have carried FEGLI for the 5 years of service immediately before the beginning date of compensation or, if you had it less than 5 years, for the full period(s) of service during which you were eligible to be insured. This coverage is subject to the same conditions as those of a civil service retiree. Please see your human resources office if you are receiving compensation benefits.
    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
  • Will my insurance coverage begin to reduce when I reach age 65 even though I won't be retired at that time? View more
    No. Coverage for employees does not reduce based on age. The post-age 65 reductions can only affect retirees.
    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
  • Where do I send my completed Designation of Beneficiary (SF 2823) for FEGLI life insurance? View more
    Employees: Submit the designation form to your human resources office.  If you do not know how to contact your human resources office, you can ask your supervisor or your Agency Benefits Officer. Annuitants: Submit the designation form to: Office of Personnel Management, Retirement Operations Center, P.O. Box 45, Boyers, PA 16017-0045. Compensationers: If you receive benefits from the Department of Labor, Office of Workers Compensation Programs and you've been receiving these benefits for less than 12 months and you are still on the agency's rolls as an employee, submit the designation form to your human resources office. If you are on compensation and are separated from your agency or have been receiving compensation for 12 months or more, submit the designation form to OPM's Retirement Office at the address on page 3. Important: The appropriate office must receive the Designation of Beneficiary form before your death in order for the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI) to pay the benefits. If you do not file it with the proper office, OFEGLI will pay benefits in accordance with the next prior designation on file or under the order of precedence, if there is no designation.
    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 complete my Standard Form 2823, FEGLI Life Insurance Designation of Beneficiary? View more
    You can find instructions on pages 2 and 3 of the Designation of Beneficiary form itself. If you need help, call MetLife at 1-800-633-4542.
    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 increase my FEGLI life insurance coverage if I am deployed as a civilian in support of a contingency operation? View more
    Yes, Public Law 110-417, the Duncan Hunter National Defense Authorization Act, allows new FEGLI life insurance election opportunities for certain employees. The new election applies if you are a civilian employee eligible for FEGLI who is deployed in support of a contingency operation as defined by section 101 (a) (13) of Title 10. You may elect Basic, Option A and Option B (up to the maximum of 5 multiples). You must make the election on the FEGLI election form within 60 days after the date of notification of your deployment in support of a contingency operation. Contact your employing agency human resources office for more information. More details available in BAL 08-204 and BAL 12-201.
    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
  • What insurance companies will accept conversion of FEGLI life insurance coverage? View more
    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 6512, Utica, NY 13504-6512 or by calling 1-800-633-4542. For overnight deliveries only (such as express mail): OFEGLI, FEGLI Conversion Team, 5950 Airport Rd., Oriskany, NY 13424-3926. You can choose any company on that list.
    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 penalty charge if I elect Living Benefits from my FEGLI life insurance? View more
    Your Living Benefits payment will be reduced by a nominal amount to make up for lost earnings of the Life Insurance Fund because of early payment of benefits. This nominal amount is called an actuarial reduction and it is 4.9%. Here is an example: Samantha's Basic Insurance Amount is $59,000. She wants to elect a Full Living Benefit. She is 50 years old so there is no Extra Benefit. If approved, the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance would pay Samantha $56,109.00 ($59,000 less 4.9% or $2,891). For more information about Living Benefits, 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
  • I am enrolled in FEGLI Option C. How do I claim benefits for the death of a covered family member? View more
    If you are enrolled in Option C life insurance, complete the FE-6 DEP, Statement of Claim, Option C -- Family Life Insurance according to instructions on the form. If you need help, contact OFEGLI at 1-800-633-4542. If you are an employee, send the completed form, with a certified copy of the death certificate, to your employing agency. If you are an annuitant, send the completed form, with a certified copy of the death certificate, to: Office of Personnel Management  Retirement Operations Center  Attention: FE-6 DEP  Boyers, PA 16017
    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
  • When should I file a new FEGLI life insurance Designation of Beneficiary form? View more
    You may want to consider completing a new designation form whenever you have a significant change in your life, such as a marriage, divorce, or death. Be sure it remains accurate and reflects your intentions. You should also file a new designation whenever a beneficiary's address changes. Failure to do so may mean that the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance cannot locate your beneficiary and therefore cannot pay him or her the death benefits. You can download the Designation form here.
    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 my agency doesn't give me a Notice of Conversion Privilege (SF 2819)? Can I still convert my FEGLI life insurance coverage? View more
     Yes. Your agency is supposed to give you notice on 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 6512, Utica, NY 13504-6512. For overnight deliveries only (such as express mail): OFEGLI, 5950 Airport Road, Oriskany, NY 13424-3926. 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. You can contact OFEGLI at 1-800-633-4542.
    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 will happen to my FEGLI Basic life insurance when I retire? View more
      The requirements for continuing your FEGLI life insurance into retirement are explained in the FEGLI Handbook. If you meet the requirements, you must choose what will happen to your Basic when you turn 65 or retire, whichever is later.  Your choices are:
    • 75% Reduction: your Basic coverage reduces 2% each month until it reaches 25% of its pre-reduction amount.  Your Basic is free (no premium) once the reductions begin and remains free until your death.
    • 50% Reduction: your Basic coverage reduces 1% each month until it reaches 50% of its pre-reduction amount.  There is an extra premium for this choice that you will continue to pay until you die, switch to 75% reduction, or cancel Basic.
    • No Reduction: your Basic coverage does not reduce.  You maintain the same amount of Basic coverage you had when you stopped being enrolled as an employee.  There is a larger extra premium for this choice that you will continue to pay until you die, switch to 75% Reduction, or cancel Basic.
    If you select 75% or 50%, the reduction begins the second month after your 65th birthday, or the second month after you retire, whichever is later. To see the different premiums for the different choices, visit Premiums for Annuitants. To make your choice, submit SF 2818 to your human resources office shortly before you retire. If you do not turn in the form, you will be defaulted to 75% Reduction.
    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: 120, Number of Pages: 6, Page: 4

Related Categories