Federal Employees
Group Life Insurance
Making Changes to Life Insurance Coverage
If you waived all insurance or did not elect any Optional
insurance when you were first hired, or you simply want different
coverage than you have now, you have three opportunities to make
changes: an open enrollment, a physical exam, or a life event.
Open Enrollment
An open enrollment is relatively rare. The Management
Division, Benefits Section will give you more details about any
upcoming open enrollment periods.
Physical Exam
As long as at least one year has passed since the
effective date of your last waiver of life insurance coverage, you
may get a physical exam at your own expense using the Request
for Life Insurance (SF 2822). You and your agency must complete
part of the form. Then you take the form to your physician or other
medical professional. He or she will examine you, complete the rest
of the form, and send the form to the Office of Federal Employees'
Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI). If OFEGLI approves your request,
the Management Division, Benefits Section will automatically enroll
you in Basic insurance, unless of course you already have Basic.
You will have 31 days to elect Option A and/or elect Option B or
increase your Option B multiples (up to a total of 5) by completing
a Life
Insurance Election (SF 2817) and submitting it to your human
resources office. You cannot elect Option C or increase your Option
C multiples by getting a physical exam — you can get Option
C based on a life event.
Your enrollment in Basic will be effective on the
first day you are at work (not on leave) on or after the date OFEGLI
approves your request. Your enrollment in Option A and/or Option
B will be effective on the first day you are at work (not on leave)
on or after the date OFEGLI approves your request and your human
resources office receives your
Life Insurance Election (SF 2817) electing such coverage.
Life Event
If you already have Basic, you may elect Option B
or increase your multiples of Option B and/or elect Option C, or
increase your multiples of Option C based on a life event. You must
complete a Life
Insurance Election (SF 2817) and submit it to the Management
Division, Benefits Section. The chart below lists the qualifying
life events. You cannot elect Basic or Option A based on a life
event — you can elect them by getting a physical exam as described
above. If a life event occurred during the year following your waiver
of Basic, you should contact the Management Division, Benefits Section
to find out what time limits may apply.
How Many Multiples of Option B Can Be Obtained
or Added because of a Life Event?
The number of multiples of Option B that you can obtain
or add (up to a total of five) is:
- For marriage, the number of additional family members
(spouse and eligible children) acquired with your marriage.
- For acquisition of children, the number of eligible
children acquired (Exception: Acquiring a foster child does not
permit you to elect or increase Option B multiples).
- For divorce or death of your spouse, the total
number of eligible children you have.
- To qualify you must provide proof of the event to Human Resources
How Many Multiples of Option C Can Be Obtained
or Added because of a Life Event?
You may choose any number of multiples (up to a total
of five) of Option C. Unlike Option B, the number of multiples you
elect is not tied to the number of eligible family members; also,
acquiring a foster child counts as a life event for Option C purposes.
What are the Effective Dates of Changes to Multiples
under Options B and C?
To make any changes in Option B multiples, you must
be in a pay and duty status. For changes to Options B or C, you
must submit SF 2817 to the Benefits Section. If you submit SF 2817
before the life event, the effective date is the date the event
occurs. If you submit SF 2817 after the event occurs, the effective
date is the date the Benefits Section receives the form. The time
limit for filing the form is 60 calendar days after the event occurs.
For more information on FEGLI, visit the OPM
website (http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/handbook/cover2.htm)
If I Don't Already Have This Coverage, When Can
I Get It?
| Option |
Open
Enrollment |
Wait a Year and Submit
Acceptable Results of a Physical Exam |
Experience
a Qualified Life Event |
| Basic |
Depends on details of open enrollment
|
YES |
NO |
| Option A* |
Same as Basic |
YES |
NO |
| Option B* |
Same as Basic |
YES |
YES |
| Option C* |
Same as Basic |
NO |
YES |
* You must have Basic in order
to elect any Optional insurance. |
