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Federal Benefits Question of the Week: FEGLI

Q: I waived my FEGLI coverage earlier in my federal career, but after taking a retirement planning class, I’m thinking about signing up for Basic coverage for the last five years of my career so I can keep it in retirement. How I can reenroll in FEGLI so I can retire with the coverage five years from now?

A: There have only been 10 FEGLI Open Seasons since the introduction of the program in 1954. The last Open Season was held in 2016. As of the time of this writing, there are no FEGLI open enrollments planned. 

If at least one year has passed since the effective date of your last waiver of life insurance coverage, you may provide satisfactory medical information at your own expense using the Request for Insurance form (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, you will automatically get Basic insurance the first day you are in a pay and duty status (unless you already have Basic). You will have 60 days from the approval date to elect Option A and/or elect Option B or increase your Option B multiples (up to a total of five) by completing a Life Insurance Election (SF 2817) and submitting it to your human resources office.