Federal Employees Group Life Insurance-Benefits-Policy

Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance

Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) is the largest group life insurance program in the world with over four million enrollees. As of December 2020, there are over 720,000 DOD employees enrolled in FEGLI. This accounts for 18% of enrollments government-wide.

DCPAS offers policy guidance to DOD HR Practitioners, and provides program resources and updates to Components and agencies. DCPAS also adjudicates DOD FEGLI reconsideration requests and advises on FEGLI Congressional inquiries. A FEGLI module highlighting pertinent program information is included in the Employee Benefits Training (EBT) Program. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) administers FEGLI, Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife) provides the life insurance, and the Office of Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI) adjudicates the claims.

FEGLI offers term life insurance to eligible Federal Government employees. As term life insurance, it builds no cash, loan paid-up, or extended insurance equities. Eligible DOD employees are automatically enrolled in Basic Life Insurance upon hire, unless waived, but must elect optional coverage if desired. There are limited opportunities to enroll or elect optional coverage: Within 60 days of hire, as a result of a Qualifying Life Events (QLE), within 60 days of an approved Request for Insurance (SF-2822), or during a rare FEGLI Open Season. As such, it is imperative that Human Resources offices provide timely FEGLI information to eligible employees.

The FEGLI program consists of Basic and Optional coverage. An employee must have Basic coverage in order to elect Optional coverage. Basic is coverage on the employee and is equal to their Basic Insurance Amount (BIA), Option A is an additional $10,000, and Option B is an additional up to five multiples of their basic pay rounded to the next even $1,000. Option C is family coverage equal to $2,500 per multiple per eligible child, and $5,000 per multiple for a spouse. Employees may elect up to five multiples of Option B and/or C. Additional program information including Accidental Death & Dismemberment Benefits, premiums, and forms are available at the Office of Personnel Management’s FEGLI webpage.