FEGLI Eligibility For Your Spouse

Federal employees are themselves automatically enrolled into the FEGLI life insurance program, but their family members are not. You can elect to include coverage for your spouse and children through FEGLI Option C.

Through Option C, you can opt for 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 multiples of coverage for your spouse and children, with each multiple being equal to $5,000 for a spouse and $2,500 for each eligible dependent child.

As far as your spouse is concerned, the critical eligibility criterion is a valid religious or civil ceremony. Your opposite-sex or same-sex spouse from a valid common-law or valid foreign marriage are also covered. If there is any doubt about spouse eligibility for FEGLI or validity, check with your state. Your employing agency and OPM will both accept the validity of your spouse if the state determines your marriage to be valid.

Spouse Eligibility for FEGLI and Claims For Your Former Spouse 

As far as FEGLI is concerned, Option C eligibility and coverage for your spouse are both terminated on the date when your divorce is finalized. Unlike federal employees separating from federal employment, your former spouse does not get a 31-day extension or the right to convert.

Also note that you cannot file an Option C claim for the death of a former spouse after the divorce, even if you are still paying Option C premiums.

On the other hand, your former spouse may be able to claim FEGLI benefits if you die and your former spouse is still the named beneficiary of your life insurance coverage. This may be applicable even if you remarry afterward and have neglected to remove your former spouse as a beneficiary and add your new spouse as the beneficiary (see Hillman v. Maretta 569 U.S. ___ (2013)).