Benefits of Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Enrollment
Benefits of Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Enrollment
The Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Program, or FEGLI, is a life insurance program that is available to both Federal and Postal employees. The program is administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which also sets the FEGLI rates for insurance coverage.
The life insurance coverage that is offered through the FEGLI program is provided by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (MetLife). This FEGLI coverage is term life insurance, which is defined as pure death benefit protection that does not provide any type of cash value build up or savings component for its policy holders.
BASIC FEDERAL LIFE INSURANCE IS AUTOMATIC
Unless a Federal employee who is eligible for FEGLI waives his or her coverage, they will be automatically enrolled in the FEGLI program’s Basic insurance. FEGLI insurance will cover the individual’s life for the greater of either $10,000 or the person’s basic rate of pay that is rounded up to the next even $1,000 amount, plus $2,000. Those who are under age 45 will automatically receive additional life insurance coverage at no extra premium charge.
FEGLI Optional Coverages
Those who are covered with Basic FEGLI insurance protection have the choice of adding additional Optional FEGLI insurance coverage. There are three types of FEGLI Optional coverage that may be chosen. These include the following:
· FEGLI Option A: A flat $10,000.
· FEGLI Option B: A multiple of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 times the individual’s annual rate of basic pay that is rounded up to the next even $1,000.
· FEGLI Option C: Insurance for the life of the individual’s spouse, as well as for his or her eligible dependent children. This coverage can be chosen in the amount of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 multiples. Each of these multiples is equal to $5,000 for the person’s spouse, and $2,500 for each of the person’s eligible dependent children.
As an automatic part of FEGLI Basic insurance and FEGLI Option A, covered individuals will also receive accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage at no extra premium charge. With this coverage, a benefit will be paid out if the insured individual sustains injuries due to an accident and as a result of those injuries dies within one year. A benefit will also be paid if the insured loses a limb or sight in one or both eyes due to a covered injury.
Certain FEGLI “living benefits” may also be paid to an insured through his or her FEGLI Basic insurance coverage if the individual is diagnosed with a terminal illness having a life expectancy of nine months or less. Funds from the policy can be used for paying medical expenses or other needs as the individual sees fit.