FEGLI 2004 open season elections take effect

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RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Federal employees who elected or changed their Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance during last year’s open season will have their elections take effect the first day of the first pay period that begins on or after Sept. 1.

For most Air Force-serviced civilian employees, the effective date will be Sept. 4, as long as the employee meets the following pay and duty status requirements:

-- Full-time employees must be in a pay and duty status for at least 32 hours during the pay period before Sept. 4.

-- Part-time employees must be in a pay and duty status for one-half of the regularly scheduled tour of duty shown on his or her current SF 50, Notification of Personnel Action, during the pay period before Sept. 4.

-- Intermittent employees or employees without a regularly scheduled tour of duty must be in a pay and duty status for one-half the number of hours they usually work a pay period during the pay period before Sept. 4.

Some unusual situations Air-Force-serviced employees may face are:

-- The FEGLI 2004 open season election was submitted while working for another agency. If the election does not become effective, the employee should contact a Benefits and Entitlements Service Team benefits counselor for assistance.

-- Individuals on leave-without-pay-US status (for active military duty) who submitted an open season election. The election will be held until the individual returns to civilian duty. The coverage will become effective after the employee returns to civilian duty and meets the pay and duty status requirements described above.

-- Individuals who resigned from employment after submitting a FEGLI 2004 open season election. If he or she returned to federal service with a break in service of less than 180 days, the new coverage will be processed when pay and duty status requirements are met. If the break in service is 180 days or more and the employee returns to federal service on or before Sept. 4, he or she may make a new FEGLI election on return to employment. The new election takes precedence over the open season election. If the individual does not make a new election, the coverage in effect at separation will be reinstated, including the open season election when pay and duty status requirements are met.

Employees who were called to active military duty in the Reserve or National Guard before Oct. 1, 2004, may submit a belated FEGLI open season election within 31 days of returning to a covered civilian position.

Employees who were sent overseas in a civilian military support capacity before Oct. 1, 2004, may submit a belated FEGLI 2004 open season election within 31 days of returning to a covered position that is not in a military support capacity.

Air Force-serviced civilian employees whose open season elections become effective Sept. 4 should see the new coverage and premium deductions on their Sept. 23 Leave and Earnings Statement. Employees are encouraged to review their LES to ensure the coverage and premium deduction is correct. If there are any problems, they should contact a Benefits and Entitlements Service Team benefits counselor for assistance.

Employees who do not meet the pay and duty status requirements will see their open season election become effective the pay period after the one in which they meet the requirements.

Employees in the United States can contact a benefits counselor by calling toll-free (800) 616-3775. Overseas employees first will dial a toll-free direct-access number for the country in which located, then (800) 616-3775. When the system answers, people can press “2” for Air Force-serviced civilian, then “2” again for BEST benefits and entitlements, and follow the prompts. When the benefits main menu is voiced, people can press “4” for Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance, then “0” to transfer to a benefits counselor.

Hearing impaired employees may contact a benefits counselor by calling toll-free TDD (800) 382-0893 or (210) 565-2276 if located in San Antonio.

BEST benefits counselors are available weekdays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CDT. (Courtesy of Air Force Personnel Center News Service)