FEGLI open season begins Sept. 1

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Ron Tull
  • Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  Federal employees will be able to enroll or make changes to their group life insurance as part of a special open season Sept. 1 to 30. The event marks the 50th anniversary of the insurance program.

"We estimate 127,000 Air Force employees will be eligible to enroll or increase their life insurance," said Maria Molly, Air Force Personnel Center benefits and entitlements chief here.

"The last time federal employees were allowed to make these kinds of changes was five years ago," Ms. Molly said. "Normally it would take a 'qualifying life event' or the employee getting a physical at their expense. This open season doesn't require a physical or answering any questions about one's health."

The Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance program consists of basic life insurance coverage and three options including coverage for up to five times an employee's base salary plus coverage for family members. In most cases, a new employee is automatically covered by basic life insurance. The types and amounts of coverages available are not changing.

Newly elected coverage will take effect after Sept. 1, 2005. The reason for the delay is to prevent employees increasing coverage only when they know they need it, resulting in a high number of immediate claims, said officials at the personnel management office here. Such claims increase the program's costs.

"This is a great opportunity, but I urge everyone to do their homework and remember that the premiums increase with age," Ms. Molly said.

Information about the FEGLI program and the open season is online at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/dpc/best/menu.htm.

There is a calculator available to help compute premium cost at www.opm.gov/calculator/worksheet.asp.

Air Force-serviced civilian employees can make open season elections electronically via the Benefits and Entitlements Service Team automated Web or phone system. The Web-based system is located at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/dpc/BEST_GRB/EBIS.htm. Employees in the United States can reach the automated phone system at (800) 616-3775. Overseas employees will first dial a direct-access number for the country they are calling from and then dial (800) 997-2378.

Hearing impaired employees may reach a benefits counselor by calling toll-free TDD (800) 382-0893, or if located in the San Antonio area, 565-2276. Benefits counselors are available weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CDT.

The federal government established the FEGLI program Aug. 29, 1954. It is the largest group life insurance program in the world, covering more than 4 million federal employees and retirees, as well as many of their family members.