Benefits Administration Letter

Number: 15- 306 Date: August 2015 

United States Office of Personnel Management

The Federal Government’s Human Resources Agency

Subject: Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI) Life Insurance 

Open Season and Premium Changes

Purpose

The purpose of this Benefits Administration Letter (BAL) is to notify agencies of an upcoming 

Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI) Open Season and issue new FEGLI 

premiums.

FEGLI Open Season

OPM will hold a FEGLI Open Season from September 1, 2016 through September 30, 2016. 

During this time, eligible employees can elect or increase their FEGLI life insurance by 

submitting an election to their human resources office. Eligible employees may elect changes by 

electronic means where this option is available through their employing agency. Subject to 

FEGLI law and regulation, including applicable pay and duty status requirements, the effective 

date for changes to FEGLI coverage under an Open Season election will be delayed one full year 

to the beginning of the first full pay period after October 1, 2017. 

Annuitants can never increase their FEGLI coverage, even during a FEGLI Open Season. As a 

reminder, employees and annuitants can reduce or cancel FEGLI at any time. Enrollees who are 

satisfied with their current FEGLI coverage do not need to make any elections during the FEGLI 

Open Season. 

New FEGLI Premiums

Effective January 1, 2016, FEGLI premium rates will change for some types of coverage. There 

will be no changes to the premium rates for Basic Insurance for employees. Most premium rates

for Option A, Option B, and Option C will decrease. Premium rates for Post-Retirement Basic 

Insurance with 50% Reduction and No Reduction will increase. Premium rates for older age 

bands of Options B and C will increase. The full list of FEGLI premium rates effective January 

1, 2016 is included in the Attachment.

Effective Date

The effective date for the new premiums is January 1, 2016. Payroll offices must apply the new 

premiums the first pay period beginning on or after that date. 
UPDATED INFORMATION ON THE WEB

A notice describing these changes is available in the Federal Register 

(https://federalregister.gov/a/2015-19398). 

The FEGLI premium rates will be updated on the FEGLI web site (www.opm.gov/insure/life) in 

January 2016. 

We will also update the FEGLI Handbook to reflect the new information. Until the updates are 

ready, employees should be informed of the changes by their agency.

If you have any questions regarding this Benefits Administration Letter please send an email to 

finance@opm.gov or call us on (202) 606-0606. 

Kolo Babagana 

Acting Associate Chief Financial Officer

Financial Services

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Attachment

Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI) Premium Rates

The FEGLI rates effective January 1, 2016 are as follows.

Employee Basic Insurance (per $1,000 of insurance) 

The US Postal Service pays the Employee share plus the Government share for its eligible 

employees. The premiums for compensationers who are paid every four weeks are two times the 

biweekly premium.

Bi-Weekly Monthly 

Employee $0.1500 $0.3250 

Government $0.0750 $0.1625 

Total $0.2250 $0.4875 

Post-Retirement Basic Insurance for Annuitants (Monthly Rate per $1,000 of insurance) 

Before Age 65 After Age 65

75% Reduction $0.3250 No cost 

50% Reduction $1.0350 $0.71 

No Reduction $2.4550 $2.13 

Post-Retirement Basic Insurance for Compensationers (Withholding Every Four Weeks per 

$1,000 of insurance) 

Before Age 65 After Age 65

75% Reduction $0.30 No cost 

50% Reduction $0.96 $0.66 

No Reduction $2.27 $1.97 

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Option A (for $10,000 of insurance) 

The premiums for compensationers who are paid every four weeks are two times the biweekly 

premium. 

Age Band Bi-Weekly Monthly 

< 35 $0.20 $0.43 

35 – 39 $0.30 $0.65 

40 – 44 $0.40 $0.87 

45 – 49 $0.70 $1.52 

50 – 54 $1.10 $2.38 

55 – 59 $2.00 $4.33 

60 + $6.00 $13.00 

Option B (per $1,000 of insurance) 

The premiums for compensationers who are paid every four weeks are two times the biweekly 

premium.

Age Band Bi-Weekly Monthly 

< 35 $0.02 $0.043 

35 – 39 $0.03 $0.065 

40 – 44 $0.04 $0.087 

45 – 49 $0.07 $0.152 

50 – 54 $0.11 $0.238 

55 – 59 $0.20 $0.433 

60 – 64 $0.44 $0.953 

65 – 69 $0.54 $1.170 

70 – 74 $0.96 $2.080 

75 – 79 $1.80 $3.900 

80 + $2.64 $5.720 

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Option C (per multiple of insurance) 

The premiums for compensationers who are paid every four weeks are two times the biweekly 

premium.

Age Band Bi-Weekly Monthly 

< 35 $0.22 $0.48 

35 – 39 $0.27 $0.59 

40 – 44 $0.41 $0.89 

45 – 49 $0.59 $1.28 

50 – 54 $0.92 $1.99 

55 – 59 $1.48 $3.21 

60 – 64 $2.70 $5.85 

65 – 69 $3.14 $6.80 

70 – 74 $3.83 $8.30 

75 – 79 $5.26 $11.40 

80 + $7.20 $15.60 

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