Life Insurance Elections: Postal Employees' Guide To Access

where can a postal employee see their life insurance elections

Postal employees can obtain information about their life insurance elections in the FE-76-20, FEGLI Booklet for Postal-Service Employees, available at the OPM website. If a postal employee is retired, they can obtain information concerning living benefits in Pamphlet RI 76-12, Information for Retirees and their Families, also available at the OPM website. Additionally, the American Postal Workers Union provides a customer service line at 888-767-6738 (TDD: 800-878-5707) for postal employees with questions about their FEGLI coverage.

Characteristics Values
Postal employee life insurance Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
Election options Assign benefits to another person/people, cash in Basic Insurance if terminally ill
Election requirements Must have had coverage for five years of service before retirement, or be a FERS retiree who postponed annuity in FEGLI five years before separation
Contact Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance at 1-800-633-4542
Postal employee health insurance Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB)
PSHB requirements Must choose a PSHB plan or be disenrolled/suspended from FEHB
PSHB enrolment Postal employees and annuitants will be automatically enrolled in a PSHB plan if their current FEHB plan does not have a PSHB counterpart in 2025

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Postal employees can contact the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance to obtain relevant forms

Postal employees can contact the Office of Federal Employees Group Life Insurance to obtain relevant forms. This office provides information on the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program, which is a life insurance option for postal workers. By contacting the office, employees can learn about their life insurance elections and make any necessary changes.

The FEGLI program offers postal employees a range of benefits, including the ability to assign life insurance benefits to another person or entity and the option to cash in basic insurance in the event of a terminal illness diagnosis. It is important to note that these two features are mutually exclusive, meaning that if one is elected, the other cannot be. This program is available to civilian employees of the United States Postal Service under the age of 70.

To make changes to their life insurance coverage, postal employees are required to submit a written request to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Retirement Operations Center. This office is responsible for handling updates to beneficiary information and ensuring that information about applying for benefits is accessible to spouses, beneficiaries, or executors. Postal employees can also contact the office's customer service line with any questions or concerns about their FEGLI coverage.

In addition to life insurance benefits, postal employees are also eligible for health insurance coverage through the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program. This program, maintained by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), provides health insurance to eligible postal service employees, annuitants, and their eligible family members. It is important for postal employees to stay up-to-date with any changes or updates to their insurance coverage, as well as any open seasons or special enrollment periods that may impact their benefits.

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Employees can fill out and forward the form to their field personnel offices

The Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program is a popular insurance option for postal employees. The FEGLI program offers a range of benefits, including the ability to assign life insurance benefits to another person and the option to cash in basic insurance if diagnosed with a terminal illness.

If you are a postal employee and want to make an election, you can fill out the relevant form and forward it to your field personnel office. The specific form you need to fill out is the FE-2004 form, and it must be submitted during the open season for elections. The field personnel office is responsible for collecting these forms and entering the data into the Complement Management and Selection (CMS) system.

It is important to note that the FEGLI program is separate from the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program, which provides health insurance coverage to eligible postal employees and their family members. The PSHB program is maintained by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and any changes to your PSHB plan must be made through their system.

If you have questions about your FEGLI coverage or need to make changes to your life insurance, you can contact the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Retirement Operations Center, at their mailing address or by calling their customer service line.

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Eligible annuitants can elect a full lump-sum payment equal to their Basic life insurance amount

Eligible annuitants can elect to receive a full lump-sum payment equal to their Basic life insurance amount. This option is available through the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program, which is offered to postal employees. It is important to note that annuitants cannot elect a partial Living Benefits payment; that option is only available to active employees.

The FEGLI program offers postal employees two key features. Firstly, it allows employees to irrevocably assign their life insurance benefits to another person or persons. Secondly, employees can cash in their Basic insurance if they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness. These two options, however, are mutually exclusive, meaning that if one is elected, the other cannot be.

To elect living benefits, postal employees can contact the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance at 1-800-633-4542 to obtain Form FE-8, Claim for Living Benefits. This form is not available from agencies or retirement systems. Employees can also refer to the FEGLI Booklet for Postal-Service Employees on the OPM website for additional information.

It is worth noting that if annuitants have "assigned" their life insurance coverage, neither they nor the assignee may elect living benefits. This restriction also applies to active employees. The FEGLI program provides valuable options for postal employees to manage their life insurance benefits, including the ability for eligible annuitants to receive a full lump-sum payment.

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Employees can call the provided customer service number for any queries regarding their FEGLI coverage

The Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program is a valuable resource for postal employees, offering life insurance coverage and benefits. While the specifics of FEGLI coverage can be complex, postal employees can conveniently access information and assistance by calling the dedicated customer service line. This hotline serves as a one-stop solution for any queries or concerns related to their FEGLI coverage.

The customer service number for FEGLI-related inquiries is 888-767-6738, with an additional TDD number provided as 800-878-5707. This hotline connects postal employees directly to knowledgeable representatives who can address their questions about FEGLI coverage. Whether employees are seeking clarification on their current coverage, exploring their options, or facing challenges with their life insurance elections, this dedicated phone line offers a direct channel for support.

By dialling the FEGLI customer service number, postal employees can efficiently obtain the information they need regarding their life insurance coverage. They can inquire about the specific features and benefits of their FEGLI plan, including any recent updates or changes. This is particularly relevant for employees approaching retirement, as the transition from working life to retirement may raise questions about the continuity and cost of their FEGLI coverage.

Moreover, the customer service representatives can provide guidance on important considerations, such as keeping beneficiary information up to date and ensuring that beneficiaries have access to the necessary information to apply for benefits. This proactive approach is crucial in ensuring a smooth and stress-free process for both the employees and their loved ones. The hotline also serves as a central point of contact for employees who may be unsure about the location of their life insurance papers, offering reassurance and assistance in navigating their coverage details.

In addition to the FEGLI customer service number, postal employees can also refer to other resources, such as the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI), which can be reached at 1-800-633-4542. This office provides specific forms and information related to living benefits, including Form FE-8, Claim for Living Benefits. Furthermore, the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) offers additional support and resources for postal employees, ensuring they have the guidance they need to make informed decisions about their life insurance elections and overall financial planning.

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Employees can write to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for any changes to their life insurance coverage

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is responsible for the government-wide administration of the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program. Employees can write to the OPM for any changes to their life insurance coverage. The OPM has published the FEGLI Handbook, which provides guidance to FEGLI enrollees, their employing offices, and beneficiaries on the policies and procedures of the program. The handbook is available on the OPM website.

Employees have the right to ask the Office of Employee Relations (GTM/ER) or their life insurance officer to reconsider its initial denial of coverage or the opportunity to change coverage. Employees must make a request for reconsideration in writing within 30 days of the initial decision. The OPM has delegated the authority to agencies to reconsider initial decisions pertaining to life insurance enrollment issues. Reconsideration consists of a review of an initial decision to determine whether laws and regulations were correctly applied. It is the employee’s final level of administrative review for enrollment and coverage issues under FEGLI.

The OPM has no authority to waive the requirements for continuing life insurance coverage. If an employee is ineligible to continue coverage into retirement, they will be given the opportunity to convert to an individual policy. Their Official Personnel Folder should contain everything OPM needs, including a record of all their life insurance election forms (SF-2817) and their Designation(s) of Beneficiary (SF-2823), if they have one on file. When retiring, employees must ensure their records show a complete history of their life insurance enrollment for the last five years and any designations of beneficiary on file. If they are satisfied with the statutory order of precedence as explained in FEGLI law (5 U.S.C. 8705), they do not need to complete a designation. However, if they wish their life insurance to be paid differently than the order of precedence, they need to complete a Designation of Beneficiary (SF-2823) form and send it to the OPM.

Postal employees can obtain additional information in the FEGLI Booklet for Postal-Service Employees on the OPM website. They can also contact the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI) at 1-800-633-4542.

Frequently asked questions

Postal employees can see their life insurance elections by calling the Office of Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance at 1-800-633-4542.

The basic FEGLI for postal employees is paid for by the U.S. Postal Service and has a face value of the employee's annual basic pay, rounded to the nearest thousand, plus $2,000.

The basic FEGLI coverage does not automatically continue into retirement. However, employees can choose to continue coverage if they meet certain requirements, such as having the coverage for five years of service immediately before retiring.

The PSHB Program is a new health insurance program that will provide coverage for eligible U.S. Postal Service employees, annuitants, and their eligible family members starting on January 1, 2025. It will replace the existing FEHB Program for these groups.

All changes to the PSHB plan must be made through the PSHB System maintained by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The FECA program cannot accept health benefits election forms for Postal Service claimants.

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