OPM puts life insurance info online

OPM puts life insurance info online

amaxwell@govexec.com

The Office of Personnel Management has made it easier for federal employees, retirees and human resource professionals to access information about life insurance benefits offered through the Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI).

OPM has created a new Web site called "Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program: A Handbook for Employees, Annuitants, Compensationers and Employing Offices" at www.opm.gov/insure/life. The site provides a summary of the major features of the FEGLI program and details the various types and costs of available life insurance. OPM's new site also contains information on open enrollment periods, how to file a claim and how to change your beneficiary.

In the future, OPM plans to add a calculator that uses information supplied by the individual to compute the cost of basic life insurance and optional coverages.

OPM has also published a booklet about FEGLI geared toward employees new to the federal government. The booklet includes information on eligibility qualifications, benefit levels and the various types of coverage available. Employees can review the booklet at their agencies' personnel offices.

The FEGLI program is the largest group life insurance program in the world, covering more than 4 million federal employees and retirees. In fiscal year 1996 the program paid more than 73,000 claims, totaling more than $1.6 billion.