FEGLI
FEGLI in retirement
A plain-English overview of life insurance continuation questions for federal retirement planning.
This is an educational overview. FEGLI elections can have lasting cost and coverage consequences.
Last reviewed 2026-04-25
The five-year opportunity rule
OPM explains that continuing FEGLI into retirement generally requires an immediate annuity, coverage for the five years of service before the annuity starts or all opportunities if shorter, and no conversion to an individual policy.
The rule can apply separately to Basic and optional coverages, so one election history may not answer every FEGLI question.
Reduction choices matter
FEGLI planning is not only about whether coverage continues. Reduction elections and age-based costs can affect the value of keeping coverage.
The retirement calculator does not estimate FEGLI premiums. Use this page to flag what to confirm before picking a retirement date.
What to gather
Collect your current FEGLI elections, the dates each coverage type began, and any periods where coverage was unavailable or converted.
Review FEGLI alongside FEHB and annuity timing so the retirement date comparison is not focused only on income.