FEGLI vs Term Life Crossover Calculator
Project your FEGLI Option B premiums across every age band — and find the exact age where private level-term insurance becomes cheaper. For a 50-year-old with $300K of Option B, that crossover may already have passed.
The number that changes everything
Market estimate only. Get a binding quote before changing coverage.
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FEGLI Option B rates by age band (verified June 2026)
All rates are the employee share, biweekly, per $1,000 of coverage. No government subsidy for Option B. The $300,000 column uses 3× a $100,000 salary as the worked example.
| Age Band | Biweekly / $1K | Annual / $1K | $300K annual | vs. under-35 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $0.02 | $0.52 | $156 | 1× |
| 35–39 | $0.03 | $0.78 | $234 | 1.5× |
| 40–44 | $0.04 | $1.04 | $312 | 2× |
| 45–49 | $0.07 | $1.82 | $546 | 3.5× |
| 50–54 | $0.11 | $2.86 | $858 | 5.5× |
| 55–59 | $0.21 | $5.46 | $1,638 | 10.5× |
| 60–64 | $0.44 | $11.44 | $3,432 | 22× |
| 65–69 | $0.54 | $14.04 | $4,212 | 27× |
| 70–74 | $0.96 | $24.96 | $7,488 | 48× |
| 75–79 | $1.80 | $46.80 | $14,040 | 90× |
| 80+ | $2.88 | $74.88 | $22,464 | 144× |
Basic insurance: how the BIA and employee share work
Basic Insurance Amount (BIA) = your salary rounded up to the next whole $1,000, plus $2,000. A $100,000 salary produces a $102,000 BIA. The employee pays $0.16 biweekly per $1,000 of BIA — the government picks up $0.08 (one-third of the total $0.24 per $1,000 premium). Basic is the only FEGLI option with a government subsidy.
Recommendation: Keep Basic in almost all cases. It is government-subsidized and, at retirement, the 75% Reduction option causes it to become free after age 65 while preserving 25% of the original death benefit permanently. There is no private analog for this feature.
The crossover: why it matters and when to act
Private level-term insurance locks in a fixed annual premium for the policy term — typically 10, 20, or 30 years — regardless of your age. FEGLI Option B resets upward every five years. The crossover age is the first year your FEGLI Option B annual cost exceeds what a comparable level-term policy would charge you.
The key nuance: you must qualify for private insurance to make the switch worthwhile. FEGLI is guaranteed issue — it accepts everyone regardless of health history. If you have a condition that makes private underwriting difficult, FEGLI's crossover cost may be worth paying for the security of coverage.