FEGLI Calculator: Premiums by Age, All Options
Project your FEGLI Basic, Option A, Option B, and Option C premiums by age — and find the exact crossover point where private level-term coverage becomes cheaper than Option B. OPM rates effective October 2021, re-verified August 2026.
Reviewed by Jonathan D., 20-year federal employee · Formulas verified against OPM.gov ·
The number that changes everything
Market estimate only. Get a binding quote before changing coverage.
Based on these numbers, FEGLI Option B costs 41% more per year than comparable level-term coverage. If you can qualify for private insurance at Preferred health rates, switching could save you an estimated $21,432 by age 65.
What you pay today
What you'll pay as you age
FEGLI Option B for $300,000 coverage · rates step up every 5 years
Year-by-year cost comparison
FEGLI Option B vs 20-year level-term · $300,000 coverage · starting age 50 · term rate is market estimate
| Age | Band | FEGLI Opt B / yr | Total FEGLI / yr | Term / yr | Annual Diff | Cum. Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50–54 | $780 | $1,230 | $552 | +$228 | Save $228 |
| 51 | 50–54 | $780 | $1,230 | $552 | +$228 | Save $456 |
| 52 | 50–54 | $780 | $1,230 | $552 | +$228 | Save $684 |
| 53 | 50–54 | $780 | $1,230 | $552 | +$228 | Save $912 |
| 54 | 50–54 | $780 | $1,230 | $552 | +$228 | Save $1,140 |
| 55 | 55–59 | $1,404 | $1,875 | $552 | +$852 | Save $1,992 |
| 56 | 55–59 | $1,404 | $1,875 | $552 | +$852 | Save $2,844 |
| 57 | 55–59 | $1,404 | $1,875 | $552 | +$852 | Save $3,696 |
| 58 | 55–59 | $1,404 | $1,875 | $552 | +$852 | Save $4,548 |
| 59 | 55–59 | $1,404 | $1,875 | $552 | +$852 | Save $5,400 |
- FEGLI is guaranteed issue. If you have pre-existing conditions, diabetes, heart disease, or cancer history, private insurance may be unavailable or priced much higher. Never cancel FEGLI before being approved for a private policy.
- Smokers pay the same FEGLI rate as non-smokers. Private insurers charge smokers 200–300% more — FEGLI is a better deal for tobacco users.
- Retirees: Annuitant rates may differ from active-employee rates shown here. Use OPM's official FEGLI Calculator for post-retirement modeling.
Retirement continuity rules
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 | $0.02 | $0.52 | $156 | 1× |
| 40–44 | $0.03 | $0.78 | $234 | 1.5× |
| 45–49 | $0.06 | $1.56 | $468 | 3× |
| 50–54 | $0.10 | $2.60 | $780 | 5× |
| 55–59 | $0.18 | $4.68 | $1,404 | 9× |
| 60–64 | $0.40 | $10.40 | $3,120 | 20× |
| 65–69 | $0.48 | $12.48 | $3,744 | 24× |
| 70–74 | $0.86 | $22.36 | $6,708 | 43× |
| 75–79 | $1.80 | $46.80 | $14,040 | 90× |
| 80+ | $2.88 | $74.88 | $22,464 | 144× |
FEGLI Option A rates by age ($10,000 flat coverage)
Option A (Standard) is a flat $10,000 of additional coverage. No government subsidy. The 60+ band is a single bucket — the rate never rises again after 60.
| Age Band | Biweekly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $0.20 | $5.20 |
| 35–39 | $0.20 | $5.20 |
| 40–44 | $0.30 | $7.80 |
| 45–49 | $0.60 | $15.60 |
| 50–54 | $1.00 | $26.00 |
| 55–59 | $1.80 | $46.80 |
| 60+ | $6.00 | $156.00 |
FEGLI Option C family coverage rates by age (per multiple)
Option C covers your spouse ($5,000 per multiple) and each eligible dependent child ($2,500 per multiple), with 1–5 multiples. The rate is based on the employee's age, not the spouse's. Worked example: a 50-year-old with 3 multiples pays $0.83 × 3 = $2.49 biweekly ($64.74/year) for $15,000 of spouse coverage and $7,500 per child.
| Age Band | Biweekly / multiple | Annual / multiple |
|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $0.20 | $5.20 |
| 35–39 | $0.24 | $6.24 |
| 40–44 | $0.37 | $9.62 |
| 45–49 | $0.53 | $13.78 |
| 50–54 | $0.83 | $21.58 |
| 55–59 | $1.33 | $34.58 |
| 60–64 | $2.43 | $63.18 |
| 65–69 | $2.83 | $73.58 |
| 70–74 | $3.83 | $99.58 |
| 75–79 | $5.76 | $149.76 |
| 80+ | $7.80 | $202.80 |
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.
A federal-specific alternative: civilian federal employees can also compare Option B against WAEPA (Worldwide Assurance for Employees of Public Agencies), group term underwritten by New York Life with coverage up to $1.5 million and rates typically 10–20% lower than FEGLI until age 60 — though its maximum benefit starts decreasing at 60 and coverage ends at 85. See the FEGLI coverage cliff guide for the full comparison.
FEGLI — Frequently Asked Questions
How much does FEGLI Option B cost by age?
FEGLI Option B costs $0.02 biweekly per $1,000 of coverage for employees under 35, rising to $0.10 at ages 50-54, $0.40 at ages 60-64, and $2.88 at age 80 and older. For $300,000 of coverage (3x a $100,000 salary), that means $780/year at age 50, $3,120/year at age 60, and $22,464/year at age 80. These rates are set by OPM and apply to all federal employees regardless of health status.
Is FEGLI worth it after retirement?
FEGLI Basic is worth keeping into retirement in almost every case. With the 75% Reduction election, Basic becomes completely free after age 65 and provides a permanent death benefit equal to 25% of your original coverage amount. FEGLI Option B in retirement is more complicated — if you elect No Reduction, you continue paying escalating age-band premiums that reach $0.48 biweekly per $1,000 at ages 65-69. Most financial planners recommend electing Full Reduction for Option B at retirement, which phases coverage to zero at no cost, rather than paying for increasingly expensive coverage you may not need.
FEGLI vs private term life insurance: which is better?
Private term life insurance typically wins on cost for healthy federal employees between roughly ages 40 and 55. A 50-year-old in preferred health can get $300,000 of 20-year level-term coverage for approximately $46/month ($552/year), while FEGLI Option B at age 50 costs $780/year for the same coverage — and will jump to $1,404 at age 55 and $3,120 at age 60. FEGLI wins for employees with pre-existing health conditions (it requires no medical exam), smokers (private insurers charge 200-300% more for smokers), and as the guaranteed-issue fallback if private coverage is unavailable.
Does FEGLI get more expensive as you get older?
Yes. FEGLI Optional coverage (Options A, B, and C) uses 5-year age bands, and premiums increase at each band. Option B goes from $0.02 per $1,000 biweekly under age 35, to $0.10 at 50-54, to $0.40 at 60-64, to $2.88 at 80 and older — a 144-fold increase over the career. The jump from the 55-59 band to the 60-64 band alone adds 122% to the annual premium for the same coverage. Basic insurance premiums do not change with age for active employees; the $0.16 biweekly per $1,000 rate is flat regardless of age.
Can I keep FEGLI when I retire from federal service?
Yes, if you meet two conditions: you must retire on an immediate annuity (not a deferred annuity) and you must have been continuously enrolled in FEGLI for at least the 5 years immediately before your retirement date. If you cancel FEGLI in the last 5 years of your career to save money, you permanently lose the right to carry it into retirement. At retirement, you make a one-time election for Basic (75% Reduction, 50% Reduction, or No Reduction) and a separate election for each Optional coverage.
When is the next FEGLI open season?
There is no scheduled FEGLI open season. Unlike FEHB, FEGLI does not hold an annual open season — they are rare. The last one was in September 2016, and the one before that was 2004, a 12-year gap. Outside of an open season, you can only enroll or increase coverage within 60 days of hire, after a qualifying life event (marriage, divorce, birth or adoption of a child, death of a spouse), or by passing a physical exam.
What is the FEGLI Basic Insurance Amount (BIA) formula?
Your Basic Insurance Amount equals your annual salary rounded up to the next whole $1,000, plus $2,000. A $100,000 salary rounds to $100,000, then adds $2,000 for a $102,000 BIA. The employee pays $0.16 biweekly per $1,000 of BIA — $16.32 biweekly ($424.32/year) on a $102,000 BIA. The government pays an additional $0.08 per $1,000, one-third of the total premium, making Basic the only FEGLI option with a government subsidy.
How much does FEGLI Option A cost by age?
FEGLI Option A provides a flat $10,000 of additional coverage with no government subsidy. Biweekly premiums by age band: under 40 — $0.20; 40-44 — $0.30; 45-49 — $0.60; 50-54 — $1.00; 55-59 — $1.80; 60 and over — $6.00. At 60+, Option A costs $156/year for $10,000 of guaranteed-issue coverage.
How much does FEGLI Option C family coverage cost?
FEGLI Option C covers your spouse at $5,000 per multiple elected and each eligible dependent child at $2,500 per multiple, with 1-5 multiples available. The biweekly rate per multiple is based on the employee's age, not the spouse's: under 35 — $0.20; 35-39 — $0.24; 40-44 — $0.37; 45-49 — $0.53; 50-54 — $0.83; 55-59 — $1.33; 60-64 — $2.43; 65-69 — $2.83; 70-74 — $3.83; 75-79 — $5.76; 80+ — $7.80. A 45-year-old with 3 multiples pays $1.59 biweekly ($41.34/year) for $15,000 of spouse coverage and $7,500 per child.