Federal Group Life Insurance Calculator
Estimate FEGLI Basic, Option A, Option B, and Option C coverage and payroll deductions using a premium calculator built for federal employees and benefits comparisons.
Your FEGLI estimate will appear here
Enter your salary, age band, and optional coverages, then click Calculate FEGLI Estimate.
Expert guide to using a federal group life insurance calculator
A federal group life insurance calculator helps federal employees estimate the cost and coverage value of Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance, commonly called FEGLI. If you are comparing payroll deductions, trying to decide whether Option B or Option C is worth the extra cost, or simply checking how much insurance you already have through Basic coverage, a calculator can save time and reduce guesswork. This page is designed to provide an educational estimate based on widely published FEGLI formulas and age band premium schedules. It is especially useful when you want to understand how your salary, age, and optional elections interact.
For most federal employees, FEGLI begins with Basic insurance. Basic coverage is usually equal to your annual rate of basic pay, rounded up to the next higher $1,000, plus $2,000. On top of Basic, employees may elect Option A, Option B, and Option C. Option A is a fixed $10,000 amount. Option B offers one to five multiples of salary based insurance. Option C is family coverage that provides insurance for a spouse and eligible children. Because each of these layers works differently, using a federal group life insurance calculator is one of the easiest ways to create a realistic estimate before open season actions, qualifying life event elections, or long term budgeting decisions.
How the calculator works
The calculator above uses the standard Basic FEGLI formula and age-banded rates for optional coverage. To generate an estimate, it follows a straightforward process:
- It takes your annual basic pay and rounds it up to the next $1,000.
- It adds $2,000 if you elect Basic FEGLI, which reflects the standard Basic coverage formula.
- It applies the employee Basic premium rate of $0.15 per $1,000 of coverage each biweekly pay period.
- It adds Option A if selected, using the age band premium tied to the fixed $10,000 amount.
- It adds Option B based on the number of multiples you choose, using your salary based coverage and the age-banded rate per $1,000.
- It adds Option C family coverage based on the number of multiples chosen, while showing how much spouse and child coverage your selection creates.
- It converts the result into biweekly, monthly, or annual terms so you can budget more easily.
This approach gives federal workers a practical estimate that is easy to compare with other planning tools. If you are evaluating whether to keep additional life insurance elsewhere, estimating survivor income replacement, or comparing FEGLI with private term policies, the most useful starting point is often understanding your current payroll deduction and total coverage in a single snapshot.
What Basic, Option A, Option B, and Option C actually cover
Many people know they have FEGLI but are not sure how the pieces fit together. Here is the practical breakdown:
- Basic FEGLI: Usually equal to annual salary rounded up to the next $1,000 plus $2,000. For many employees, this is the foundation of federal life insurance coverage.
- Option A: A fixed extra $10,000 in coverage. It is simple to understand, but its value relative to cost changes with age.
- Option B: One to five multiples of salary based coverage. This is often the largest optional component and therefore the one that can meaningfully change payroll deductions.
- Option C: Family coverage. Each multiple provides $5,000 for a spouse and $2,500 for each eligible child. The premium is based on your age and number of multiples, not the number of children covered.
For younger employees, optional coverage can appear inexpensive compared with the amount of protection received. As age bands rise, especially after age 50 and then after age 55, Option B and Option C premiums can climb rapidly. That is why a federal group life insurance calculator is not just a one time tool. It is something worth revisiting at major career and family milestones.
Core FEGLI facts and published figures
| FEGLI component | Published rule or statistic | Why it matters in a calculator |
|---|---|---|
| Basic insurance formula | Annual basic pay rounded up to the next $1,000, plus $2,000 | Determines your default coverage amount before optional elections are added. |
| Basic employee premium | $0.15 per $1,000 of Basic coverage each biweekly pay period | Lets you estimate payroll deduction directly from your salary based Basic amount. |
| Government share of Basic | The government pays one-third of the Basic premium cost | Shows why Basic coverage is often cost effective for many employees. |
| Option A coverage | Fixed $10,000 amount | Makes Option A easy to compare with private coverage alternatives. |
| Option B | 1 to 5 multiples of salary based coverage | Can create large protection, but age-banded rates may become expensive later. |
| Option C | Each multiple equals $5,000 for spouse and $2,500 for each eligible child | Useful for family protection, especially for households wanting immediate survivor funds. |
Actual age-banded optional premium rates used in many FEGLI estimates
The table below shows common age-banded rates used for educational FEGLI premium estimates. Option B is expressed per $1,000 of coverage per biweekly period. Option C is shown per multiple per biweekly period. Because these rates rise significantly as you age, the value of a calculator increases over time.
| Age band | Option A biweekly | Option B biweekly rate per $1,000 | Option C biweekly rate per multiple |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 35 | $0.20 | $0.02 | $0.02 |
| 35 to 39 | $0.30 | $0.03 | $0.03 |
| 40 to 44 | $0.60 | $0.06 | $0.05 |
| 45 to 49 | $0.90 | $0.09 | $0.08 |
| 50 to 54 | $1.70 | $0.17 | $0.15 |
| 55 to 59 | $3.90 | $0.39 | $0.34 |
| 60 to 64 | $6.00 | $0.60 | $0.49 |
| 65 to 69 | $6.00 | $1.30 | $0.86 |
| 70 to 74 | $6.00 | $1.95 | $1.29 |
| 75 to 79 | $6.00 | $3.90 | $2.58 |
| 80 and over | $6.00 | $6.00 | $3.87 |
Why federal employees use a FEGLI calculator before making benefits decisions
The most common reason to use a federal group life insurance calculator is to identify the tradeoff between cost and coverage. A younger employee with a modest salary may find that Option B provides a large amount of extra insurance at a relatively low payroll cost. But that same employee may discover, after modeling future age bands, that premiums could increase materially in later years. A calculator turns that abstract idea into a visible number.
Another reason to use a calculator is to coordinate FEGLI with household financial responsibilities. For example, if your spouse depends on your income, if you have young children, if you have a mortgage, or if you anticipate college funding needs, then an estimate of total death benefit is useful for broader financial planning. Many employees compare FEGLI against private term life insurance, survivor annuity protections, Thrift Savings Plan balances, and emergency savings. The calculator gives you the FEGLI side of that equation.
How to interpret the results you see
When the calculator shows your total biweekly, monthly, or annual premium, think about the result in three ways:
- Affordability today: Can your current budget comfortably absorb the deduction?
- Coverage adequacy: Does the combined death benefit reasonably support your survivors?
- Age-related sustainability: Will the optional premiums still look reasonable when you move into the next age band?
If the payroll cost looks low but the coverage is still far below what your household would actually need, then FEGLI may be underinsuring you. If the coverage is high but optional costs are increasing quickly with age, you may want to compare alternatives. There is no universal answer, but there is a better process, and that process starts with accurate estimates.
Common mistakes people make with federal life insurance estimates
- Assuming Option C premiums increase with each child. They do not. The premium is tied to age and multiples, though the actual family benefit amount does depend on the number of eligible children.
- Forgetting that Basic coverage is based on annual basic pay, not necessarily every form of compensation.
- Ignoring the jump in Option B and Option C rates after higher age bands begin.
- Treating payroll deduction as the only decision factor. Coverage adequacy matters just as much as cost.
- Assuming a one time estimate is enough. Federal employees should revisit life insurance whenever salary, family size, debts, or retirement horizons change.
When FEGLI may be especially valuable
FEGLI can be attractive when you want a simple, payroll-based insurance structure without medical underwriting concerns at the time of initial eligibility. Basic coverage is often particularly compelling because the government pays one-third of the premium, making the employee cost more favorable than many people realize. Option B may be useful for employees who need significant temporary income replacement during peak earning and debt years. Option C may help households that want immediate family coverage without shopping for a separate small policy on dependents.
When a calculator may lead you to ask deeper planning questions
If your estimate reveals a steep age-related cost for optional coverage, that does not automatically mean FEGLI is a bad choice. It means you should ask more refined questions. How long do you actually need the coverage? Will major debts be paid down before retirement? Will your spouse have independent retirement income? Do you already have substantial assets in the Thrift Savings Plan, IRA accounts, or other investments? A good federal group life insurance calculator is not just a pricing tool. It is a decision support tool.
Authoritative resources for verifying FEGLI rules and rates
Before making final benefits decisions, review the official guidance from government sources. Helpful references include the OPM FEGLI Handbook, the OPM FEGLI premium tables, and the OPM FEGLI calculator resources. These sources are the best place to confirm current program details, eligibility, premium schedules, and retirement reduction elections.
Bottom line
A federal group life insurance calculator is one of the most practical tools available to federal employees who want to understand FEGLI in real dollar terms. It helps translate policy language into a payroll deduction, shows how much protection each option adds, and makes age band pricing easier to evaluate. Whether you are new to federal service or reviewing longstanding elections, using a calculator can lead to a more informed, more confident life insurance decision.