5 C.F.R. § 870.603 Conversion of Basic and Optional insurance.
Title 5 - Administrative Personnel
(a)(1) When group coverage terminates for any reason other than voluntary cancellation, an employee may apply to convert all or any part of his/her Basic and Optional insurance to an individual policy; no medical examination is required. The premiums for the individual policy are based on the employee's age and class of risk. An employee is eligible to convert the policy only if he/she doesn't return, within 3 calendar days from the terminating event, to a position covered under the group plan. If insurance has been assigned under subpart I of this part, it is the assignee(s), not the employee, who has(have) the right to convert. (2) The employing agency must notify the employee/assignee(s) of the loss of coverage and the right to convert to an individual policy either before or immediately after the event causing the loss of coverage. (3) The employee/assignee(s) must submit the request for conversion information to OFEGLI. It must be postmarked within 31 days following the date of the terminating event or within 31 days of the date the employee/assignee received the notice of loss of group coverage and right to convert, whichever is later. (4) An employee/assignee who fails to use his/her conversion right within 31 days after receiving notice of the right to convert or within 31 days of the terminating event, whichever is later, is considered to have refused coverage, unless OFEGLI determines the failure was for reasons beyond the employee's control, as described in paragraph (a)(5) of this section. (5) When an agency fails to provide the notification required in paragraph (a)(2) of this section, or the employee/assignee fails to request conversion information within the time limit set in paragraph (a)(3) of this section for reasons beyond his/her control, the employee may make a belated request by writing to OFEGLI. The employee/assignee must make the request within 6 months after becoming eligible to convert the insurance. The employee/assignee must show that he/she wasn't notified of the loss of coverage and the right to convert and was not otherwise aware of it or that he/she was unable to convert to an individual policy for reasons beyond his/her control. OFEGLI will determine if the employee/assignee is eligible to convert. If the request is approved, the employee must convert within 31 days of that determination. (b) The individual conversion policy is effective the day after the group coverage ends. The employee/assignee must pay the premiums for any period retroactive to that date. (c) The 31–day extension of coverage provided under this subpart does not depend upon timely notification of the right to convert to an individual policy. The extension cannot be continued beyond 31 days.
Title 5: Administrative Personnel
PART 870—FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAM
Subpart F—Termination and Conversion
§ 870.603 Conversion of Basic and Optional insurance.
