[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 5, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 5CFR870.603]

[Page 400-401]
 
                    TITLE 5--ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL
 
          CHAPTER I--OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (Continued)
 
PART 870--FEDERAL EMPLOYEES' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
                  Subpart F--Termination and Conversion
 
Sec. 870.603  Conversion of Basic and Optional insurance.

    (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

[[Page 401]]

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.