FEGLI Option C: Protect Family Coverage, Avoid Costly Gaps 2026

The short answer: FEGLI Option C is the family coverage piece of the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance program. FEGLI Option C insures your spouse and eligible children in multiples, with each multiple worth $5,000 on a spouse and $2,500 on each child. It fills a gap many federal families overlook.

Most federal employees focus on their own life insurance and forget that the program also covers dependents. FEGLI Option C is built for that purpose. Understanding how the multiples work can prevent a costly coverage gap at exactly the wrong moment.

What Are the Key Takeaways?

• FEGLI Option C covers your spouse and eligible children, according to OPM.
• Coverage comes in 1 to 5 multiples; each multiple is $5,000 for a spouse and $2,500 per child (OPM).
• Premiums are based on the employee’s age, not the dependent’s.
• Children are generally covered until age 22, with exceptions for disability.
• Enrolling usually requires a qualifying life event or a rare open season.

How Does FEGLI Option C Work?

FEGLI Option C provides life insurance on your family members rather than on you. You choose from one to five multiples, and each multiple pays a set amount if a covered dependent dies.

The amounts are fixed per multiple. One multiple equals $5,000 of coverage on a spouse and $2,500 on each eligible child. Five multiples would equal $25,000 on a spouse and $12,500 on each child.

Because the benefit is modest, many families treat it as a way to cover final expenses. Employees comparing it with their own coverage often review the FEGLI Option B rules at the same time.

What Does FEGLI Option C Cost?

FEGLI Option C premiums are based on your age as the enrolled employee. They rise as you move into higher age brackets. The dependent’s age does not set the price, which makes the timing of enrollment worth understanding.

Premiums increase at each five-year age band, so the same multiples generally cost more later in a career. This structure is one reason families review whether the coverage still fits as children age out.

The current premium tables appear on the OPM FEGLI pages, which OPM updates as rates change.

Who Counts as an Eligible Dependent?

Eligible dependents under FEGLI Option C generally include your spouse and your unmarried dependent children under age 22. A child who is incapable of self-support because of a disability that began before age 22 may remain eligible longer.

Certain relationships, such as stepchildren living with you, can also qualify under the rules. Confirming eligibility before you rely on the coverage prevents a surprise at claim time.

These dependent definitions often overlap with health coverage questions, which is why some employees also review FEHB Self Plus One enrollment.

What Happens to FEGLI Option C in Retirement?

FEGLI Option C can continue into retirement if you meet the eligibility rules and elect to keep it. As with other FEGLI coverage, the family option follows specific continuation requirements based on how long you carried it.

Because premiums continue and children eventually age out, retirees often reassess whether the family coverage still serves a purpose. Pairing this review with your broader OPM retirement application steps keeps the elections consistent.

How Does FEGLI Option C Compare With Private Coverage?

FEGLI Option C offers convenience and guaranteed enrollment around qualifying events. Private child or spouse life insurance sometimes offers larger or level-priced coverage. The right fit depends on your family’s needs and health history.

The federal option shines on simplicity, since payroll deduction and automatic eligibility make it easy to start. Its trade-off is the age-based premium structure, which rises over a career even though the benefit amounts stay fixed at $5,000 per spouse multiple and $2,500 per child multiple.

Private policies can lock in a rate for a set term, which may cost less over time for a healthy applicant. They also require underwriting, so coverage is not guaranteed the way FEGLI Option C generally is during an eligible enrollment window.

Comparing both against your broader plan, including your own coverage, tends to produce a clearer answer than looking at either in isolation. Many employees weigh this alongside the FEGLI Basic reduction options that apply to their own life insurance in retirement.

When Should Families Reassess FEGLI Option C?

Families often reassess FEGLI Option C when children age out of eligibility. The child portion of the coverage ends while premiums continue. That milestone is a natural point to ask whether the remaining spouse coverage still earns its cost.

Major life events, such as a new child, a marriage, or a divorce, also change who is covered and whether the multiples still match the need. Reviewing the election after each event keeps the coverage aligned with the household.

Approaching retirement is another checkpoint, because continuation rules and future premiums come into focus. A short review at each of these stages prevents paying for coverage that no longer serves its original purpose.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does each FEGLI Option C multiple pay? Each multiple pays $5,000 on a spouse and $2,500 on each eligible child, up to five multiples.

Does the child’s age affect the premium? No. Premiums are set by the employee’s age band, not the dependent’s age.

When can I enroll in FEGLI Option C? Generally after a qualifying life event, such as marriage or a new child, or during a rare open season.

Can I keep FEGLI Option C after I retire? Often yes, if you meet the continuation rules, though premiums continue.

Where can I confirm the rules? The authoritative source is OPM.gov FEGLI.

Where Can Federal Employees Learn More?

FEGLI Option C offers a simple way to insure a spouse and children. The fixed multiples and age-based premiums mean it is worth reviewing as your family changes. Fed Pilot hosts free workshops that help federal employees fit life insurance into a complete retirement plan.

Register for a free Fed Pilot workshop to review your FEGLI elections with retirement-focused educators.