§8714b. Additional optional life insurance

(a) Under the conditions, directives, and terms specified in sections 8709 through 8712 of this title, the Office of Personnel Management, without regard to section 5 of title 41, may purchase a policy which shall make available to each employee insured under section 8702 of this title amounts of additional optional life insurance (without accidental death and dismemberment insurance). An employee may elect coverage under this section without regard to whether the employee has elected coverage under optional insurance available under section 8714a of this title.

(b) The additional optional insurance provided under this section shall be made available to each eligible employee who has elected coverage under this section, under conditions the Office shall prescribe, in multiples, at the employee's election, of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 times the annual rate of basic pay payable to the employee (rounded to the next higher multiple of $1,000) except that coverage may not exceed an amount equal to 5 times the annual rate of basic pay payable for positions at level II of the Executive Schedule under section 5313 of this title (rounded to the next higher multiple of $1,000). An employee may reduce or stop coverage elected pursuant to this section at any time.

(c)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the additional optional insurance elected by an employee pursuant to this section shall stop on separation from service or 12 months after discontinuance of his pay, whichever is earlier, subject to a provision for temporary extension of life insurance coverage and for conversion to an individual policy of life insurance under conditions approved by the Office. Justices and judges of the United States described in section 8701(a)(5)(ii) and (iii) of this chapter are deemed to continue in active employment for purposes of this chapter. A justice or judge of the United States as defined by section 8701(a)(5) of this title who resigns his office without meeting the requirements of section 371(a) of title 28, United States Code, for continuation of the judicial salary shall have the right to convert additional optional life insurance coverage issued under this section during his judicial service to an individual policy of life insurance under the same conditions approved by the Office governing conversion of basic life insurance coverage for employees eligible as provided in section 8706(a) of this title.

(2) In the case of any employee who retires on an immediate annuity or who becomes entitled to receive compensation under subchapter I of chapter 81 of this title because of disease or injury to the employee, so much of the additional optional insurance as has been in force for not less than-

(A) the 5 years of service immediately preceding the date of retirement or entitlement to compensation, or

(B) the full period or periods of service during which the insurance was available to the employee, if fewer than 5 years,

may be continued under conditions determined by the Office after retirement or while the employee is receiving compensation under subchapter I of chapter 81 of this title and is held by the Secretary of Labor (or the Secretary's delegate) to be unable to return to duty. The amount of insurance continued under this paragraph shall be reduced each month by 2 percent effective at the beginning of the second calendar month after the date the employee becomes 65 years of age and is retired or is in receipt of compensation. The reduction shall continue for 50 months at which time the insurance stops.

(d)(1) During each period in which the additional optional insurance is in force on an employee the full cost thereof shall be withheld from the employee's pay. During each period in which an employee continues additional optional insurance after retirement or while in receipt of compensation under subchapter I of chapter 81 of this title because of disease or injury to the employee, as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the full cost thereof shall be withheld from the former employee's annuity or compensation, except that, beginning at the end of the calendar month in which the former employee becomes 65 years of age, the additional optional life insurance shall be without cost to the former employee. Amounts so withheld shall be deposited, used, and invested as provided in section 8714 of this title and shall be reported and accounted for together with amounts withheld under section 8714a(d) of this title.

(2) If an agency fails to withhold the proper cost of additional optional insurance from an individual's salary, compensation, or retirement annuity, the collection of amounts properly due may be waived by the agency if, in the judgment of the agency, the individual is without fault and recovery would be against equity and good conscience. However, if the agency so waives the collection of any unpaid amount, the agency shall submit an amount equal to the uncollected amount to the Office for deposit to the Employees' Life Insurance Fund.

(e) The cost of the additional optional insurance shall be determined from time to time by the Office on the basis of the employee's age relative to such age groups as the Office establishes under section 8714a(e) of this title.

(f) The amount of additional optional life insurance in force on an employee at the date of his death shall be paid as provided in section 8705 of this title.

(Added Pub. L. 96–427, §7(a), Oct. 10, 1980, 94 Stat. 1834 ; amended Pub. L. 98–353, title II, §§206, 207, July 10, 1984, 98 Stat. 351 , as amended by Pub. L. 99–336, §7(1), June 19, 1986, 100 Stat. 639 ; Pub. L. 99–335, title II, §207(k)(4), June 6, 1986, 100 Stat. 597 ; Pub. L. 99–336, §7(1), June 19, 1986, 100 Stat. 639 .)

Amendments

1986-Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 98–353, §206, as amended generally by Pub. L. 99–336, §7(1), inserted sentence which deemed justices and judges described in section 8701(a)(5)(ii) and (iii) of this chapter to continue in active employment for purposes of this chapter.

Pub. L. 99–335 substituted "Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the additional optional insurance elected by an employee pursuant to this section shall stop on separation from service or 12 months after discontinuance of his pay, whichever is earlier, subject to a provision for temporary extension of life insurance coverage and for conversion to an individual policy of life insurance under conditions approved by the Office" for "The additional optional insurance elected by an employee pursuant to this section shall stop on separation from service, 12 months after discontinuance of pay, or on entry on active military duty or active duty for training, subject to provision for a 31-day temporary extension of insurance coverage and for conversion to an individual policy, as provided in sections 8706(a) and 8706(c) of this title".

1984-Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 98–353 inserted "A justice or judge of the United States as defined by section 8701(a)(5) of this title who resigns his office without meeting the requirements of section 371(a) of title 28, United States Code, for continuation of the judicial salary shall have the right to convert additional optional life insurance coverage issued under this section during his judicial service to an individual policy of life insurance under the same conditions approved by the Office governing conversion of basic life insurance coverage for employees eligible as provided in section 8706(a) of this title."

Effective Date of 1986 Amendments

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–353, §206, as amended generally by Pub. L. 99–336, §7(1), applicable to any justice or judge who retires under 28 U.S.C. 371(a) or (b) or 372(a) on or after January 1, 1982, see section 207 of Pub. L. 98–353, as amended generally by Pub. L. 99–336, §7(2), set out as a note under section 8706 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–335 effective Jan. 1, 1987, see section 702(a) of Pub. L. 99–335, set out as an Effective Date note under section 8401 of this title.

Effective Date

Section effective on first day of first pay period which begins on or after 180th day following Oct. 10, 1980, or on any earlier date that Office may prescribe which is at least 60 days after Oct. 10, 1980, and shall have no effect in case of an employee who died, was finally separated, or retired before effective date, see section 10(d) of Pub. L. 96–427 set out as an Effective Date of 1980 Amendment note under section 8701 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 8714c, 8714d of this title.