How to Secure a Peace of Mind with WAEPA
Applying for Life Insurance with WAEPA
Life is complicated. Applying for life insurance shouldn’t have to be.
Many eligible current and former Federal employees can complete their life insurance application online and receive a decision in minutes.
What most applicants can expect: apply online, answer a few health questions, many receive a decision in minutes, typically with no medical exam or blood test.
How the Application Process Works
Applying for Group Term Life Insurance from WAEPA typically involves just a few simple steps.
Start Your Online Application
Begin by completing the online application. To speed up the process, have these pieces of information ready:
Basic contact details
- Your Federal employment eligibility
- Beneficiary information
- Payment details
Most applicants complete this portion of the application in just a few minutes.
Review our Life Insurance Application Checklist to see what you’ll need before getting started.
Answer a Few Health Questions
As part of the application, you’ll answer questions about your health history and lifestyle. These questions help us better understand your overall health profile.
For many applicants, this is all that’s needed to receive a decision.
Secure Data Review
With your permission, we may securely review additional information to verify details in your application and help speed up the decision process. This may include data such as:
- Prescription history
- Medical claims information
Receive Your Decision
Many applicants receive a decision at the end of their online application, sometimes in just minutes.
If you’re approved, we’ll confirm your eligibility and issue your coverage after your initial payment is processed.
When More Information is Needed
Some applications need a little more review before a decision can be made. If that happens, we may ask for additional information, medical records, or a medical exam.
This may depend on factors such as:
- Age
- Coverage amount requested
- Medical history
- Additional information needed to complete the review
If further review is required, an underwriter may request additional information, medical records, or a medical exam.
Additional application review helps ensure you receive the coverage that’s right for your individual situation, helping provide the protection your family may depend on in the future.
If further review is needed, the process may take 4–6 weeks, depending on how quickly records or exam results are received.
WAEPA coverage stays with you through job changes and even into retirement. Taking a little extra time to carefully review your application can help ensure your coverage is set up correctly, helping protect your family for the long term.
Find information about additional application review and underwriting below.
What Happens When Further Review Is Needed?
Step One (After Applying): Potential Lab Work
A representative will arrange for a convenient time and location for lab work.
Prepare for the visit by:
- Drinking a glass of water just before the appointment
- Having your government-issued photo identification available
- For the 12 hours prior:
- Avoiding strenuous exercise
- Limiting salt and high-cholesterol food
- Refraining from alcohol intake
- Limiting caffeine and nicotine consumption
Step Two: Attending Physician’s Statement
Further medical information about your health history may be requested from your physician, in order to complete your medical understanding. In some cases, a specialist report may also be needed. This will be arranged with your convenience in mind, and at no cost to you.
Step Three: Other Requirements
You will be notified with any additional information needed to assess your application. This could be based on your medical history or the amount of coverage for which you’ve applied.
Arrange for the completion of any additional requirements as soon as possible.
Most applicants who go through this step simply need a little more information gathered before a final decision can be made.
Step Four: NYL Underwriter Decision
Once you’ve provided the necessary details, New York Life will make the determination if you can be approved.
Step Five: WAEPA Approval/Notification to Member
WAEPA will send notification of your approval via email and advise of initial premium payment.
If you did not name a beneficiary when you applied, be sure to complete the Change of Beneficiary form included in your New Member Packet.
Ready to Apply?
Let’s get started so you can join the more than 50,000 Federal employees and their families who safeguard their future with WAEPA.
Need More Information?
Explore some of our life insurance application and underwriting explainer videos:
Online Application Tutorial
After Applying
Medical Underwriting
QUESTIONS?
We’re Here to Help
If you’re unsure of your life insurance options or coverage needs, or need help with the application process, our dedicated team of specialists is available to help you.
Give Us a Call
Our team is available at (800) 368-3484, Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. or Friday 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET.
Submit a Request
Fill out our contact us form with your request and we’ll get back to you.
WAEPA IS THE NAME FEDS HAVE TRUSTED SINCE 1943
Reliably Backed by New York Life Insurance Company
Have More Questions?
How long does the application / purchase process take start to finish?
The average time from the receipt of your application to receipt of your insurance certificate is 6 to 8 weeks.
How long does the application take to complete?
The application may be completed in as little as 20 minutes. The time to complete the application is based largely on your personal medical history.
What information do I need to have available?
You should have your social security number, medical history, physician information, payment information (banking or credit card), current contact info (mailing, email address and phone), and the name of the Federal agency you are currently or previously employed with (or are retired from).
Can I save my application and come back to it?
You can save an incomplete application for up to 10 days if you create a login, but the application will close after 10 days. However, once you are at the DocuSign signature portion of the application, you cannot go back to the beginning. Please note that the password you set cannot be retrieved or reset.
What happens when I finish my application?
You will receive an email including a confirmation number once the application is complete. If additional information is required, you will be contacted by a WAEPA team member or New York Life partner organization.
How can I check on the status of my application?
Please contact WAEPA’s Member Services team directly at (800) 368-3484. Our hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. or Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET.
What is medical underwriting?
After you submit an application, underwriting begins. Underwriting is the process life insurance companies use to determine whether they’re able to offer life insurance coverage to applicants, and the premiums they charge. Note that WAEPA’s premium rates are set for our entire membership group, based on five-year age bands.
What factors are considered by underwriters?
There are a variety of factors (which can vary by state) underwriters consider when determining your level of risk, including your:
- Age
- Gender
- Tobacco and alcohol use
- Personal health situation and medical history
- Family health history
- Driving record
- Criminal record
- Previous and concurrent applications for life insurance
- Foreign travel
- Occupation
- Hobbies
How will I be notified when the underwriter makes their decision?
How you are notified depends on whether your application is approved or declined.
What happens if I am approved?
If you are approved, a representative from WAEPA’s Member Services team will contact you via email. If we’ve already received your banking or credit card information, your initial payment will be processed within five business days. If we don’t have your payment information, you will receive a request during your initial monthly premium.
What happens if I am declined?
If you are declined, WAEPA will notify you via email. New York Life will follow-up with a letter including the reason your application was declined.
What happens if my application is approved as is?
If your application is approved as is, then no further action is required.
What happens if my application is approved, but with changes?
If your application is approved with changes, you will be contact by a WAEPA Member Services representative.
When do I receive a Certificate of Insurance?
You will be mailed a Certificate of Insurance if your application is approved, after the initial premium payment is received and coverage is issued.