Protecting Your Federal Career: Discover How FEPLI Helps Feds Like You

Federal Employee Professional Liability Insurance (FEPLI) provides crucial insurance protection for federal employees against qualifying administrative, civil, and criminal claims. If you are accused of wrongdoing, your FEPLI coverage can help you obtain legal advice and representation. Coverage can also help during investigations and disciplinary processes. However, as with all insurance coverage types, there are limits and exclusions to what FEPLI covers.

Here’s what you can expect from your FEPLI policy.

Coverage for Allegations Against the Policyholder

If someone makes a covered claim or allegation against you — even if that claim is baseless — your FEPLI policy will provide coverage.

But what if you want to file a claim against someone else? In this situation, your FEPLI policy will not provide coverage. The insurance is designed to protect the policyholder against claims and allegations, and it can provide coverage for associated legal costs. However, FEPLI does not provide coverage for legal costs that the policyholder may incur when filing a lawsuit or other claim against a third-party.

If someone makes a covered claim or allegation against you — even if that claim is baseless — your FEPLI policy will provide coverage.

Coverage for Allegations of Wrongdoing in the Course and Scope of Federal Employment

FEPLI provides coverage for claims of wrongdoing in the course or scope of federal employment. This includes a wide range of possible claims that are administrative, civil, or criminal in nature, including EEO actions, constitutional torts, Bivens actions, whistleblower complaints, and ethics investigations. Federal law enforcement agents, federal managers, and other federal employees face the possibility of allegations from colleagues, job applicants, subordinates, and the public, and FEPLI provides essential insurance protection.

However, FEPLI does not provide coverage for lawsuits brought against federal employees that are unrelated to the course and scope of federal employment. For example, if a personal guest is injured at your home and sues you as a result, your FEPLI policy would not provide coverage, because the claim is unrelated to your federal employment. In this particular situation, a liability claim might appropriately be filed against a homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy.

Coverage for Specific Allegations of Wrongdoing, Negligence, or Rule-Breaking

FEPLI can provide representation during investigations or disciplinary processes. For example, if a policyholder is investigated for an ethics violation, legal advice and representation can be obtained with the assistance of the FEPLI policy.

However, FEPLI does not provide coverage for general performance issues. For example, a policyholder would not be able to file a claim in response to receiving a poor performance appraisal or being rejected for a raise or promotion over general performance issues.

Hopefully, these examples provide clarification about how FEPLI can enhance your overall insurance protection package. Learn more here, or apply for coverage now.

Article authored by Starr Wright USA. This article is offered solely for informational purposes.

Starr Wright USA is a marketing name for Starr Wright Insurance Agency, Inc. and its affiliate(s). Starr Wright USA is an insurance agency specializing in insurance solutions for federal employees and federal contractors. For more information, visit WrightUSA.com. Starr Wright USA is a division of Starr Insurance Companies, which is a marketing name for the operating insurance and travel assistance companies and subsidiaries of Starr International Company, Inc. and for the investment business of C.V. Starr & Co., Inc.