Military Life Insurance: SGLI, TSGLI, FSGLI and VGLI

By law, these people are automatically insured for $500,000:

• Active-duty members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard.
• Commissioned members of NOAA and the U.S. Public Health Service.
• Cadets and midshipmen of the four military academies (not the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy).
• ROTC members, cadets, and midshipmen during authorized training and practice cruises.
• Ready Reserve and National Guard members scheduled for at least 12 periods of inactive training a year.
• Members who volunteer for a mobilization category in the Individual Ready Reserve.

You can choose less coverage, in $50,000 steps, or decline it, in the SGLI Online Enrollment System (SOES) through milConnect.

Full-time coverage runs 24/7 and continues free for 120 days after separation. Part-time coverage (Guard and Reserve members who drill only a few days a year) applies only while on duty or traveling to and from it, and does not get the free 120 days unless a disability was incurred or aggravated on duty.

TSGLI pays $25,000 to $100,000 to service members who suffer certain losses from a traumatic injury. The money helps families be there during recovery or cover other costs.

• It comes automatically with SGLI. An additional $1 is added to the SGLI premium.
• You cannot decline it unless you also decline SGLI.
• Claims are decided by your own branch of service, not VA.
• TSGLI began December 1, 2005. Injuries from October 7, 2001 through November 30, 2005 (the retroactive period) can qualify even if you did not have SGLI in force at the time. For injuries on or after December 1, 2005, you must have been covered by SGLI when injured.

• Spouse: up to $100,000, never more than the member's own SGLI. The member pays the premium (based on the spouse's age and amount) and is the beneficiary. Coverage is automatic for a civilian spouse.
• Dual-military couples married on or after January 2, 2013: spouse coverage is not automatic. Apply within 240 days of certain events to avoid a health review.
• Children: $10,000 each, free, and it cannot be declined.

Spouse coverage ends if the member drops SGLI or FSGLI, divorces, dies, or separates. The spouse can convert to a permanent policy with a participating private insurer within 120 days of that event. Child coverage ends 120 days after its ending event and cannot be converted.

VGLI is renewable group term coverage for veterans who had SGLI when they separated.

• Deadline: 1 year and 120 days after separation.
• No health questions if you apply within 240 days. After that, you must answer health questions and may need proof of good health.
• Amount: up to the SGLI you had when you separated.
• Increases: if you are under 60 and have less than the legal maximum, you can add up to $25,000 one year after getting VGLI and at each 5-year anniversary, with no medical underwriting, until 60.
• Apply online or with form SGLV 8714. VGLI can be converted any time to a permanent policy with a participating insurer.

If you are totally disabled when you separate (unable to work because of your disabilities, or with certain statutory conditions), you can keep SGLI free for up to two years from separation. Apply with form SGLV 8715. At the end of the extension you are moved to VGLI automatically, as long as you pay VGLI premiums.

With a written prognosis of 9 months or less to live, an insured SGLI or VGLI member can get up to 50% of the coverage paid early, and a terminally ill spouse up to 50% of FSGLI. What is paid early reduces what beneficiaries receive later.

Members use form SGLV 8284; spouses use SGLV 8284A. Someone else can apply for the member only with power of attorney, guardianship, conservatorship, or as the VA-appointed fiduciary.

• VGLI, and SGLI or FSGLI claims: Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, 800-419-1473 (Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET), PO Box 41618, Philadelphia, PA 19176-9913.
• VALife, VMLI, and other VA policies: VA Insurance Center, 800-669-8477 (Mon-Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET), PO Box 5209, Janesville, WI 53547.
• Service-connected veterans: see VALife, guaranteed-acceptance whole life insurance.
• Veterans with a SAH housing grant: Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) pays up to $200,000 (or the mortgage balance, if less) to the mortgage company. You must be under 70.
• Older policies: VA still runs closed WWII and Korea-era programs (policies starting with V, RS, W, J, or JR). Call 800-669-8477.