Military Spouses: Keep Your Family SGLI Protection

Are you a military spouse? Do you have spousal coverage under Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance? Then you know the importance of having life insurance to protect your loved ones. But you should also know that your coverage will end 120 days after any of the following events:

• The date your Servicemember spouse separates from service
• The date of divorce from your Servicemember spouse
• The date of death of your Servicemember spouse
• The date your Servicemember spouse elects to end spousal FSGLI coverage
• The date your Servicemember spouse elects to end his/her own SGLI coverage

During the 120 days after one of the above events, you have the option of continuing your coverage without having to show proof of good health by converting it to an individual policy with a private insurance company. This is especially important if you have health issues that may prevent you from getting life insurance coverage elsewhere.

The insurance policy you convert to must be a permanent policy, such as a whole life policy, which provides coverage for as long as you live. Premiums for these types of policies are generally higher, but they remain fixed throughout the length of the policy. You cannot convert to policies such as term, variable life, or universal life insurance. You also may not convert spousal coverage under FSGLI to Veterans’ Group Life Insurance coverage.

If you would like more information about converting your spousal coverage under FSGLI, click here or call the office of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance at 800-419-1473, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Eastern Time.

Dusca Fichtel’s career with VA began in 2001,  and she is currently an Insurance Specialist with VBA’s Insurance Service’s Strategic Planning and Budget Staff.  Dusca is a United States Air Force Veteran.  She served three years at the rank of Airman First Class as an Arabic Cryptologic Linguistic Specialist.