Learn about spousal life insurance coverage provided by the military and what options there are to supplement your policy if FSGLI isn't enough.
Article: 4 minutes
Updated: April 5, 2024 Published: July 26, 2023
By: Matt Lyon Reviewed by: Editorial contributors
Information courtesy of USAA Life Insurance Company and USAA Life Insurance Company of New York.
At USAA, we understand that military life can be challenging — not only for those on duty but for their spouses and loved ones as well. One of those challenges comes in the form of financial management. Whether it's managing day-to-day expenses or future financial planning, this responsibility often falls on the shoulders of a military spouse.
Acting as the household CFO is just one of many contributions. From managing the home during a service member's deployment to caring for children to planning moves and working: Your contributions as a military spouse are vital to family stability. If something were to happen to you, the effect on your family would be devastating.
While your family can't replace your value emotionally, there would be a cost financially. That's why life insurance is an important tool in your financial toolkit. As a military spouse, you should take the time to review the valuable options you have available for life insurance.
Video Duration: 3 minutes 15 seconds
Description of visual information: [Information courtesy of USAA Life Insurance Company and USAA Life Insurance Company of New York] End of description.
Military life can be challenging, not just for those on duty, but also for their dependents. Financial management is one of the biggest challenges military families face, and it often falls on the shoulders of military spouses.
If something happened to you, it would throw everything out of balance.
That's why it's so important to look at your options for life insurance.
Because of the risks associated with military service, USAA recommends that active-duty service members enroll full-time in Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, or SGLI.
As a spouse, you can get Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI), which covers you and your children.
Both SGLI and FSGLI give the surviving spouse a death benefit to help with living costs and dependent care expenses.
You can get FSGLI if the service member is:
How does FSGLI work?
It's like most group life insurance policies. Premiums come out of the service member's paycheck every month.
Prices for spouses vary based on coverage and age range. You can learn more about FSGLI on VA.gov Opens in a new window. 1
What happens after military separation?
With FSGLI, you can transfer coverage to an individual permanent insurance policy within 120 days of a qualifying life event, such as:
Keep in mind that while these policies offer life-long coverage, the premiums can be higher.
What if FSGLI isn't enough?
We recommend getting enough life insurance to pay off all your debts and replace five years of income.
If you don't think FSGLI is enough to meet those needs, private supplemental insurance can help provide additional coverage. Plus, you can continue these policies after your spouse separates from the military.
Our level term life insurance policies provide supplemental coverage and a few other options for you and your spouse, including:
Also, with Military Protection Plus, you can add a certain amount of new coverage without proof of insurability when your spouse leaves the military.
This allows you to cover the need left behind when you lose SGLI and FSGLI upon separation.
USAA recognizes what it means to serve and the importance of insurance designed for military families. You can find more financial resources for military life at usaa.com/advice.
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1 You are leaving USAA and being directed to a third party site that is not maintained, owned or operated by USAA. USAA does not control and is not responsible for the site content or the privacy or security practices of third parties. You should read the third party's privacy and security policies and site terms, as their practices may differ from those of USAA.
Increases in coverage more than two times the base policy face amount up to the current maximum Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) amount depends on your health and is subject to underwriting approval.
Military Protection Plus is level term life insurance with Military Severe Injury Benefit Rider and Military Future Insurability Rider. Eagle Express Life Insurance: coverage and premiums remain level for the duration of the policy. Term Policy Form (ICC24516783 11-24) (may vary by state). Not available in New York. Military Severe Injury Benefit Rider provides $25,000 to help with the expenses in the event of certain injuries while performing eligible military duties. Rider Form LBR67140ST 05-07 (may vary by state). Military Future Insurability Rider provides an option to obtain additional life insurance coverage upon separation from the military, subject to rider terms and conditions and characterization of military separation. New policy's level term period is dependent on the length of base policy's remaining level term period. Rider Form ICC23509575 11-23 (may vary by state). Military Severe Injury Benefit Rider not available in New York.
Military Protection Plus is level term life insurance with Military Severe Injury Benefit Rider and Military Future Insurability Rider. Level Term V: coverage is level for the duration of the policy. Premiums remain level for the duration of the Initial Benefit Period, then increase annually. Term Policy Form ICC2099555 01-20 (may vary by state); in New York, New York Term Series V: Form NLT99235NY 06-20. Military Severe Injury Benefit Rider provides $25,000 to help with the expenses in the event of certain injuries while performing eligible military duties. Rider Form LBR67140ST 05-07 (may vary by state). Military Severe Injury Benefit Rider not available in New York. Military Future Insurability Rider provides an option to obtain additional life insurance coverage upon separation from the military, subject to rider terms and conditions and characterization of military separation. New policy's level term period is dependent on the length of base policy's remaining level term period. Rider Form LBR97953ST 03-14 and ICC1497953 03-14 (may vary by state); in New York, Form NBR97955NY 04-15.
No Department of Defense or government agency endorsement.
Life insurance and annuities provided by USAA Life Insurance Company, San Antonio, TX and in New York by USAA Life Insurance Company of New York, Highland Falls, NY. All insurance products are subject to state availability, issue limitations and contractual terms and conditions. Each company has sole financial responsibility for its own products.
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Being connected to military service has its perks, one of which is the benefits package. And while life insurance policies offered through the military are like most group life policies, they're also designed with the military in mind.
For example, there's no medical exam when you sign up for a life insurance policy through the military, and there's a specific benefit available in case of traumatic injury.
Because of the fair cost of coverage and risks associated with military service, USAA recommends that active-duty service members accept the full amount of life insurance offered through the Department of Veterans Affairs' Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, or SGLI, program [Opens in New Window]. See note 1
As a military spouse whose partner is enrolled in full-time SGLI, you have the option to enroll in FSGLI, also known as Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance. In addition to protecting military spouses, FSGLI covers service members' dependent children.
SGLI and FSGLI help ensure that surviving spouses receive a death benefit to help with living and dependent care expenses. Life insurance can provide your family with a sense of financial security and help you build sound financial readiness.
FSGLI is open to a service member's spouse and dependent children. The service member must be either:
If your spouse has SGLI coverage, you may be eligible for FSGLI, regardless of your own military status.
FSGLI coverage works like most group life insurance policies in that premiums are automatically withdrawn from the service member's paycheck. FSGLI is free for children. Prices for spouses vary based on coverage and age range. More details are available through the VA page on FSGLI [Opens in New Window]. See note 1
Unlike most group policies, FSGLI offers an option to transfer coverage to an individual insurance policy upon certain qualifying events. This window opens within 120 days from one of the following:
During the 120-day window, you can convert your FSGLI coverage to a permanent policy with participating companies. Keep in mind that while these types of policies offer life-long coverage, the premiums can be higher.
In terms of total life insurance protection, at a minimum, consider securing enough life insurance to pay off all your debts and replace five years of income, according to USAA recommendations.
With children, a mortgage, college loans, car payments and other expenses, the payout from FSGLI could fall short of what your family needs. In fact, that's a common occurrence with general coverage through group life insurance.
If you stay at home with children and don't work outside the home, it may be hard to determine how much income your family might need to replace. But don't overlook the value you bring to your family's finances.
According to recent surveys, the yearly salary for a stay-at-home parent is about $184,820, based on their daily jobs and responsibilities. That's a big impact that life insurance can help preserve.
If you've determined FSGLI isn't enough, consider private, supplemental insurance. This coverage can remain in effect after your spouse separates from the military.
Whether your spouse is active or Reserve duty, deploying or leaving the service, your family might consider USAA's level term life insurance policies. They provide supplemental coverage and features for you and your spouse. They include expedited coverage for deployment, coverage during wartime and severe injury benefits.
You also may have heard about a military future insurability rider. This is a unique rider offered to service members and their families that's called USAA's Military Protection Plus. See note 2 This benefit is available through USAA's level term life insurance. It gives policyholders the option to replace some or all SGLI and FSGLI lost after the service member leaves the military. This allows a seamless transition from military coverage to civilian coverage.
USAA recognizes what it means to serve and the importance of products tailored for the military. If you have questions, financial planning resources for military life are available in the USAA Advice Center.
We designed our level term policy with the military in mind.