Military life insurance—often referred to as Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, or SGLI—is low-cost term life insurance coverage offered to members of the military.

Who is Eligible for Military Life Insurance?

A number of military service members are automatically qualified for the maximum SGLI coverage. Those eligible for full-time military life insurance include:

• Any active duty member of the U.S. military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard)
• Commissioned members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS)
• Cadets or midshipmen of any U.S. military academies
• Members, cadets, or midshipmen of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) who are involved in authorized training and practice cruises
• Members of the Ready Reserve or the National Guard who are scheduled to perform inactive training for 12 periods or more
• Service members who volunteer for a mobilization category of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR)

Please note that those who are qualified for military life insurance coverage do not actually need to apply for coverage—your eligibility means that you’re automatically enrolled in these programs. However, you can choose to decline coverage or change aspects of your coverage, such as if there are any beneficiaries you wish to designate or if you want to lower your coverage amount.

Will Military Life Insurance Cover My Injury?

Under Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, members also have access to Traumatic Injury Protection (known as TSGLI), which allows them to make claims in the event of a traumatic injury.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outlines a number of traumatic injury claim examples, linking them with the payment amounts that service members could receive as a result.

For instance, loss of sight caused by a traumatic event can lead to a $50,000 payment per affected eye, while the amputation of a big toe can lead to a $25,000 payment. The full list of the payments linked with traumatic injuries can be found on the VA’s Schedule of Losses.

Certain conditions are excluded from coverage under military life insurance. These include:

• Injuries/conditions caused by a mental disorder or a mental or physical illness
• Injuries/conditions caused by a routine medical or surgical treatment
• Injuries/conditions sustained while committing (or attempting to commit) a felony
• Injuries/conditions that were self-inflicted

Can I File a TSGLI Claim?

If you are a service member who has been injured because of a traumatic event, either on or off duty, you may be able to file a TSGLI claim. Filing an insurance claim can be a daunting prospect, especially in the wake of a traumatic injury, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney.

Consulting an experienced attorney can help you determine if you are eligible to make a claim, navigate the complexities of the claims process, and maximize your potential payout.

Get Help Filing Your TSGLI Claim

If you’re a servicemember who was injured while on active duty, in the National Guard or on reserve, you may qualify for benefits through the Traumatic Protection Program through the Servicemembers Group Life Insurance.

Fill out the form on this page for more information. 

Learn More