Eligibility For FSGLI Coverage
Family SGLI (FSGLI) coverage provides life insurance coverage for the spouses and dependent children of all servicemembers (Active Duty and Ready Reserve) who have full-time SGLI coverage. A “dependent child” includes the following:
- natural born child
- legally adopted child
- stepchild who is a member of the servicemember’s household
- child between the ages of 18 and 23 who is a full-time student
- child who is permanently incapable of self-support before age 18
Spousal Coverage
Spousal coverage is a maximum of $100,000 and can be in lesser amounts in increments of $10,000. However, spousal coverage cannot exceed the servicemember’s level of SGLI coverage.
Example: If the servicemember’s coverage is for any level of coverage between $250,000 and $100,000, then the spousal coverage can be as high as $100,000. If the servicemember’s coverage is $90,000 to $10,000, then the spousal coverage can be no more than the servicemember’s level of coverage.
Sevicemembers married to servicemembers can be covered under both their own member’s SGLI for $250,000 and their spouse’s FSGLI for $100,000 for a maximum combined coverage of $350,000.
Dependent Child Coverage
Dependent child coverage is the set amount of $10,000 for each dependent child.
Automatic Coverage
FSGLI coverage begins automatically for servicemembers who:
- were married when the program began on November 1, 2001
- enter service and are married/has dependent children OR
- get married/gain a dependent child during service AND
- have full-time SGLI coverage
Spousal coverage is automatically at the maximum level of $100,000 or the servicemember’s SGLI coverage level, if it is less than $100,000.
Automatic coverage begins with the following events:
- the date of induction into service
- the date of a marriage while in service (after Nov. 1, 2001)
- the date a child becomes a dependent (i.e. date of birth, date of adoption, date entered the household)
FSGLI Premiums
The servicemember pays premiums for the spousal coverage. The dependent child coverage is free.
Premiums for spousal coverage are due the month of the event that causes coverage to occur (e.g. Nov 1, 2001, induction of the servicemember into service or the date of a marriage while in service). If the member does not notify the service of his/her marriage, premiums for spousal coverage are still due and will be collected retroactively.
For Army, Navy and Air Force, the collection of FSGLI premiums is based upon the spouse and the spouse’s birth date being registered in DEERS. If the spouse is not registered in DEERS, premiums will not be withheld from the servicemember’s pay. (Servicemembers married to servicmembers must register each other as a spouse in their respective DEERS records.)
Unlike servicemember’s SGLI premiums that are one premium rate for all members, spousal premiums are based on age brackets. When a spouse moves to a new age bracket, the new higher premium begins the first day of the month following the birth month. (See Appendix B for the premium rates for the spousal age brackets.)
