Service members' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) is a program of low cost group life insurance for service members on active duty, ready reservists, members of the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service, cadets and midshipmen of the four service academies, and members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps. SGLI is available in $10,000 increments up to the maximum of $250,000. SGLI insureds have two options available to them upon release from service. They can convert their full-time SGLI coverage to term insurance under the Veterans' Group Life Insurance program or to a permanent plan of insurance with one of the participating commercial insurance companies.

• Service members' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) is the life insurance currently available to all members of the uniformed services. SGLI is a group life insurance policy purchased by VA from a commercial life insurance company.
• The Office of Service members' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI) administers the SGLI program. The office can by contacted by:
  • Toll-free telephone: 1-800-419-1473
  • E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
  • Toll-free fax:
    Death and accelerated benefits claims only: 1-877-832-4943
    All other inquiries: 1-800-236-6142
  • Regular Mail:
    Office of Service members' Group Life Insurance
    290 West Mt. Pleasant Avenue
    Livingston, New Jersey 07039
• The insurance issued under the group policy is term insurance. SGLI does not pay dividends. In addition, there are no loan, cash, paid-up or extended insurance values, or any provision for waiver of premiums or benefit because of total disability, accidents, etc., with exceptions.
• Members on active duty, active duty for training or inactive duty for training and members of the Ready Reserve are automatically covered for $250,000, the maximum amount of coverage.
• Each member should complete a copy of form SGLV 8286, Service members' Group Life Insurance Election and Certificate to designate one or more beneficiaries to receive payment of the insurance proceeds. A copy of this form also serves as a certificate of coverage.
• Members who elect to be insured for less than the maximum amount, or elect to decline coverage entirely, must also complete form SGLV 8286, Service members' Group Life Insurance Election and Certificate.
• Coverage under the group life insurance policy does not affect an insured's right to retain any other government or private insurance, or his or her entitlement to other veterans' benefits. For example, a member can be insured for up to $30,000 in Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI) coverage and have $250,000 of SGLI coverage at the same time.

Cost of Insurance

• The cost of SGLI is shared by the member and the Government. The member pays the normal cost of the insurance (the premium) and the Government pays the cost of all death claims in excess of the level of death claims which would result from normal peacetime service in the uniformed services.
• For all members entitled to SGLI coverage, the necessary amount will be deducted from the member's service pay or otherwise collected from the member by the uniformed service.
• The monthly contribution by members on active duty and members of the Ready Reserve will be $20.00 for $250,000 coverage and 80 cents per $10,000 for lesser amounts. The premium for part-time SGLI coverage will be $25.00 per year for $250,000 insurance. Members of the IRR will be charged a premium of $1.00 for $250,000 insurance for 1-day call-ups. All rates are subject to change based on the experience of the program.
• Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 1341.3, "Service mens' Group Life Insurance," dated August 16, 1984 requires the uniformed services to remit amounts equal to the deduction which should have been made for members who are provided full-time or part-time coverage and who are not receiving pay.
• No withholdings or deductions will be made for SGLI from terminal leave or separation pay for any period the insurance remains in force following separation or release from active duty.

Persons Eligble to be Insured

• Full-time coverage is provided for the following members of the uniformed services while performing full-time active duty or active duty for training, under calls or orders that do not specify periods of less than 31 days:
  • Commissioned, warrant and enlisted members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard and commissioned members of the NOAA and PHS;
  • Members of the Ready Reserve of a uniformed service who are assigned to a unit or position in which they may be required to perform active duty or active duty for training and each year will be scheduled to perform at least 12 periods of inactive duty training that is creditable for retirement purposes under title 10, United States Code.
  • Members of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) who volunteer for assignment to a "mobilization" category under section 12304 (i)(1) of title 10, United States Code.
  • Cadets or midshipmen of the United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy and the United States Coast Guard Academy; and
  • Members, cadets or midshipmen of the ROTC while attending field training or practice cruises.
• Part-time coverage is provided to the following eligible members of the Reserves who do not qualify for full-time coverage while performing active duty or active duty for training under calls or orders specifying periods of less than 31 days:
  • Commissioned, warrant and enlisted members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard Reserves (except temporary members of the Coast Guard Reserve);
  • Members of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) during one-day call-ups;
  • Reserve Corps of the PHS;
  • The Army National Guard and Air National Guard while performing duty under 32 U.S.C. 316, 502, 503, 504, or 505; and
  • Members, cadets and midshipmen of the ROTC, while attending field training or practice cruises.