Too many Airmen opting out of SGLI

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Tom Kimball
  • Air Reserve Personnel Center Public Affairs
DENVER --  For less than one dollar a day, Airmen can prevent financial hardship for their families if they die unexpectedly.

Although the $27 a month Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance premium provides $400,000 in coverage and automatically comes out of military paychecks, some people are opting out of coverage. An airman basic recently turned down the insurance and later died.

"It was tough," said Senior Master Sgt. Ramon Roldan, chief of the Air Reserve Personnel Center's entitlements and benefits. "We discovered while handling the case for the grieving family that a recruiter or his unit had talked him into opting out of SGLI because he was single, not making much money yet and was so young.

"Unfortunately, neither knew his time would come sooner than expected," Sergeant Roldan said. "The consequence was the family missed the financial benefit SGLI could have provided."

SGLI would have covered the Airman even though he was not on duty or deployed, said Sergeant Roldan.

Talking about SGLI benefits can be uncomfortable for some people. However, whether they are pulling combat duty or kitchen duty or just driving around town, reservists never know when their time might come. The question for them is: Where will opting out of coverage leave their family?

ARPC officials are concerned that Airmen are not taking this question seriously enough. Many are opting out of SGLI coverage. In fact, more than 6,800 Airmen don't have any SGLI coverage, and many more carry partial benefits. SGLI coverage is automatic from the time of enlistment. Coverage only stops when people submit a form to decline it.

Gloria Goodgain, deputy director of personnel programs management at ARPC, urges Airmen to "make an informed decision about SGLI coverage."

For Ms. Goodgain, the legacy those who opt out leave their loved ones is not a happy one.

"When folks are young, they think they're going to live forever," she said. "But, of course, they don't. And all too often the tragedy we see here is that when a member passes away without any SGLI coverage, their loved ones are left with an expensive heartbreak on top of the loss of life."

Ms. Goodgain and Sergeant Roldan both want Airmen to understand the consequences of terminating their coverage and the benefits of serving in uniform on or off duty with SGLI coverage.

"It's a mystery to me why you wouldn't want it," Sergeant Roldan said. "It's automatic when you are appointed or enlisted unless you otherwise decline. For just $27 a month, you have $400,000 in life insurance coverage. That rate rarely changes, and you're covered for your entire career."

Getting SGLI back after declining it or increasing coverage to full benefits requires a commander's approval and sometimes a medical screening.

If people don't opt out of coverage, they pay about $6,480 for life insurance during a 20-year career without taking a medical examination. Sergeant Roldan said $1 of the monthly premium provides up to an additional $100,000 in traumatic injury coverage whether people die or suffer a traumatic injury on or off duty.

For a small additional amount, spouses can enroll in Family SGLI.

People can get more information or to speak with a counselor by calling toll free 800-525-0102 and asking for the entitlements and benefits office. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)