Alyssa Lane
Military insurance for retired service members is called TRICARE. TRICARE is a health care program that provides comprehensive coverage, health plans, special programs, prescriptions, and dental plans for retired service members and their families. Retired service members can also apply for Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) to keep their life insurance coverage after leaving the military, as long as they continue to pay the premiums.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of retired military insurance | Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) |
| Who is eligible? | Service members who are retired, on the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL), or discharged from the military |
| How to apply | Apply through the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI) using the Prudential website, by mail, or by fax |
| Application deadline | Within 240 days of leaving the military (no proof of good health required); after 240 days, proof of good health is required |
| Coverage amount | Up to $500,000 in term life insurance benefits, based on previous SGLI coverage |
| Premium rates | Based on age and coverage amount; basic rate is 6 cents per $1,000 of coverage, with $1/month additional for Traumatic Injury Protection |
| Policy type | Must be a permanent policy, such as whole life; cannot convert to term, variable, or universal life insurance |
| Other benefits | TRICARE health care program, including prescription drugs, dental plans, and special programs |
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What You'll Learn
Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI)
Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is a life insurance program that allows service members to convert their Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage to term life insurance that is renewable every five years. Members with full-time SGLI coverage are eligible for VGLI when they leave the service.
VGLI, like SGLI, is overseen by the Department of Veterans Affairs but administered by the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI). VGLI coverage is issued in multiples of $10,000 up to a maximum of $500,000. However, a service member's VGLI coverage amount can't be more than the SGLI they had when they left the service.
If you sign up for VGLI within 240 days of leaving the military, you won't need to prove you're in good health. If you sign up after the 240-day period, you'll need to submit evidence that you're in good health. You'll need to apply for VGLI within 1 year and 120 days of leaving the military.
VGLI premium rates are based on your age and the amount of insurance coverage you want. You can choose your new insurance company and apply at their local sales office. You can apply for VGLI online through OSGLI, by mail, or by fax.
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$57.95
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI)
If you qualify for SGLI, you will be automatically signed up through your service branch, and you can choose your level of coverage. The current basic SGLI premium rate is 6 cents per $1,000 of insurance coverage, with an additional $1 per month for Traumatic Injury Protection coverage (TSGLI). This premium is automatically deducted from your base pay. You can also choose your beneficiaries, the individuals who will receive the money from your life insurance policy in the event of your death, and update this information as needed.
When you leave the military, you have the option to convert your SGLI coverage to a permanent, individual insurance policy within 120 days of your discharge date without proof of good health. You may also be able to keep your SGLI coverage for up to 2 years after leaving the military at no cost if you are totally disabled. Alternatively, you can apply for Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) within 1 year and 120 days from your date of discharge, for up to the amount of coverage you had through SGLI.
If you wish to receive an insurance payment after a service member's death, a beneficiary would need to file a Claim for Death Benefits (SGLV 8283). To receive payment for a qualifying traumatic injury, an Application for TSGLI Benefits (SGLV 8600) must be completed.
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TRICARE health care program
TRICARE is a health care program for military service members, retirees, and their families worldwide. It provides comprehensive coverage, health plans, prescriptions, and dental plans. TRICARE offers several services for beneficiaries with special needs, including applied behaviour analysis, cancer clinical trials, durable medical equipment, home health care, hospice care, mental health care, and skilled nursing facility care. TRICARE also offers a number of programs and services by bringing together the health care resources of the Military Health System—such as military hospitals and clinics—with a network of civilian health care professionals, institutions, pharmacies, and suppliers.
TRICARE Overseas is the Defense Department's health care program for active-duty service members and their families stationed outside the continental United States. The Extended Care Health Option (ECHO) provides financial assistance to TRICARE beneficiaries with special needs. ECHO provides additional financial assistance to help cover the cost of services and supplies beyond what TRICARE plans offer. TRICARE may provide additional benefits beyond basic coverage to service members who were injured while on active duty, including reserve and Guard members. These benefits do not require any out-of-pocket costs and have no benefit cap.
TRICARE offers a variety of substance use disorder (SUD) options, including opioid treatment programs and office-based opioid treatment, as well as emergency inpatient hospital services. There are lower copays and cost shares for non-active beneficiaries, and more TRICARE-authorized provider options for mental health and SUD. Office visits with qualified TRICARE-authorized providers may include coverage of medications for opioid addiction. TRICARE also offers a telephone-based, instructor-led teleclass called Making Healthy Changes for Life, which teaches participants how to determine their readiness for change, prepare for change, and make healthy changes last.
New TRICARE contracts started on January 1, 2025, affecting those living in the United States. The TRICARE Online Patient Portal was discontinued on April 1, 2025. TRICARE beneficiaries can access the MHS Nurse Advice Line 24/7 by phone, web chat, and video chat to get answers to their questions and access educational materials.
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Medicare and TRICARE
When it comes to retired military insurance, TRICARE is an option for retired service members and their families. TRICARE For Life (TFL) is a Medicare-wraparound coverage option for those who are TRICARE-eligible and have Medicare Part A and B, regardless of age or place of residence. This means that TFL is secondary coverage to Medicare, covering any costs that Medicare does not.
TRICARE For Life does not extend to family members, and it does not require an enrollment card. To prove coverage, one must have their Medicare card and military ID. If you are enrolled in Medicare while on active duty, you will remain eligible for TRICARE when you retire. However, if you become eligible for Medicare under the age of 65, you must have Medicare Part B to keep your TRICARE benefits. This applies to family members who are eligible for Medicare as well.
If you are enrolled in TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select, you must take action when you retire, as your TRICARE options will change. If you do not enroll in these plans within 90 days of retirement, you may request a retroactive enrollment within 12 months of your retirement. If you fail to enroll, you will lose all TRICARE coverage and will only be able to receive care at military hospitals and clinics if space is available.
TRICARE offers several other plans, including TRICARE Prime, TRICARE Select, TRICARE Young Adult, TRICARE Reserve Select, and TRICARE Retired Reserve. TRICARE Young Adult may be purchased by adult children who "age out" at 21 or 23 if they are attending college.
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Health Insurance Marketplace
If you are a retired member of the military, you may be eligible for health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace®. This is an option for veterans who aren't enrolled in VA benefits or other veterans' health coverage. The Health Insurance Marketplace® may also be an option for your dependents if you are enrolled in a VA health care program but they are not. Depending on your household size and income, you may be able to get lower costs on monthly premiums or out-of-pocket expenses.
If you are a member of the military but are not yet retired, you may be eligible for Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI). SGLI offers low-cost term coverage to eligible service members. If you meet the criteria, you will be signed up automatically. You can check your eligibility and manage your coverage online. SGLI coverage includes an additional $1 per month for Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI). If you are totally disabled when you leave the military, you can extend your free coverage for up to 2 years. You can also choose your level of coverage, your beneficiaries, and change them as needed.
When you leave the military, you can apply for Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) within 1 year and 120 days of your date of discharge. If you apply within 240 days of leaving the military, you do not need to prove that you are in good health. VGLI premium rates are based on your age and the amount of insurance coverage you want. You can get between $10,000 and $500,000 in term life insurance benefits, based on how much SGLI coverage you had when you left the military.
If you are under 60 and separated from active duty, you may qualify for transitional health care benefits. You may qualify to purchase TRICARE Retired Reserve, and at age 60, you and your family are eligible for the same benefits as other retired service members.
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Frequently asked questions
Retired military members and their families are eligible for TRICARE, which provides comprehensive health coverage, health plans, special programs, prescriptions, and dental plans.
Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) allows veterans to keep their life insurance coverage after leaving the military as long as they continue to pay the premiums. You can apply within 240 days of leaving the military without needing to prove you're in good health.
Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) offers low-cost term coverage to eligible active-duty service members. If you qualify, you'll be signed up automatically.
SGLI is for active-duty service members, while VGLI is for veterans who have left the military.
