For Your Benefit
For and about Hawaii's militaryBy Gregg K. Kakesako
Sunday, October 28, 2001
See also: In The Military
Question: Is it true that Servicemen's Group Life Insurance is available for my wife and children? Life insurance available
for spouse, childAnswer: Yes, beginning in November.
Servicemembers will pay for their spouse's insurance coverage in their monthly payroll deduction. Spouses will be insured for a maximum of $100,000 and children for $10,000. Children will be covered at no cost to the sponsor, but the spouse's monthly premium will range from $9 to $32 dollars per month depending on age and amount of coverage desired. Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance or more commonly known as 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 SGLI for family members was brought about by legislation sponsored by the VA and approved by Congress in May. It is the first time spouses and children have been covered under this program. The policies are also convertible, which allows the insured spouses to convert their policies to a commercial insurance plan once the sponsor separates or retires. If the servicemember has SGLI coverage of $100,000 or more, maximum coverage for the spouse will be automatic, but the spouse's coverage can be no higher than the servicemember's coverage. Coverage for children up to age 18, or 23 if a full-time student, is free and automatic so long as the servicemember is participating in SGLI.
More information about the program can be found at the VA web site, www.insurance.va. gov/sglivgli/sglifam.htm.
You can also call the VA at 433-1000, or call the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance toll free at 1-800-419-1473.
Question: Does Veterans Affairs use volunteers?
Answer: Volunteers are a priceless asset to the VA and veterans. Volunteers at the VA Center perform a variety of jobs, including general clerical work throughout the facility, assisting staff in caring for patients at our Center for Aging, providing informational services and recreational therapy.
If you are interested, or need more information, contact the Volunteer Coordinator's Office at 433-7724, or stop by the Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) on the mountainside of Tripler Hospital. The Volunteer Office is behind the information desk on the first floor.
Additionally, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) provides van service for veterans who are unable to get to the VA or Tripler Army Medical Center for their appointments. The DAV transportation coordinator needs volunteer drivers to work a few hours each week. Contact 433-7752 if you are interested, or stop by in the mornings and visit the DAV office, which is also located on the 1st floor.
If you have questions about your benefits as a veteran,
call Fred Ballard at the Veterans Affairs at 433-0049
or the Star-Bulletin at 529-4747.Gregg K. Kakesako can be reached by phone at 294-4075
or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.
