Traumatic Injury Protection Program
Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection Program (abbreviated TSGLI) is an insurance policy which provides short-term financial assistance to severely injured servicemembers and veterans. For severely disabling injuries, this policy can provide up to $100,000 in compensation.
Automatic Coverage from Servicemembers Group Life Insurance Policy
The TSGLI program is an extension of the Servicemembers Group Life Insurance policy (SGLI). SGLI provides low-cost life insurance to eligible servicemembers. Active duty members of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, or Coast Guard, as well as members of a military academy, ROTC program, commissioned members of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or U.S. Public Health Services, or some members of the Ready Reserve or National Guard are all eligible for this coverage.
Servicemembers have the ability to decline SGLI coverage, increase coverage, or decrease coverage. Any person covered by SGLI is automatically covered by TSGLI in case of traumatic injury.
What is TSGLI?
While SGLI provides life insurance to the beneficiaries of servicemembers who are killed during their term of duty, TSGLI provides either lump sum or annuity payments for serious, life-altering injuries.
To be eligible for TSGLI payments, a servicemember must meet the service duty requirements and suffer a scheduled loss as a direct result of the traumatic injury within two years. A scheduled loss is one that the armed forces has recognized will cause severe and lifelong disability. Common examples include loss of sight or hearing, amputation of a body part, severe and widespread burns, extensive hospitalization, coma, or the inability to perform at least two Activities of Daily Living (ADL). There are six types of ADL: bathing, continence, dressing, eating, toileting and transferring.
TSGLI covers not only traumatic injuries sustained in combat, but also insures a servicemember if he or she suffers a serious loss while on or off duty (for example, a traumatic injury which occurs during a training exercise or even a car accident will be covered by TSGLI).
TSGLI insurance costs servicemembers $1 per month, which is taken directly from the servicemembers’ pay along with his or her regular SGLI payment.
Are You Eligible?
If you would like to file a claim for TSGLI benefits, you will need to fill out Form SGLV 8600 Application for TSGLI Benefits. If you have questions about the form, or whether or not you qualify for TSGLI benefits, use the contacts listed on the application for your branch of the armed services. Additionally, you can call 1 877-777-4021, and Vets National Advocates will assist you in getting the resources you need.
For more information about TSGLI, visit Life Insurance on the VA’s website.
