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Military Spouse Life Insurance: Understanding FSGLI and Beyond

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If your spouse serves with full-time Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI), you are automatically insured under Family SGLI (FSGLI) for up to $100,000. That coverage is real, but it has two limits every military spouse should know: the amount is capped, and it ends when your service member leaves the military. Here is how it works and how to stay protected after.

What FSGLI gives you

FSGLI covers the civilian spouse of a member with full-time SGLI automatically, up to $100,000, and never more than the member's own SGLI amount. Premiums come out of the member's pay and are based on the spouse's age. Dependent children get $10,000 of coverage each, free. While your family serves, this is inexpensive protection worth keeping.

The $100,000 ceiling

Think about what your family would actually need if something happened to you. Childcare, the mortgage, the income you earn or the work you do at home that someone would have to pay for. For most families, $100,000 does not cover it. This is true even for a spouse who does not earn a paycheck: replacing what a stay-at-home parent does costs real money every month. Run your own number in how much life insurance you need.

What happens to your FSGLI coverage after service?

FSGLI spouse coverage does not follow your family into civilian life. When your service member separates, your coverage enters a 120-day window, and here is the detail most families miss: the only conversion FSGLI offers is to a permanent policy, such as whole life. There is no option to convert to term. A spouse who wants affordable level term coverage has to qualify for their own policy, and that gets easier the younger and healthier you are when you apply.

Why your own term policy is worth pricing early

A policy in your own name is yours. It does not depend on your spouse's military status, their SGLI election, or a conversion window. It is priced on your age and health, holds one rate for the full term, and moves with your family through every PCS and through the transition out. If your service member is approaching separation, price your own coverage before the FSGLI clock starts, alongside their own decisions on what happens to coverage after service. The full family picture, kids included, is in life insurance for military families.

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About the Author

Veteran Life Plan was founded by a career Army veteran to provide clear, honest guidance on life insurance for military families. Our articles are written to help you understand your options without jargon or high-pressure sales, so you can make a confident choice for your family's future.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much life insurance can a military spouse get through FSGLI?
Up to $100,000, and never more than the service member's own SGLI coverage. Dependent children each get $10,000 free.
Does FSGLI end when my spouse leaves the military?
Yes. Spouse coverage ends after separation, with a 120-day window to convert. The conversion option is to a permanent policy only, not term.
Can a stay-at-home spouse get term life insurance?
Yes. Insurers cover non-earning spouses because the work they do has real replacement cost. Coverage amounts are typically tied to the working spouse's coverage and the family's needs.

Your next step

Take the quiz, Which Coverage Fits You? It works for spouses too, not just service members. Or get the free guide, "Leaving the Service: Your Life Insurance Decision Guide."

Source: VA, Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/fsgli/), accessed July 24, 2026.