Military Members and Veterans

• If you will be deployed outside of Virginia for more than 30 days and your vehicle will remain in an impound lot on a military base during that time, you can ask your insurance company to suspend some of your auto insurance coverages to save on premium payments. You may need to provide evidence that the car is impounded before the coverage can be suspended.

• You may want to consider leaving some auto coverage in place, as deployment does not eliminate all risks of a loss. For example, your Other than Collision coverage (often referred to as Comprehensive) coverage protects the car from certain Non-Collision coverages (e.g. weather, fire, vandalism, or theft) if it will be at the impound lot.

• Although Virginia does not mandate insurance coverage, it is a good idea to check with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to see if you need to file a non-use affidavit with the DMV to avoid having to pay an uninsured motorist fee if you decide to suspend your liability coverage.

• If you have a loan on your car, you should speak with your lienholder before suspending Collision and Other than Collision (e.g. Comprehensive) coverage. Many loan agreements require you to maintain this coverage to protect the lienholder’s interests. The lender may put a force-placed policy on your car and charge you the premium if you suspend collision or comprehensive coverage without their permission.   

• In Virginia, insurers are prohibited from refusing to sell you an auto policy solely because of your military service.

• Many Virginia homeowners policies have a "vacancy clause" that may be triggered if you are deployed and your family has moved to a new location. Such policies may not pay certain claims if your house is vacant for 30 days or more. A house is considered vacant if there are no occupants and it is unfurnished, while a house is considered unoccupied when it is furnished and there are no occupants. Some companies offer an endorsement that specifically allows coverage for your house to continue, even if it is vacant for an extended period of time. You should consult your insurance company to learn how it defines "vacancy" and whether the claims for a vacant house will be paid.

• If you are being deployed and your house will be unoccupied, it is a good idea to either maintain heat in the home or drain and winterize the plumbing system. 

• We suggest that you review your homeowners policy with your company’s representative before you leave for military deployment. This could help you avoid a dispute in the future. Also, make sure your policy limits are enough to cover your home and your personal property at today’s costs. Consider increasing your coverage if you have made additions or improvements to your property.

• While homeowners and renters insurance policies typically cover personal property that you take with you while traveling, most policies exclude damages caused directly or indirectly by acts of war. The military generally will not pay to repair or replace property that is damaged or lost in military quarters or in a war zone. Talk to your agent about whether personal items that you take with you during your deployment will be covered if they are lost, stolen or damaged.

• Most homeowners policies provide limited coverage for personal property if it is stolen or damaged while away from your home, many times being capped at 10% of the total coverage limit on the policy. If you plan to carry a great deal of your personal property with you during military deployment, you may want to discuss this with your insurance company representative to make sure you have adequate coverage. 

• In Virginia, insurers are prohibited from refusing to sell you a homeowners policy solely because of your military service.

• After 30 days of active duty service, you and your dependents are covered by military health coverage. Dependents have medical and dental care provided through uniformed services facilities on a space-available basis. Dependents are also eligible for health benefits from civilian sources through the federally funded TRICARE program. TRICARE is the triple option benefit available for military families, formerly known as CHAMPUS (Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services). For more information on these programs, contact your military unit.

• Many reservists and National Guard members have health coverage for themselves and their families through an employer-sponsored health plan. Generally, the employer will continue that coverage while on active duty. Talk with your benefits administrator to learn what will happen with your health coverage if you are called to active duty. Employers are not required to pay your premiums, but some employers may choose to continue benefits at their current level for you and your dependents.

• If you are called to active duty for more than 30 days, you are entitled to continue your employer-sponsored health plan under federal law for up to 24 months, however, you may be required to pay up to 102 percent of the full premium. For military service of less than 31 days, health care coverage is provided as if the service member remained employed. You should receive a notice from your health plan explaining your rights.

• If your employer ended your health insurance coverage and you return to the company directly after your military deployment, the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) requires insurance companies to reinstate your health insurance with no waiting period. For more information about SCRA, contact your local legal assistance office or visit the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

• Virginia law prohibits discrimination against members of the military, reservists or National Guard regarding group health insurance due to their military status. In circumstances where your coverage or your family member’s coverage under a group health insurance policy or contract is terminated because your status in the military violates eligibility criteria under the policy or contract, once you return to eligible status you have a right to reinstated coverage. The reinstated coverage can’t contain any new preexisting condition or other exclusions or limitations except the coverage can contain any remainder of a preexisting condition requirement that was not satisfied prior to termination of your coverage.

• Virginia law prohibits discrimination against members of the military, reservists or National Guard regarding life insurance due to their military status. You can’t be denied issuance of a life insurance policy (or continued coverage under the policy) because of your military status or duty assignment. In circumstances where your coverage or your family member’s coverage under a group life insurance policy or contract is terminated because your status in the military violates eligibility criteria under the policy or contract, once you return to eligible status you have a right to reinstated coverage. The reinstated coverage can’t contain any new preexisting condition or other exclusions or limitations except the coverage can contain any remainder of a preexisting condition requirement that was not satisfied prior to termination of your coverage.

• Insurance agents and companies selling life insurance at military installations must obtain permission from the Department of Defense to be an authorized solicitor. When working with an insurance company or agent, verify that they are licensed in Virginia and the policy offered to you has been approved for sale.

• The Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) program offers low-cost group life insurance to eligible service members, including active duty military personnel, reservists and National Guard members called to active duty. SGLI includes benefits for death resulting from Acts of War. Most private insurance policies exclude coverage for Acts of War though, so it important to understand what coverages are included and familiarize yourself with any exclusions or limitations.

• For details on premium payment and refund issues, military service members can contact their Flight, Payroll and/or Finance Office. Service members and their families can also contact the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI) at 1-800-419-1473 for help with claims. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can assist you in learning more about life insurance options and identifying your insurance needs.

• An annuity is a contract in which an insurance company makes a series of income payments at regular intervals in return for a premium or premiums paid by the owner. Annuities are most often purchased for future income and can be structured to provide income for long periods of time.

• There are annuity products that could be appropriate or useful for those individuals looking to receive a monthly income beyond their pension. However, a deferred annuity is structured so that payment for the premium investment is not received for several years and withdrawing funds from it early can be very costly. Remember, an annuity is not an investment product to help reach a short-term financial goal.

• Annuities and Veterans Pension Qualifications

• Get quotes from several companies. Rates vary by company, so it pays to shop around.
• Compare each policy. Be sure the policies you compare have similar levels of coverage. The more features, options, and benefits a policy has, the more it will typically cost.
• Ask questions! Talk to your agent or company. Do not feel pressured or intimidated to sign an application for a policy until you are comfortable with your decision.
• Before you buy an insurance policy, ask the agent how the company will handle issues that might come up while you're deployed. Company guidelines can vary.
• Make sure your agent and insurance company are licensed in Virginia. Use our search tool to verify that an insurance agent, agency or company is licensed in Virginia.

Complaints

If you believe you have encountered deceptive sales practices or have discovered that the policy you purchased was misrepresented to you, then visit our complaints page for information on how to file a complaint.