Frequently Asked Questions

Eligibility

Uniformed Services

1. Who is eligible to apply for this insurance in the uniformed services?
    
2. Those in the "Selected Reserve" are eligible to apply for this insurance. Who does that include?
    
3. I was in the military years ago, but I didn't retire. I am not receiving any retirement or retainer pay. I simply completed my tour of duty and returned to civilian life. Am I eligible to apply for this insurance?
    
4. Are grey reservists eligible to apply for this insurance?
    
5. Are surviving spouses who receive Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs eligible to apply for this insurance?
    
6. I'm receiving a "variable separation incentive" from the uniformed services. I was an officer and my position was eliminated. I was offered and accepted a variable separation incentive equal to two times my service time. Am I eligible to apply for this Program?
    
7. I'm a former member of the uniformed services receiving a medical annuity. Am I eligible to apply for insurance under this Program?
    
8. I'm receiving payments under the SBP (Survivor Benefit Plan). Does that qualify as a survivor annuity?
    
9. I'm on leave without pay from my Federal/Postal position, because I’m on active duty with the reserves. How can I meet the actively at work requirement if I'm on leave without pay?

1. Who is eligible to apply for this insurance in the uniformed services?

• Members on active duty or full-time National Guard duty for more than 30 days
• Members of the Selected Reserve
• Members on retirement or retainer pay
• Retired members of the Selected Reserve, including grey reservists

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2. Those in the "Selected Reserve" are eligible to apply for this insurance. Who does that include?

The Selected Reserve consists of those uniformed services members who are required to routinely train and are the first category liable for mobilization under the statutes governing mobilization.

The Selected Reserve consists of Drilling Reservists and Guard members assigned to Reserve Component Units; all Individual Mobilization Augmentees who are Reservists assigned to Reserve Component billets in Active Component units (they may perform duty in a pay or non-pay status); and Active Guard and Reserve members who are full-time Reserve members on full-time National Guard duty or active duty in support of the National Guard or Reserves.

Reservists who are assigned to a Voluntary Training Unit in the Naval Reserve and Category E in the Air Force Reserve (although they may perform inactive duty training (drills) in a non-pay status) are not members of the Selected Reserve and therefore are not eligible. They are members of the Individual Ready Reserve.

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3. I was in the military years ago, but I didn't retire. I am not receiving any retirement or retainer pay. I simply completed my tour of duty and returned to civilian life. Am I eligible to apply for this insurance?

No. However, if you are currently on active duty or full-time National Guard duty and have been for more than 30 days, or you're in the Selected Reserve (members in the Individual Ready Reserve are not eligible), then you would be eligible to apply.

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4. Are grey reservists eligible to apply for this insurance?

Yes, they are eligible to apply for this insurance at any time. They do NOT need to wait until they are actually in receipt of their annuity.

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5. Are surviving spouses who receive Dependency Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs eligible to apply for this insurance?

Yes. A DIC payment is a survivor annuity.

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6. I'm receiving a "variable separation incentive" from the uniformed services. I was an officer and my position was eliminated. I was offered and accepted a variable separation incentive equal to two times my service time. Am I eligible to apply for this Program?

No, you are not. A variable separation incentive payment does not qualify as retired or retainer pay for purposes of the Long-Term Care Security Act. You do not have retirement status that would qualify you to apply for coverage under this Program.

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7. I'm a former member of the uniformed services receiving a medical annuity. Am I eligible to apply for insurance under this Program?

Yes, if that medical annuity is retired pay or retainer pay. If it is a benefit provided under statutes administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), you are not eligible. However, there is one exception -- if indeed you are qualified for retired pay from the uniformed services and voluntarily chose to receive a VA benefit instead, you are still eligible to apply.

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8. I'm receiving payments under the SBP (Survivor Benefit Plan). Does that qualify as a survivor annuity?

Yes it does. You are eligible to apply for insurance coverage under this Program, using the full underwriting application.

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9. I'm on leave without pay from my Federal/Postal position, because I’m on active duty with the reserves. How can I meet the actively at work requirement if I'm on leave without pay?

You simply need to meet the actively at work requirement for active members of the uniformed services. For active members of the uniformed services, actively at work means that you are on active duty and are physically able to perform the duties of your position.

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