Military Personnel Should Review Insurance Options

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners Urges Service Personnel to
Ensure They, Their Families Maintain the Right Coverage for Any Posting

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- As thousands of military personnel
prepare to return from deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan in the coming
months, they should review their insurance coverage to make certain that they
and their families stay protected no matter where they are, according to the
National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).

"With frequent moves and changes in deployment status, members of the armed
services face a unique situation when it comes to insurance," explained Roger
Sevigny, NAIC President, New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner and retired U.S.
Army colonel. "By staying on top of their insurance options, military
personnel can make sure that they have the right coverage for any situation,
whether they are in Kabul, Afghanistan; Kirkuk, Iraq; or Kansas City,
Missouri."

Reflecting the special circumstances military personnel must take into account
when shopping for insurance, the NAIC tailored a section of its award-winning
consumer education Web site, www.InsureUonline.org, to address these insurance
questions. The site provides insurance tips and special considerations on the
four basic types of insurance: auto, home, health and life.

Detailed, comprehensive insurance information specifically for the military
can be found at www.insureuonline.org/course_military.htm.

Special Insurance Considerations for Military

While broad insurance information can be found on the Insure U site, the NAIC
offers the following sample of tips for those in the armed services to help
with selecting their insurance coverage.

Auto Insurance

-- If you will be deployed for an extended period of time and no one will
be driving your vehicle, you may be able to suspend some of your auto
insurance coverage to save on premium payments. Not all states or
insurance companies allow for coverage to be suspended. Visit
www.naic.org/state_web_map.htm for a link to the state insurance
department Web sites.
-- If you want to suspend auto coverage, contact your agent and state
insurance department for the specific laws and policy limitations
applicable in your state. You may want to ask whether the following
types of coverage can be suspended while you are deployed: liability,
collision, uninsured/underinsured motorist, medical payments and
personal injury protection (PIP).

-- In states that mandate automobile insurance coverage, you may need to
file an affidavit of non-use with your state's department of motor
vehicles to avoid being fined for failure to maintain insurance.

Homeowners Insurance

-- Many homeowners policies have a "vacancy clause" that may be
activated if you are deployed for an extended period of time and your
family has moved to a new location. Such policies might not pay claims
if your house is vacant for 60 days or more. Consult your insurance
company to learn how it defines "vacancy" and whether the
claims for a vacant house will be paid.

-- To avoid future disputes, review your policy with your agent before
you
leave for military duty. Also, make sure your policy limits are
sufficient 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.

Health Insurance

-- Many reservists and National Guard members have health coverage for
themselves and their families through an employer-sponsored health
plan.
Some may wish to continue that coverage, particularly for their
dependents, during their active duty period. Talk with your benefits
administrator to learn what will happen with your health coverage when
called to active duty.
-- If you are on active duty for more than 30 days, you and your
dependents
should be covered by military health care. Dependents have medical and
dental services provided through uniformed services facilities subject
to availability and are eligible for health benefits from civilian
sources through the federally funded TRICARE program, the triple
option
benefit plan available for military families, formerly known as
CHAMPUS
(Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services).

-- Your right to continue health coverage under an employment-based group
health plan is covered by federal laws. The Consolidated Omnibus
Budget
Reconciliation Act (COBRA) provides health coverage continuation
rights
to employees and their families after an event such as reduction in
employment hours. The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment
Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) is intended to minimize the disadvantages
that occur when a person needs to be absent from civilian employment
to
serve in the uniformed services. Both COBRA and USERRA generally allow
individuals called for active duty to continue coverage for themselves
and their dependents under an employment-based group health plan for
up
to 24 months.

Life Insurance

-- Anyone who sells life insurance at military installations is required
to
obtain permission from the Department of Defense to be an authorized
solicitor. When dealing with an agent, ask to see permits and licenses
to be sure you are dealing with a legitimate agent.
-- Currently, many private insurance carriers do not offer coverage for
Acts of War. Military personnel are provided some death benefits, but
may purchase a limited amount of additional coverage through the
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI), a low-cost group life
insurance program that includes benefits for death resulting from Acts
of War. Be sure you understand the benefits paid by the policy if you
were to die in a war zone or were to be killed through an act of war.
If
you purchase an individual military-focused policy, check with your
agent to make sure it does not duplicate coverage for your family that
could be obtained elsewhere.

-- Service members can contact their Flight, Payroll or Finance Office
for
further details on premium payment and refund issues. Service members
and their beneficiaries should contact the Office of
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI) for pending claims.

More Information

Get smart about your insurance needs. For more information about auto, home,
life and health insurance options -- as well as tips for choosing the coverage
that is right for military personnel -- visit www.InsureUonline.org or take
the military insurance quiz at www.insureuonline.org/quiz_military.htm

About the NAIC

Formed in 1871, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is
a voluntary organization of the chief insurance regulatory officials of the 50
states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. The NAIC has three
offices: Executive Office, Washington, D.C.; Central Office, Kansas City, Mo.;
and Securities Valuation Office, New York City. The NAIC serves the needs of
consumers and the industry, with an overriding objective of supporting state
insurance regulators as they protect consumers and maintain the financial
stability of the insurance marketplace. For more information, visit
www.naic.org.

CONTACT: Monica Charleston, +1-312-233-1317, monica.charleston@edelman.com

SOURCE National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Monica Charleston, +1-312-233-1317, monica.charleston@edelman.com, for
National Association of Insurance Commissioners