ETS Insurance Intelligence
The 5 insurance decisions you'll make at ETS.
VGLI is the easy button. It's also why a healthy 28-year-old E-5 will pay $43,000 more over 20 years than they need to. Here's the math.
No email required
No health data stored
Built by veterans
VGLI vs Private Term
Is VGLI the right call for you?
Tobacco
VGLI Monthly
$24
20yr total: $10,992
Private Term
$19
20yr total: $4,560
20-Year Savings with Private Term
$6,432
Verdict
Either works.
The savings from private term are modest given your profile. VGLI's no-underwriting guarantee has value if your health could change. If you want simplicity, take VGLI. If you want to optimize, shop private term.
Auto Insurance
Your military discount disappears.
USAA isn't always cheapest. In CA, other carriers often beat USAA on price. Get 3+ quotes — 30 minutes saves $540/year.
Estimated Annual Savings from Shopping
$540
Carrier Ranking in CA
GEICO (military)Competitive
ProgressiveCompetitive
State FarmCompetitive
Liberty MutualCompetitive
USAAWorth a quote
TRICARE Timeline
The 180-day cliff.
T-60 days
Pre-separation health appointments
Get everything documented. Dental, vision, mental health. Anything service-connected should be in your record before you separate.
ETS Day
SGLI extension starts, TRICARE ends
SGLI continues free for 120 days. TRICARE Prime ends today unless you qualify for TAMP — which is not automatic. TAMP covers involuntary separation, stop-loss, sole survivorship, certain reserve activations, and members joining the Selected Reserve (10 U.S.C. 1145(a)(2)). A routine voluntary ETS is not on that list. Retirees get 90 days to enrol in retiree TRICARE instead.
T+60 days
CHCBP enrolment deadline
If you did not qualify for TAMP, this is your real deadline — 60 days from losing TRICARE, and it does not reopen. CHCBP costs $2,103/quarter for an individual and runs up to 18 months (36 for a spouse).
T+120 days
Free SGLI extension ends
Your 120 days of free SGLI stop here. This is NOT the VGLI deadline — you still have until day 240 to take VGLI with no health questions. But from today until you convert, you are uninsured.
T+180 days
TAMP ends — if you had it
For the minority who qualified, TAMP's 180 days end here. If you do not have employer coverage, marketplace, VA healthcare, or CHCBP in place, you are uninsured. One ER visit = financial crisis.
T+240 days
VGLI without health questions ends
Last day to take VGLI with no proof of good health (38 CFR 9.2(c)). You can still apply after this — see below — but you must show you are insurable, and a condition picked up in service can price you out or get you declined.
T+1yr 120d
Absolute VGLI deadline
One year and 120 days from separation. This is the real lockout: after this date you cannot get VGLI at all, with or without a health exam.
Disability Income Gap
The gap your employer's LTD won't cover.
Full Income$10,833/mo
Employer LTD Pays$6,000/mo
Your Gap$4,833/mo
Annual Income Gap
$58,000
Your employer's LTD covers 55% of your income — but caps at $6,000/mo. If you're disabled, you lose $4,833 every month. A supplemental individual LTD policy costs $30-80/mo and closes this gap.
ETS Insurance Checklist
Don't miss a deadline.
T-120 days
Request your medical records from MTF
File for copies of all medical and dental records. You need these for VA claims and civilian provider continuity.
T-90 days
File VA disability claim (if applicable)
Start the Benefits Delivery at Discharge (BDD) process. Earlier = faster rating.
T-90 days
Get private term life quotes
If healthy and under 40, compare private term rates to VGLI. Lock in your health class while still on active duty.
T-60 days
Set up TRICARE continuation (TAMP/CHCBP)
Understand your 180-day TAMP window. If no employer coverage, apply for CHCBP before day 60 post-separation.
T-60 days
Shop auto insurance
Your military discount disappears. Get 3+ quotes from civilian carriers. USAA may not be cheapest in your state.
T-30 days
Convert SGLI to VGLI or private term
You have 120 days post-separation to convert SGLI to VGLI without medical underwriting. If going private, apply now.
T-30 days
Review employer benefits package
Compare employer health insurance, life, STD/LTD, and dental to your current coverage. Identify gaps.
T-14 days
Set up VA healthcare enrollment
Register at VA.gov/health-care/apply. Priority groups determine copays and access.
ETS Day
Confirm all policies are active
Verify health, life, auto, and disability coverage is in place with no gaps. One day without coverage can mean a pre-existing condition exclusion.
T+180 days
TAMP expires — verify coverage
Your free TRICARE ends. If you haven't secured employer or marketplace coverage, this is the cliff. Don't fall off it.
Sources & limits
Calculations are estimates and do not constitute financial advice. Premium figures are estimates; an actual offer depends on underwriting. Verify VGLI rates at va.gov and any private quote with the carrier directly.