Despite options like TRICARE, Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and military-focused agencies like USAA or Armed Forces Insurance, the topic of insurance is often easy for military families to neglect.
But life in the service is full of curves — many of which involve unexpected costs. On that note, here are a dozen “I had no idea!” things military families can get covered by insurance.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): TRICARE will cover HRT as long as the prescriptions are FDA-approved and used as the label indicates.
Rotten food: Power outage? No worries for many insurance policy holders if everything in the fridge and freezer goes bad; you can often submit a claim directly on your insurance company’s website or app.
Basic fertility workups: If a service member or spouse is having trouble conceiving, TRICARE pays for diagnostics services to help discover what exactly is going on. And though it does not usually cover fertility treatment (unless it’s directly from a service injury), there are six Military Treatment Facilities (MTFs) that offer IVF for less than civilian clinics.
Identity theft: Identity theft insurance is usually offered as an add-on to homeowners or renters insurance policies, but it can also be purchased externally through companies like Equifax, a credit monitoring company that specializes in fraud protection.
Body parts: If a military spouse is a wine sommelier, they need their nose! As an extension of disability insurance, people with specific, usually high-paying jobs can get “body part insurance” on the most valuable piece of their body. Think of surgeons insuring their hands, or supermodels insuring their legs.
Various hazards: If a policyholder’s car or home sustains damage during riots or civil unrest, an explosion, or even damage from an aircraft, they may be covered.
Nurse advice: Chat via phone or video with nurse at any time through the MHS Nurse Advice Line (1-800-TRICARE, option 1).
Wedding or other events: This type of policy usually covers things like postponement (handy if you live in an area prone to natural disasters!) and liability (in case a guest gets injured). Some wedding insurance plans even cover the bride or groom getting cold feet!
Help to quit smoking: TRICARE will pay for tobacco cessation products with a prescription from an authorized provider, as well as counseling.
Bariatric surgery: Adults who meet certain conditions (like being unsuccessful at non-surgical weight loss methods such as Weight Watchers), could receive coverage under TRICARE for surgeries like gastric bypass and stomach stapling, among others.
Art, music and dance therapy: If a beneficiary is being treated at an inpatient facility, residential substance use disorder facility, psychiatric residential treatment center for children and adolescents under age 21, a partial hospital program or an intensive outpatient program, their ancillary therapies could be paid for.
Collectibles: If a USAA member has a bunch of military memorabilia or valuable collectors’ items, they can get a discount with partner agencies on insuring them.
Be sure to check with your own insurance carrier regarding any coverage you’d like to have under your specific policy.
