ALCOAST 334/18 - SEP 2018 IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE INSURANCE (SGLI) ONLINE

united states coast guard

R 280959 SEP 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-13//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS//N01000//
ALCOAST 334/18
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ:  IMPLEMENTATION OF SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE INSURANCE (SGLI) ONLINE
ENROLLMENT SYSTEM (SOES)
1. This ALCOAST announces the Coast Guard’s upcoming implementation of the Servicemembers’
Group Life Insurance (SGLI) Online Enrollment System (SOES) as directed by the Department
of Veterans Affairs. SOES is a web-based system allowing Coast Guard active duty and reserve
members to quickly and easily validate or change SGLI or Family SGLI (FSGLI) coverage amounts
and beneficiaries. Reducing the workload for administrative personnel, SOES eliminates the use
of SGLI/FSGLI paper forms for most servicemembers eligible for this valuable life insurance
benefit. All SGLI-eligible members must validate their current SGLI and FSGLI coverage amounts
and beneficiaries as soon as practicable through SOES during the implementation period, from
01 October 2018 through 31 March 2019. The Coast Guard will upload current SGLI and FSGLI
elections into SOES prior to 01 October 2018.
2. Effective 01 October 2018, Coast Guard members can access SOES 24/7 via the DoD
milConnect portal, https://www.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/ using their Common Access Card
(CAC). After a member logs into the SOES application and validates beneficiary name(s)
and benefit share amounts using an electronic signature, the SOES record becomes the
authoritative record for SGLI/FSGLI elections.
3. Upon logging into milConnect, members access the SOES application by selecting it
from the drop-down menu under the “Benefits” tab. Once in SOES, members must complete
three tasks to certify the SOES record including entering beneficiary name(s), share(s)
of proceeds, validating their coverage amount and using an electronic signature to
finalize the elections. Only spouse information will pre-populate in SOES based on data
from the Defense Enrollment and Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS). Members who
previously declined coverage prior to the SOES implementation will not need to certify
their record, but should ensure their coverage in SOES reflects their declination.
Members who receive a ‘User Ineligibility Notice’ from SOES after accessing the
application will not be able to certify their record. Individuals receiving this notice
will need to continue making any necessary SGLI and FSGLI changes through the paper
process until such time they can access SOES. Any member who receives this notice and
subsequently wants to make a change to their SGLI and FSGLI coverage should first attempt
to login to the application to make the change in SOES.
4. All Servicing Personnel Offices and Personnel and Administration (P&A) Offices will
receive specific guidance from the Pay and Personnel Center regarding the SOES
implementation and future maintenance of SGLI and FSGLI coverage for those members unable
to immediately certify their SOES record.
5. The DMDC Support Center (DSC) will provide support for milConnect and technical issues,
by calling 1-800-477-8227. For general SGLI and FSGLI coverage and beneficiary questions,
members should contact their P&A Office. Direct SGLI policy questions to COMDT (CG-1332) at
Compensation@uscg.mil.
6. RDML M. W. Sibley, Acting Director of Reserve and Military Personnel, sends.
7. Internet release authorized.