Servicemembers receive new benefits for severe combat injuries
CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan (Jan. 19, 2006) -- Service members who suffer traumatic injuries in combat will be eligible for financial compensation Dec. 1 thanks to a new program under the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance.
http://www.marines.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/0/9D50EBB8E7981B51852570FB0031B262?opendocument
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MCB Camp Butler
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Computed Name: Cpl. Sarah M. Maynard
Story Identification #:
20061194249
The Traumatic Injury Protection Insurance program was part of Public Law 109-13, which President George W. Bush signed May 11. Injuries covered under the TSGLI must be sustained in combat, and include loss of speech, sight, hearing, arms, legs, and other similar seriously debilitating wounds.
“The purpose of the program is to provide compensation to service members during their recovery period from a serious traumatic injury,” said Jeffery A. Shattuck, a Marine Corps
Traumatic SGLI representative. “It is not intended to serve as a long term income replacement.”
“That could be something like loss of sight in one eye, loss of a hand at the wrist, or third degree burns covering 30 percent of the body or face,” Shattuck said.
The Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance determines payment amounts. These amounts are based on how severe the combat injury or loss of ability is and how it affects the performance of specific daily living activities, according to Shattuck.
The new coverage will be automatic automatically added to those service members who have SGLI coverage.
“All service members covered by SGLI will automatically receive TSGLI coverage through an increase of one dollar to SGLI premiums,” Shattuck said.
Service members who were injured before the initiation of the program will be included.
“Retroactive coverage will be available to any service member, with or without SGLI coverage,” Shattuck said. “The service member must have been injured in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom on or after Oct. 7, 2001, but before Dec. 1 2005. After Dec. 1, a service member must have been enrolled in SGLI to be eligible for TSGLI payments.”
More information about the new TSGLI program, including a complete list of injuries covered under the TSGLI and amount paid for each is available at http://www.manpower.usmc.mil/tsgli.