Spouses’ Life Insurance Approval Draws Fire

Effective Sept. 1, the Defense Department must obtain written consent from a service member’s spouse if the member takes less than the maximum life insurance coverage, or names anyone other than a spouse as the primary beneficiary. This veto power could create problems in such situations as coverage of children from a previous marriage, or a member who does not want to name an abusive spouse as primary beneficiary. Legislation pending before the House and Senate veterans’ affairs committees would replace the spousal veto power with a requirement only that a spouse be given written notice about the member’s insurance coverage. Some veterans organizations such as the American Legion, AmVets and Paralyzed Veterans of America say that even that is going too far because the government shouldn’t interfere in a personal decision about life insurance. July is the critical month for legislation that would become law by Sept. 1 since Congress will be on recess in August.