USAA - is your parent a veteran?

[DeborahB]

I nagged my father into joining USAA (you have to be a veteran, but if you are, your children can get all the benefits too even after his death). I figured I'd utilize it to build up some credibility. He's 92 so it was important to not wait to do this - he's still okay mentally but no bets on how long that lasts at his age.

Sounds morbid, but if anyone has a parent who was a WWII vet or whatever, have the parent apply for usaa - they have to take out a policy of some sort (I am paying for it) to activate it. There are a lot of good benefits and once the vet has died... you can't activate it. If it's in place already, the children can get all the same benefits (low insurance theoretically although I think we are doing better with AAA).

 

[pb4uski]

I couldn't get into USAA because wile my dad was a vet, he passed some years ago. Great outfit tho.

 

[ERhoosier]

I'm a vet & been with USAA for decades. Net rates (after subscriber dividends) have been unbeatable, but auto service has gone downhill over past sev yrs- at least for those of us not living in military towns.

 

[aaronc879]

The USAA website says military veterans are: former officers or enlisted personnel. If you or you parent were drafted(did not enlist) are you still eligible? I didn't find that info on the site.

 

[REWahoo]

If you or you parent were drafted(did not enlist) are you still eligible?

Yes. Anyone who served in the US military and received an honorable discharge is eligible as are their children.

See this website: USAA Eligibility

 

[Amethyst]

My dad was a veteran (enlisted). I don't know why he didn't join USAA, but he didn't, and thus I was unable to join despite being a veteran's daughter.

Amethyst

 

[REWahoo]

Amethyst, USAA didn't open membership eligibility to enlisted personnel until November of 2009.

 

[sengsational]

... take out a policy of some sort ...

My dad was in a couple of wars. Or one war and one "police action". I knew nothing of what I might buy from them, so checked wikipedia:

• 2 Lines of business
  • 2.1 Property, casualty, and life insurance
  • 2.2 Banking
  • 2.3 Investing and financial planning
  • 2.4 Other business

Here's what it said about the first one..insurance...

USAA offers a range of personal property and casualty (P&C) insurance, including automobile insurance, homeowner insurance, renters insurance, as well as umbrella and personal property insurance. In addition to P&C insurance, USAA provides whole life insurance, term life insurance, and annuities. USAA's life insurance policies, while not completely unique in the industry, are different from most offerings since they do not include a war-exclusion clause[11] (also known as a "war clause").

I have my insurance with Amica. Might not be the cheapest, but their service is great. Might be nice to have the flexibility to use this company. I'll have a chat with my sisters and see if they're interested.

 

[JakeBrake]

Amethyst, USAA didn't open membership eligibility to enlisted personnel until November of 2009.

Thank you, REW

I served a 4 year enlistment in the USMC in the 1960's. Honestly, I never heard of USAA until I found this forum. Now, I can't turn on the TV without seeing USAA.

Now that I know that USAA did not admit enlisted in my day, I'm not interested in joining. In my day (in the USMC) officers and enlisted did not socialize.

 

[JoeWras]

Amethyst, USAA didn't open membership eligibility to enlisted personnel until November of 2009.

Ah, explains why my dad never mentioned it.

Not sure it is worth our time complicating things with another insurance product for dad (who is near 90, WWII vet). He has way too many policies right now, and siblings and I are managing his affairs, not really ready to add more stuff.

 

[Amethyst]

Well, that would explain it, since Dad died in 1997.

So, by '09 they were losing $ and had to hold their noses and let in the hoi-polloi?

A.

Amethyst, USAA didn't open membership eligibility to enlisted personnel until November of 2009.

 

[REWahoo]

Not sure it is worth our time complicating things with another insurance product for dad (who is near 90, WWII vet). He has way too many policies right now, and siblings and I are managing his affairs, not really ready to add more stuff.

I'm not sure he would need to actually purchase a policy to become a member. Might be worth a few minutes to check since his membership would allow you and your children to become members as well.

 

[REWahoo]

So, by '09 they were losing $ and had to hold their noses and let in the hoi-polloi?

Not exactly how or why membership eligibility evolved. This NY Times article explains it pretty well:

USAA: An Insurance Club That Just Got Bigger - NYTimes.com

Another big reason the Times article missed is the fact the military has shrunk in size substantially. Far fewer officers and therefore a much smaller pool of potential new members as us old ones die off...

 

[DeborahB]

The veteran has to buy some product from USAA to activate it, and keep paying it. Since my 92 year old father was willing to do it but seemed stumped by the paying part, I am paying insurance on something he owns (cheap). According to a friend who has been able to use it for some years, since her late husband was career military, there are all kinds of good deals.

The main thing - for those of us for whom the veteran is my father's age - is to activate the connection ASAP. The VETERAN has to activate it and buy something. Then when my father dies, my brother and I still get the benefits until my death.

In my case I called them and they put my dad on a three-way call and explained it to him, and he agreed - it was all set up in a short phone call once I gave them my credit card to bill it to. But it had to be a policy of my dad's. Not as complicated as it sounds.

 

[ziggy29]

Ah, explains why my dad never mentioned it.

Not sure it is worth our time complicating things with another insurance product for dad (who is near 90, WWII vet). He has way too many policies right now, and siblings and I are managing his affairs, not really ready to add more stuff.

Not sure how much your dad has to buy. But if he can become a member, so can his kids -- and that alone might make it worth looking into if it's not too much of a hassle for him.

 

[Midpack]

Everyone in my family is with USAA except me. Got home & auto insurance quotes a few years ago but USAA was slightly higher than our incumbent insurer. Starting to think I should find a way to join as my parents are 91, and the source of my eligibility.

 

[spncity]

The veteran has to buy some product from USAA to activate it, and keep paying it.

Hmmmm......

We were told in 2012 that the veteran (our dad) only had to buy one product only one time ($28 personal property annual policy served the purpose) to open access to all the products to his kids.

Then we have to buy one product only one time in order to open the products to our kids.

Guess I'll have to ask if this has changed.

Kindest regards.

 

[packrat44]

Historically, only U.S. military officers (among certain other federally sworn officers) were eligible to join USAA, with descendants of USAA members able to purchase insurance from USAA-CIC. It did not matter if one was an active duty or retired officer; one could join at any time. In 1973, membership was opened to members of the National Guard and Reserves, and in 1996, eligibility was expanded to enlisted members of the armed services. As the number of persons who have served on active duty in an enlisted status in the U.S. Armed Forces is quite large, USAA chose to limit the establishment of eligibility to those who were currently on active duty or who had recently separated. The same time limit on establishment of eligibility was then applied to military officers. As USAA's capacity for taking on new members expanded, eligibility criteria relaxed. In 2008, USAA expanded membership eligibility to all military personnel and retirees, and all veterans who separated after 1996.[21] In November 2009, USAA expanded eligibility requirements to offer coverage to anyone who has ever served honorably in the US Military.[22]

 

[clifp]

Historically, only U.S. military officers (among certain other federally sworn officers) were eligible to join USAA, with descendants of USAA members able to purchase insurance from USAA-CIC. It did not matter if one was an active duty or retired officer; one could join at any time. In 1973, membership was opened to members of the National Guard and Reserves, and in 1996, eligibility was expanded to enlisted members of the armed services. As the number of persons who have served on active duty in an enlisted status in the U.S. Armed Forces is quite large, USAA chose to limit the establishment of eligibility to those who were currently on active duty or who had recently separated. The same time limit on establishment of eligibility was then applied to military officers. As USAA's capacity for taking on new members expanded, eligibility criteria relaxed. In 2008, USAA expanded membership eligibility to all military personnel and retirees, and all veterans who separated after 1996.[21] In November 2009, USAA expanded eligibility requirements to offer coverage to anyone who has ever served honorably in the US Military.[22]

I was unaware I could join USAA until today based on my ROTC service.

I just signed up, but I am not sure there is any products I need from them but certainly can't hurt to get a quotes on insurance from them.

Still the glowing reviews from people like Nords, and the vets on the forum make me think that that USAA is a pretty special organization.

 

[braumeister]

I've been a USAA member for 45 years, so I have a good feeling about them. A few auto accidents in my youth were handled very well, and I've never had a problem.

The fact that the members own the company is pretty special. I paid about $1,500 last year for the house, two cars (both with comprehensive and collision), and umbrella coverage. My rebates last year amounted to well over $500, which kept my premiums low. You get a special extra rebate if you've been a member for over 40 years, but even the regular rebate is pretty good.

Every few years, I give in to temptation and check with another company to see what their rates would be. And every time, as soon as I mention I'm with USAA, the response is always "Oh, we can't beat them. Thanks for considering XYZ Insurance."

 

[JoeWras]

Not sure how much your dad has to buy. But if he can become a member, so can his kids -- and that alone might make it worth looking into if it's not too much of a hassle for him.

Well, you all are convincing me. I'm just fatigued. Caretaker fatigue. I just went through taking over dad's finances (discussed elsewhere). The guy was an insurance junky. He had a bunch of tiny life policies bought eons ago, that are still active. I suspect the salesmen got to him when mom and dad were freshly married. Then he has some junk insurance I'm dealing with. Trying to unwind, document and coordinate all of this has been a huge chore.

BUT, sounds like this one might we worth it. I just have to find a product that he could use that won't cost much.

 

[DeborahB]

Well, you all are convincing me. I'm just fatigued. Caretaker fatigue. I just went through taking over dad's finances (discussed elsewhere). The guy was an insurance junky. He had a bunch of tiny life policies bought eons ago, that are still active. I suspect the salesmen got to him when mom and dad were freshly married. Then he has some junk insurance I'm dealing with. Trying to unwind, document and coordinate all of this has been a huge chore.

BUT, sounds like this one might we worth it. I just have to find a product that he could use that won't cost much.

My dad had a watch he inherited. I had him insure it, I paid the premium, and I think it was $45 for the year. My dad's 92 so I probably have to set this up to pay from my charge account automatically. There may have been something cheaper to do but this did the trick. As I understand it, he has to keep some insurance as long as he lives - but meanwhile, I can get all the benefits too. Also my brother.

If I find out anything more I'll share - I tried to get a house insurance quote online yesterday but wasn't sure it was matching what we have now, to compare, and I need to call M-F business hours to reach someone. What I got was higher than our AAA insurance rate so I'm not sure it matches.

I strongly suggest phoning during the weekday to talk to them about it. They seem used to getting calls like mine, from adult children of WWII vets who are pretty old. I only wish I could take over his bills... which he loses and doesn't pay. He has the money, he's just totally disorganized. So far the utilities are still on.

 

[MBAustin]

Amethyst, USAA didn't open membership eligibility to enlisted personnel until November of 2009.

I'm so glad you posted this info. DH's father was a merchant marine officer and qualified for USAA, and I wondered why my father didn't go with them since he was always looking for the best options for things like insurance. Since he wasn't an officer, now I know he wasn't eligible (he died in 2006).

 

[FIREd]

DW got into USAA because her dad was a Marine. We have all of our insurance policies and bank accounts there.

 

[powerplay]

I thought USAA sounded good based on all the rave reviews I've read on this forum so I encouraged my father to check it out a couple years ago. He called and got auto and home insurance quotes and they were almost TWICE the price of his current insurance and much higher than any of the other companies he got quotes from. I'm not sure why others are getting such good rates. Perhaps they don't want new customers or don't want the elderly. I had high hopes that USAA might be a good company, but they were dashed after hearing the outrageous prices they wanted for their insurance.