USAA Membership Eligibility for Family Members

[Briana Hartzell USAA]

Updated March 2022

In the USAA Community, we strive to be a trusted place for our members to comment or ask a question about a service USAA provides, connect with other members, or ask questions on military life topics. Each month, we look at the trending topics driven by your questions and comments to address in further detail.

This month, we are taking a closer look at top questions regarding USAA membership eligibility for family members.

Generally, USAA membership is open to active, retired, and separated veterans with a discharge type of “Honorable” and “General Under Honorable Conditions” from the U.S. military and their eligible family members. Here is what you need to know about USAA eligibility for family members.

Who is an eligible family member?

Spouses, widows, widowers and un-remarried former spouses of USAA members who joined USAA prior to or during the marriage, as well as individuals whose parents joined USAA.

Are children of my wife (second marriage) eligible for membership?

YES. USAA members can pass membership eligibility to step-children as well as biological children.

Are children of deceased parents eligible?

For a child to be eligible, the parent must join USAA while living. Once the parent’s USAA membership is established, membership eligibility can be passed on to the member's children. USAA membership cannot be established posthumously for deceased parents.

Can my siblings join?

No. Your USAA membership eligibility cannot be passed to siblings.

Are Parents Eligible for USAA?

No. Your USAA membership eligibility cannot be passed to parents.

Why these eligibility restrictions?

USAA was founded in 1922 when 25 Army officers came together to insure each other’s automobiles.   Since that time, USAA has continued to grow as a membership-based organization. Our eligibility rules reflect USAA’s primary mission…to be the provider of choice for the U.S. military community and their immediate families. This does not reflect USAA’s opinion concerning the desirability or insurability of other family members but rather, a decision to focus our resources on the current eligibility groups.

You can find additional details on USAA eligibility requirements here.

Have any questions I can help answer? Please let me know in the comments.

Disclosures: Use of the term "member" or "membership" refers to membership in USAA Membership Services and does not convey any legal or ownership rights in USAA. Restrictions apply and are subject to change. To join USAA, separated military personnel must have received a discharge type of Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions. Eligible former dependents of USAA members may join USAA.

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[USAA Social Service]

Hi there @Stvmcl.  Membership is passed down to children of Military members or spouses. Please know that it has long been USAA's vision to serve the entire military community and to deliver great service to all those who have sacrificed to protect the nation's security. However, our operational capacity and capital requirements have stopped us from expanding membership to the full military market.  While no decisions have been made to make other changes to our eligibility criteria at this time, We'll continue to assess our current business environment and the needs of our members and the organization. As situations evolve, we'll make eligibility decisions based on staying true to our mission to be the provider of choice for the military and their family members.   Therefore, I invite you to periodically contact us for any notifications of possible eligibility changes that may be considered in the future.

[Puchunga]

Hello my daughter is a military I just want to know if I can get car insurance through my daughter? 

[USAA Social Service]

Hi there, @Puchunga. Thank you for your consideration. Eligibility is extended to active service members, veterans, as well as their spouse and children. Unfortunately, it would not extend from a service member to their parent. More information on these membership guidelines is available at USAA.com/JOIN. Please, let me know if I can be of any further assistance to you. :) ~ Steven

[Ryan T.]

My father served in the army and passed away before he could sign up for a USAA account.  Do you think USAA will ever change its policy to allow for people like myself to obtain USAA benefits? 

[USAA Social Service]

@Ryan T., I'm sorry to hear your father has passed. Our eligibility guidelines have changed throughout the years and we review them regularly. Definitely check back with us for any updates. Thank you for you inquiry! -Cynthia 

[johneastbay]

USAA has become less and less customer service oriented. It has become increasing profit oriented at the detriment of service to members.  Instead of providing members with fair and competitive saving rates and considerate claims processing, excessive money is being spent on advertising campaigns.

As a 54 year member, I have become more and more dissatisfied with USAA managements' wasting money on these excessive commercials.  In the SF Bay area, USAA TV commercials seem to exceed those of all other insurance companies combined.  When a USAA commercials starts, I immediately change channels or shut the TV off.   I have become a disgusted USAA member.

[USAA Social Service]

Thank you @johneastbay for your longtime membership of 54 plus years with USAA.  I certainly understand your concerns and frustrations about advertising.  Our marketing efforts are meant to reach and inform all 60 million members and prospective members about what USAA is and all that it has to offer. I truly appreciate your membership and have forwarded your comments to the appropriate area for further review.  ~ Marco

[Sonu196]

My father was in the Army for 25 years. I have always had USAA insurance. When I married, I kept it for my spouse and myself, kids. I am divorced now. Is my former spouse eligible?

[USAA Social Service]

Thank you for your membership @Sonu196 & great question!  To verify her eligibility, you may or she may call us at 800-531-8722 to speak to our specialists to answer your questions concerning her eligibility.   ~ Marco

[TexGirl08]

Ms. Hartzell,  Your stated "un-remarried former spouses of USAA members who joined USAA prior to or during the marriage" are still eligible.  Actually, former spouses are still eligible, even if remarried.   I'm living proof.   Have been divorced from my military spouse for over 20 years, and remarried for 10 years.  Or maybe USAA didn't ask me the right questions ??

[Briana Hartzell USAA]

Hi @TexGirl08 

Thank you for your post! The eligibility rules are nuanced and it's often specific to a person's personal situation and the products and services they have at certain points in their lives. I am so glad your membership has remained throughout your life changes and I am certainly glad you posted here in community about your situation! Thanks again!

[Usna@1957]

Through Ancestry DNA. I have recently discovered I have an adult 37. Year old daughter that I did not know about.   Is my biological  daughter  eligible for membership  and if so the requirements  to add her under my membership?  

[USAA Social Service]

Hi Usna@1957. Wow, that is quite the surprise! Eligible family does include individuals who parents joined USAA, so your biological daughter would be eligible for membership. You can see what is required to add her right through your account by selecting the arrow next to your name at the top right, then Profile & Preferences. There, you'll see a section for Family Members with the option to Add. You can also give us a call at 1-800-531-8722, and we'll be happy to provide more information! ~Holland

[Paladin 16]

My brother in law is an honorably discharged veteran but not a member of USAA.  Can his adult children join?  If not, may I  sponsor them?

[Seclusive]

I have lived with a USAA member for over 10 years - we have been engaged but not married yet. We share finances and live in the same home.  Are my children (his step children although we are not married) eligible to join USAA?

[USAA Social Service]

@Paladin 16, you would not be able to sponsor them. If your brother in law becomes a member, then he can pass his membership to them. Hope this helps and please let me know if you have additional questions. Thank you! -Cynthia 

[USAA Social Service]

@Seclusive, your children would not be eligible currently until you are legally married. Please let me know if you have further questions. -Cynthia 

[HalleWood]

My biological father is a veteran honorably discharged. He is a USAA member. I thought that I could get auto insurance as his adult daughter but it would not let me get a quote. It said something about my state (Michigan)'s rules. Is there a rule against adult children getting insurance when their biological parents are veterans?

[USAA Social Service]

Good morning @HalleWood.  When available, please review your inbox for a correspondence from USAA addressing your question.  ~ Marco

[Scott_Illinois]

I am trying to help someone obtain membership whose deceased father was a Veteran.   Aside from a social security number, is there any other way to determine if this Veteran was a member?  Thank you.   

[USAA Social Service]

@Scott_Illinois, thanks for reaching out in Community today. To find out if his father was a member, we can search by full name and date of birth. Once we can determine if he was a member, then membership would pass down to him. Please let me know if you have additional questions. -Cynthia

[markus56]

Im retired army and have been a member for several years. My son has  auto insurance through USAA. If I cancel my membership will he retain his membership.

[USAA Social Service]

@markus56- Hi, your membership, which is free, will remain even if you have no products. You do not need to retain any products or use any services for your son to continue using USAA products and services under his own account. ~Shawna

[Jamie15]

I am insurance shopping and was looking into USAA.  I went to create an account and it said I already had one!  I created an online profile, etc. and added my father as a Family Member, since he was in the Merchant Marines and Reserves.  Does all this mean I'm definetely eligible and don't need to do anything else to confirm elibibility, or can people create accounts that aren't fully eligible?  

[USAA Social Service]

Jamie15, for assistance with eligibility you would need to call 800-531-8722 to speak with a New Member Acquisitions team member. They can discuss your eligibility and what is required. Thank you! -Cynthia 

[rlreno67]

I'm a usaa member and an Army veteran. I had my wife signed up as a member awhile ago, but she procrastinated on logging in and looking at the products she was eligible for.  She finally signed in a few months later (today) and she was given a list of things she's ineligible for and credit cards was one of the items on the list. I was under the impression she was eligible, by being my spouse. Any help would be appreciated.

[USAA Social Service]

@rlreno67, Thank you for reaching out in our Member Community with your question. I would be curious to know where she reviewed a list of items she is ineligible for? Once logged into usaa.com, we would invite her to review the " products " tab. If you are an eligible active member and you are married, she should have no problem applying for products. If she does, Please have her call or chat with us. There may need to be an update to her information. Thanks again for reaching out. ~ Suzy 

[You ROCK!]

I'm a usaa member and am I qualify for a mortgage even though we're divorced, he was a vet?

[USAA Social Service]

We would need to conduct an interview and become more familiar with your individual situation before determining whether or not you qualify for a mortgage product with USAA.  Please contact a loan officer or apply online. (800)531-8781..

-Christopher

[SmallestDoor756]

I currently have USAA because I am a child of two retired service members. If I get married, would I be able to add my spouse to my account?

[USAA Social Service]

Hello @SmallestDoor756, we truly thank your parents for their military service and passing the membership down to you.  To answer your question about eligibility for a spouse, Yes.  You can pass the eligibility down to your spouse and children.  If you have any questions, you can always call us or chat with if you have any questions.  ~ Marco

[maesk]

My friend's father is Navy veteran, but has never joined USAA. If he joins USAA and gets a credit card (no auto or homeowners insurance though), will she (his daughter) be eligible to become a USAA member?

[maesk]

I forgot to mention that he is still living (elderly), and his daughter is 60 (so not a dependent).

[USAA Social Service]

@maesk, Great question! Your friend's father will only need to establish his eligibility in order to pass his eligibility to your friend. (There is no requirement for him to obtain a product or service in order to do this.) Hope this helps :) ~Danielle

[USAA Social Service]

Hello @maesk, please let your friend's father know we truly appreciate their military service.  For eligibility, there is no purchase necessary or accounts required to pass down membership to a spouse and/or children.  Please have your friend's father call USAA at 800-531-8722 to speak with our New Member Team to get him set up with eligibility so he is able to pass down the membership onto your friend and if they have any siblings.  I hope this helps with your inquiry.  ~Marco

[CupWinner]

I searched and couldn't find an answer, sorry if it's already been addressed.

My wife is a member through me, former military. She is the legal guardian for her grandfather who has dementia. Can he become a member? Banking would be a lot simpler if we all had our accounts at USAA obviously.

Thanks for your time!

CupWinner

[USAA Social Service]

@CupWinner, thank you for your inquiry regarding membership eligibility. I can understand wanting to have all accounts in one place, however, membership is passed down from generation to generation, so her grandfather would not be eligible. I hope this information helps and please let me know if you have additional questions. Thank you. 

[Joshku]

Hi there I apologize if this has already been answered in the past. 

My dad served in the military for him to pass down his USAA benefits (Insurance, Bank etc.) would he have to have a policy with USAA at some point or does he just need to have created an account and listed me as a child? 

If the answer is yes does it have to be an auto or home insurance? Does motorcycle insurance qualify?

Thanks for your time. 

[USAA Social Service]

@Joshku, thank you for your interest in our membership! That's a great question. Typically, if the eligible member established membership with us, the eligibility would be passed on. I highly recommend contacting our eligibility team at 800-531-8722. A specialist will be glad to review further any possible eligibility options. Tricia 

[adriannaknebel]

I'm a member because of my amazing father in law who is a purple heart recipient. I'm curious about my mortgage options with USAA. 

[USAA Social Service]

Hello @adriannaknebel. Thank you for your father in laws service. You can find more information on usaa.com under Products and Mortgages. If you have additional questions please call us at 210-531-8722 so we can discuss mortgage options with you. -Colleen

[TxCal]

I want to confirm if mother is eligible or not. Father deceased retired around 1975 US Army E8 or E9 after 20 years service before eligibility changes at USAA so he was not a member of USAA. Mother is a never remarried widow. I am ex USAF Capt daughter and she has son retired Chief in USAF who is a member. Mother is DOD retired Civil service on pension and still with it at age 93. It appears that Mom is not eligible but I want to be sure because it would make her management of finaancials simpler to have everything in one place like USAA.  Thank you for your time

[USAA Social Service]

@TxCal, thank you for reaching out concerning your mother's eligibility and I definitely understand wanting to have everything in one place to make things easier. Based on the information you've provided your mother might be eligible. I would recommend to call our New Member Acquisitions Team at 800-531-8722 so we can gather a few additional details. Hope this helps and please let me know if you have additional questions. Thank you! -Cynthia  

[Court67]

I've seen conflicting information regarding the following circumstances and am looking for clarification. I've had benefits through my father since I was a teenager and my former spouse now has membership because of me. Can he retain USAA membership, and potentially add his new spouse, if he remarries? My son is about to get his learner's permit and my ex said he will put him on his policy, but if my ex is going to lose eligibility I'll need to put him on my policy instead.

[USAA Social Service]

@Court67, I'm sorry to learn you've heard conflicting information. If after divorce the ex-spouse obtains a policy before they remarry, they have established their membership. If they remarry before establishing their membership, they will no longer be eligible. Hope this helps clarify your concerns. -Cynthia 

[Court67]

It does. Thank you very much, Cynthia.

[USAA Social Service]

Happy to hear it, @Court67! You're welcome! :) ~Danielle

[Rodentking 01]

A good friend had started to apply for USAA membership under her father's sponsorship, he has a USAA member number.  He died before the application process was completed. Now, she is told she cannot join as "he never finished his profile."  That does not seem reasonable.   Is there someone to discuss this with to appeal the decision?

[USAA Social Service]

Good afternoon @Rodentking01, our condolences to family on your friend's father's passing.  I definitely get the concerns about not being able to join after his application was not completed.  To better assist you in speaking to someone, please reach out to our New Member Team at 800-531-8722.  They will be able to address any additional questions or concerns you may have for USAA eligibility.