APPENDIX C

2008 VGLI

Data Analysis Plan

for

VGLI Mailout Survey

Submitted

On

April 2, 2009

Data Analysis Outline and Plan

The analysis of the 2008 Veterans Group Life Insurance survey will provide information on the Veterans Group Life Insurance outreach/marketing materials and tools, veteran understanding of the Veterans Group Life Insurance benefit, perceived availability and importance of life insurance, veteran coverage through non-Veterans Group Life Insurance insurance, and demographics of veterans who do and do not convert their Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) to Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI). The analysis will also include a description of survey variables which may have a causal relationships or be significant predictors of conversion from SGLI to VGLI.

We propose to use a combination of univariate and multivariate statistics to clearly present the findings from the survey. Statistics to be employed include univariate frequencies, cross-tabulations, correlations, and multiple regression analyses to identify predictors of SGLI to VGLI conversion.

The data analysis report will be organized by topic. Topics and corresponding survey questions are listed in table 1 below.

Table 1: 2008 VGLI Survey Topics and Questions

Topic	Survey Item	Item Number
VGLI outreach/marketing materials and tools	Separation briefing on VGLI	Q5
Satisfaction with VGLI information from separation briefing	Q6
Mailout materials on VGLI	Q7
Number of VGLI information packages received	Q8
How carefully VGLI information read	Q9
Rating of VGLI information package	Q10
Telephone call on VGLI	Q11
Usefulness of telephone call	Q12
VGLI information from VA insurance website	Q13
Satisfaction with VGLI information on VA insurance website	Q14
Understanding and Conversion to VGLI	Awareness of VGLI features	Q15
Reasons for converting/not converting to VGLI	Q16

Table 1: 2008 VGLI Survey Topics and Questions (continued)

Topic	Survey Item	Item Number
Perceived availability and importance of Life Insurance	Ease of obtaining Life Insurance – by Age	Q17
Ease of obtaining Life Insurance – by Health status	Q18
Importance of Life Insurance	Q22
Factors influencing perceived importance of Life Insurance	Q23
Non-VGLI Life Insurance coverage	Life Insurance coverage before separation	Q3
Non-VGLI Life Insurance coverage after separation	Q19
Reasons for selection non-VGLI Life Insurance	Q21
Amount of non-VGLI coverage	Q20
Demographics and predictor variables (for regression analysis)	Aware of SGLI	Q1
Satisfaction with SGLI	Q2
Satisfaction with separation briefing	Q4
Rank (at time of separation)	Q25
Marital status	Q28
Education	Q29
Employment status	Q30
Dependants	Q31
Service-connected disability	Q32
Disability rating (self-report)	Q33
Individual income	Q34
Household income	Q35
Number of people in household	Q36
VGLI coverage	VA/Frame
Disability rating (VA report)	VA/Frame
Branch of service	VA/Frame
Reserve/National Guard	Q24
Gender	Q26
Age	Q27

The SGLI analytic report will follow the outline described below:

Executive Summary

Background

Description of VGLI, SGLI, current environment, VBA goals, current outreach activities

Research questions for the VGLI survey

Overview of Survey Methods

Description of sample and sampling methodology

Data collection methods and timing

Survey response

Data cleaning

Data weighting

Quality control measures

Demographic Characteristics of Survey respondents/veteran population

Discussion of demographic characteristics of veterans who do and do not convert to VGLI. Break data by disability rating.

As appropriate based on the data collected, the following topics will be analyzed by demographic variables using correlation statistics and multiple regressions to identify predictors.

We propose to create an analytic group representing veterans we perceive to have a greater need for life insurance. This group might include veterans who do not have non-VGLI coverage and who are married and/or have dependents. Disability rating could be used to further break down the group of veterans with greater perceived need. By creating this analytic group of veterans with perceived need, we can highlight through the analysis report the experiences, perceptions, and demographic features of this group of interest.

VGLI Outreach/Marketing Materials and Tools

Recall and use of VGLI outreach materials [Q5, Q7, Q11, Q13]

Feedback on VGLI information received in separation briefing [Q6]

Feedback on hard copy VGLI materials [Q10a-g]

Number of VGLI information packages received [Q8]

How carefully VGLI information read [Q9]

Feedback on VGLI information received by telephone [Q12]

Feedback on VGLI information obtained on the web [Q14]

Understanding and Conversion to VGLI

Awareness of VGLI features [Q15a-f]

Reasons for converting to VGLI [Q16Aa-f]

Reasons for not converting to VGLI [Q16Ba-h]

Perceived Availability and Importance of Life Insurance

Perceived ease of obtaining non-VGLI Life Insurance [Q17, Q18]

Perceived importance of Life Insurance [Q22, Q23]

Income and Perceived Cost of Life Insurance

Household income and number of people [Q35, Q36]

Perceived cost of VGLI [Q16Be]

Non-VGLI Life Insurance Coverage

Non-SGLI coverage prior to separation [Q3]

Non-VGLI coverage [Q19a-e]

Reasons for selection of non-VGLI coverage [Q21a-f]

Amount of non-VGLI coverage [Q20]

Predictors of conversion to VGLI

Break by 0-40% disability rating, 50-80% disability rating, and 90-100% disability rating

Outcome variable is SGLI to VGLI conversion

Possible predictors to be explored include: satisfaction with SGLI; other life insurance prior to/post separation; satisfaction/rating of VGLI materials/tools; perceived ease of obtaining non-VGLI coverage; perceived importance of life insurance; employment status; income; and other demographic variables.

The analysis will highlight the differences between the convertors and non-convertors within each of the disability bands.

If the bulk of the non-converters have alternate life insurance, perceive no need for life insurance, or do not have adequate income, then goals of increasing conversion rates of SGLI to VGLI may not be realistic. If the bulk of the non-convertors, however, appear to perceive a need for the insurance and have adequate income, increased conversion rates may be attainable through more or different marketing and outreach.

The results of this survey analysis will be combined with the results of the insurability analysis to present an overall picture of how rates of SGLI to VGLI conversion may be obtained.