Va Life Insurance: What Veterans Need To Know

Yes, veterans can get life insurance through the VA. The Department of Veterans Affairs offers life insurance to veterans, service members, and their spouses and dependent children. The VA offers several life insurance programs, including the new Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) program, which provides low-cost, guaranteed acceptance whole life coverage of up to $40,000 to veterans with service-connected disabilities. Other programs include Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI), and Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI).

Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife)

Eligibility for VALife

If you are aged 80 or younger, you are eligible for VALife if you have a VA service-connected disability rating, even if your rating is 0%. There is no time limit to apply after getting your disability rating.

If you are aged 81 or older, you may still be eligible for VALife if you meet the following requirements:

• Before you turned 81 years old, you applied for VA disability compensation for a service-connected disability.
• After you turned 81, you received a rating for that same disability.
• You apply for VALife within 2 years of getting notification of your disability rating.

Benefits of VALife

VALife offers the following benefits:

• Up to $40,000 in whole life insurance coverage (in $10,000 increments).
• Cash value that starts to accumulate 2 years after your application is approved.
• Guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance, meaning that if you meet the eligibility requirements, your application will be automatically approved, and you won't need to prove you're in good health.
• You can keep your coverage for the rest of your life.

When your benefits will start

Your full life insurance coverage starts 2 years after you apply, and you must pay the premiums during those 2 years. If you die during the 2-year waiting period, your beneficiaries will receive the total amount you paid in premiums, plus interest. If you die after the 2-year waiting period, your beneficiaries will receive the full coverage amount of your policy.

How much you'll pay for VALife

Your premium depends on your age when you apply and the amount of coverage you want. Your premium rate will never increase as long as you keep your VALife policy. If more than 6 months have passed since your last birthday, you will be considered 1 year older when determining your premium rate.

Premium rates

You can choose to pay your premium each month or once a year. The rates vary depending on your age and the amount of coverage you choose.

How to access your VALife policy

If your application for VALife is approved, you will be notified by email, text, or both, based on the communication preferences you selected when you applied. This notification will include a link to the VA life insurance portal, where you can access, download, and print a copy of your policy.

Changing from S-DVI to VALife

If you have Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI), you have two options:

• Apply for VALife now.
• Keep your S-DVI.

If you apply for VALife by December 31, 2025, you can keep your S-DVI during the 2-year waiting period for VALife benefits. Your S-DVI will end when your full VALife coverage starts, and you must pay premiums for both policies during the waiting period.

If you apply for VALife on or after January 1, 2026, your S-DVI will end the day your VALife application is approved, and you'll only need to pay VALife premiums during the 2-year waiting period, but you won't have full coverage during this time.

How your beneficiaries would file a claim

Your beneficiaries would need to fill out a Claim for One Sum Payment (VA Form 29-4125). They can fill out and file the form online through DocuSign, or they can fill out the form and then upload it online or send it by mail.

What to do if you have more questions

You can call the VA Life Insurance Center at 800-669-8477 (TTY: 711). They are available from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.

Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI)

If you apply for VALife by December 31, 2025, you can retain your S-DVI coverage during the 2-year waiting period for VALife benefits. Your S-DVI coverage will end when your full VALife coverage starts, and you must pay premiums for both policies during the waiting period. If you apply for VALife on or after January 1, 2026, your S-DVI coverage will end when your VALife application is approved, and you will only need to pay VALife premiums during the waiting period. It is important to note that VALife does not offer premium waivers, so any waiver you have for S-DVI premiums will not transfer to VALife.

VALife is a guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance program for service-connected veterans aged 80 and under, offering coverage of up to $40,000. There is no time limit to apply after receiving a disability rating, and the coverage amount can be chosen in increments of $10,000. The premium depends on the age of the applicant and the desired coverage amount, with rates increasing with age. The full coverage starts two years after application, during which the premiums must be paid to keep the policy active.

Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI)

Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is a form of life insurance offered by the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It allows veterans to convert their Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) to a civilian program of lifetime renewable term coverage after leaving military service. VGLI is available to veterans who had SGLI while serving in the military and are within 1 year and 120 days of being released from active duty. It also covers those who are within the specified time frame of retiring or being released from the Ready Reserve or National Guard.

VGLI provides term life insurance benefits ranging from $10,000 to $500,000, based on the amount of SGLI coverage the veteran had when they left the military. The policy can be increased by $25,000 every 5 years, up to a maximum of $500,000, until the veteran reaches 60 years of age. To be eligible for VGLI, individuals must apply within 1 year and 120 days of leaving military service. If applying within 240 days, proof of good health is not required; after this period, evidence of good health must be submitted.

VGLI premiums are determined by age and desired coverage amount. Beneficiaries can be chosen and modified as needed, and policies can be converted to commercial (civilian) policies at standard premium rates without providing health information. VGLI also allows for the designation of beneficiaries and the conversion of policies to commercial insurance plans.

Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI)

SGLI provides coverage of up to $500,000, with the option to choose the desired level of coverage. The program offers 120 days of free coverage from the date of leaving the military and extends free coverage for up to 2 years if the Servicemember is totally disabled upon separation. For Reserve members who do not qualify for full-time coverage, part-time coverage is available.

Beneficiaries, or the individuals who will receive the insurance payout in the event of the Servicemember's death, can be chosen by the Servicemember and changed as needed. The premium for SGLI is affordable, with the current basic rate at 6 cents per $1,000 of insurance coverage, paid monthly through automatic deductions from the Servicemember's base pay. This includes an additional $1 per month for Traumatic Injury Protection coverage (TSGLI).

SGLI provides important financial security for Servicemembers and their loved ones, ensuring peace of mind during their service. It is a valuable benefit offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs to those who serve our country.

Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI)

Non-military spouses are covered automatically for $100,000 or the amount of the member's coverage, whichever is less. Military spouses must apply for coverage. Spouses can be covered for up to a maximum of $100,000 of coverage, not exceeding the servicemember's SGLI coverage. The premium for spousal coverage is based on the spouse's age and the amount of coverage. The servicemember will pay the premium, which will increase as the spouse ages.

Dependent children are covered for $10,000 each at no cost to the member. Coverage is provided automatically and can't be turned down, reduced, or cancelled. Coverage lasts until the child is 18 years old. If the child is a full-time student between 18 and 22 years old, or if they become permanently and totally disabled before turning 18 and are no longer able to support themselves, coverage may be extended.

If you are a spouse covered under FSGLI and your servicemember spouse separates from the military, or elects to end their SGLI or spousal SGLI coverage, you have the option to convert your FSGLI coverage to a permanent, individual insurance policy within 120 days of the date of separation or written election. You will be solely responsible for all aspects of the policy, including premium payments.

Frequently asked questions