Finding Life Insurance For Veterans: A Step-By-Step Guide

Life insurance for veterans is a crucial topic, offering financial security and peace of mind to those who have served their country. When it comes to finding out if a veteran has life insurance, the best approach is to visit the official website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This website provides a secure platform to access life insurance policies online using a file number. By doing so, veterans can learn about their policy benefits, eligibility, and make necessary changes. It is important to note that life insurance options for veterans may vary, including Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI), with the latter being available for both active duty and reserve service veterans. Understanding the different plans and their limitations is essential for veterans to ensure they have the coverage they need.

Check the U.S. Department of Affairs website

To find out if a veteran has life insurance, the best place to start is by visiting the U.S. Department of Affairs website. Here is a step-by-step guide to checking for life insurance on the official website:

Step 1: Verify the Website

Before sharing any personal or sensitive information, it is important to ensure that you are on an official government site. Federal government websites typically end in '.gov' or '.mil'. Additionally, a secure site will have 'https://' at the beginning of the web address, indicating that any information provided is encrypted and sent securely.

Step 2: Accessing the Portal

Once you are on the official website, you should be able to access the life insurance policy online. You will need the veteran's file number to access their policy. The website should allow you to view policy benefits and make changes if necessary.

Step 3: Understanding Policy Types

It is important to understand the different types of life insurance policies available to veterans. The two main types are Servicemember's Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI). SGLI is for active-duty personnel, while VGLI is for veterans who have transitioned out of service. Additionally, there is the Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI) for disabled veterans.

Step 4: Checking Policy Status

Once you have accessed the policy, you can check its status to ensure it is up to date. This includes information such as beneficiaries (those who will receive the money from the policy), premium payments, and renewal options. It is important to keep this information current to ensure that the policy is active and reflects the veteran's wishes.

Step 5: Exploring Other Resources

The website also offers various resources and tools to help veterans and their families. These include a life insurance needs calculator, handbooks and guides, and information on other benefits such as burial planning, health care, and survivor benefits.

By following these steps, you can effectively check the U.S. Department of Affairs website to find out if a veteran has life insurance and gain a better understanding of their policy and available benefits. It is always recommended to review and update policy information regularly to ensure it aligns with the veteran's current needs and wishes.

Find out about eligibility requirements

To find out about eligibility requirements for life insurance as a veteran, there are several options to consider. Firstly, you can visit the official website of the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. There, you can access your life insurance policy online using your file number. This will allow you to learn about your policy benefits and make any necessary changes. Additionally, you can explore the different types of life insurance plans offered by the VA, including Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI). SGLI is a low-cost group term life insurance program that provides automatic coverage for most active-duty servicemembers, certain National Guard members, and cadets and midshipmen of the U.S. military academies. To manage your SGLI coverage, you can use the SGLI Online Enrollment System (SOES) on the milConnect website. On the other hand, VGLI allows veterans to convert their SGLI to a civilian program of lifetime renewable term coverage after separation from service. To apply for VGLI, you can complete and file form SGLV 8714 or apply online.

It is important to note that eligibility requirements may vary depending on the type of life insurance plan chosen. For example, SGLI is typically available to active-duty servicemembers, while VGLI is designed for veterans with prior SGLI coverage. Additionally, the VA offers other life insurance options, such as Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) for spouses and children of servicemembers with SGLI coverage, and Service-Disabled Veterans' Life Insurance (S-DVI) for disabled veterans.

Furthermore, you can also consider life insurance plans offered by private insurance companies. These plans may offer more flexibility and benefits than those provided by the VA. Term life insurance and whole life insurance are common types of policies offered by private companies. Term life insurance provides coverage for a specified period, such as 10 to 30 years, while whole life insurance offers lifelong coverage with a cash value component that grows over time. When considering private life insurance, it is important to compare different companies and plans to find the one that best suits your needs and eligibility.

Learn how to update beneficiaries

Keeping your beneficiary information up to date is crucial to ensure that your VA life insurance policy functions as intended. Your VA Life Insurance Beneficiary is the person you have designated to receive your insurance proceeds in the event of your death. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to update your beneficiary information:

Identify Your VA Life Insurance Program:

Firstly, you need to identify the specific VA life insurance program you are enrolled in. The process for updating beneficiaries may vary depending on the program. The most common programs include Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI), and Other VA Life Insurance policies.

Access Your Policy:

You can access your VA life insurance policy online through the official website of the United States government, which typically ends in .

For SGLI or FSGLI policies, go to milConnect and select "Manage my SGLI."

For VGLI policies, access your policy through the Prudential Insurance Company of America website, as they provide VGLI benefits in collaboration with the VA.

For Other VA Life Insurance policies (starting with V, RH, J, RS, K, or W), use the VA's Online Policy Access website.

Update Your Beneficiary Information:

Once you have accessed your policy, follow the instructions provided by the website to update your beneficiary information. This may involve filling out an online form or downloading and completing a paper form, which you then submit electronically, by mail, or by fax.

Regularly Review Your Beneficiary Information:

It is recommended to review your beneficiary information at least once a year to ensure it remains current. Even if you have not made any changes, the designated beneficiary's contact information or other details may have changed.

Additionally, certain life events, such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child, should trigger a review of your beneficiary information. This proactive approach will save your family members from unnecessary complications in the future.

Specific Circumstances:

If you are assisting a competent veteran with changing a beneficiary designation, or if the veteran is incompetent, there are specific procedures to follow.

For competent veterans, they can complete and sign Form 29-336, "Designation of Beneficiary and Optional Settlement." If they cannot sign their name, they can make a mark, which must be witnessed by two disinterested parties who are not beneficiaries. If the veteran cannot sign or make a mark, send a letter explaining their condition.

For incompetent veterans, only a court-appointed guardian can change the beneficiary designation, and they must obtain a specific court order authorizing the change. The guardian must complete Form 29-336 and include the guardianship documents and the court order.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your VA life insurance beneficiary information is up to date, providing peace of mind for you and your loved ones.

Understand the different types of insurance

Understanding the different types of insurance available to veterans is important to ensure they receive the financial security and benefits they need. Here is a detailed overview of the various insurance options:

Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI)

VGLI is a program that allows veterans to convert their Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) to a civilian program of lifetime renewable term coverage after separation from service. It is available to veterans who had full-time SGLI coverage during their service. VGLI provides continued financial protection for veterans and their families as they transition to civilian life.

Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI)

SGLI is a low-cost group term life insurance program designed for active-duty servicemembers, including those in the Ready Reserve and National Guard. It offers automatic coverage for most eligible servicemembers, providing financial security for them and their families. Coverage can be extended for up to two years if the servicemember becomes totally disabled before separation.

Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI)

FSGLI is an extension of SGLI that provides coverage for the spouses and dependent children of servicemembers enrolled in SGLI. It ensures financial protection for the families of servicemembers, with spousal coverage typically not exceeding the servicemember's coverage. FSGLI coverage is provided at no additional cost for dependent children.

Traumatic Injury Protection under SGLI (TSGLI)

TSGLI is an automatic feature of SGLI that provides additional financial support to servicemembers who suffer traumatic injuries resulting in losses such as amputations, blindness, or paraplegia during their service. It offers payments to help servicemembers cope with the financial impact of these severe injuries.

Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife)

VALife is a relatively new program that offers guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance to veterans with service-connected disabilities. It provides coverage of up to $40,000, with lesser amounts available in $10,000 increments. To activate the elected coverage, veterans must pay premiums during the first two years of enrollment.

Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI)

VMLI is a type of mortgage life insurance designed for disabled veterans who have been approved for a VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant. It is available to veterans who have received an SAH grant, hold the title to their adapted home, and have a mortgage on the property. VMLI helps protect veterans and their families from the financial burden of a mortgage in the event of their passing.

Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI)

S-DVI is a life insurance program specifically for veterans with service-connected disabilities. While this program is no longer accepting new enrollments, veterans with eligible disabilities can now apply for the VALife program, which offers similar benefits.

It is important to note that eligibility requirements and specific benefits may vary for each insurance program. Veterans and their families can refer to official government websites and resources to determine their eligibility and understand the full range of benefits available to them.

Explore premium rates

The premium rates for your Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) depend 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 are considered 1 year older when determining your premium rate. For example, if you’re 59 years and 6 months and 1 day old, you’ll pay the rate for age 60.

VALife offers up to $40,000 in whole life insurance coverage in $10,000 increments.

Ages 18

Frequently asked questions