Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is a type of group term life insurance offered to former members of the military. It allows service members to convert their Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage to term life insurance that is renewable every five years. VGLI is a good option for those who cannot medically qualify for regular life insurance, as it does not require a medical exam and offers guaranteed acceptance. However, VGLI rates can be expensive for older veterans, and it may not be the most cost-effective solution in the long run.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Type of Insurance | Group term life insurance |
Coverage Amount | $10,000 to $500,000 |
Coverage Adjustment | Can be adjusted if your needs change |
Premiums | Increase as you age; based on age and coverage amount |
Coverage Period | For life as long as premiums are paid |
Application Period | Within 1 year and 120 days of separation from service |
Medical Exam | Not required if applied within 240 days of leaving service |
Payout | Remains the same unless requested otherwise; includes accelerated death benefit feature |
Membership Fees | None |
Basis of Coverage Amount | SGLI policy during active service |
Conversion to Permanent Policy | Possible with participating insurance companies |
What You'll Learn
- VGLI is a continuation of the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage offered to active military personnel
- VGLI offers coverage to veterans, but rates can get high for older veterans
- VGLI doesn't require a medical exam, but premiums increase as you age
- VGLI is a term insurance program for anyone retiring or separating from the military
- VGLI has no membership or enrolment fees
VGLI is a continuation of the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage offered to active military personnel
Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is a continuation of the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage offered to active military personnel. In other words, VGLI is a life insurance program that allows service members to convert their SGLI coverage to term life insurance that is renewable every five years.
To be eligible for VGLI, you must have had SGLI during your active service. You can apply for VGLI within 1 year and 120 days of leaving the military. If you apply within 240 days, you won't need to prove your good health; otherwise, you will need to submit evidence of it.
VGLI offers death benefits ranging from $10,000 to $500,000, which can be adjusted if your needs change. The amount of VGLI coverage you can get is based on how much SGLI coverage you had when you left the military. You can also increase your coverage by $25,000 every 5 years up to $500,000 until you turn 60.
VGLI premium rates are based on your age and the amount of insurance coverage you want. The older you are, the higher your premium will be. For example, a $100,000 policy would cost $30 per month for a 35-year-old but $60 per month for a 55-year-old.
VGLI is a good option for those who smoke or have pre-existing medical conditions, as it does not require a medical exam for qualification and does not factor in health or smoking status when determining premiums. However, for healthy individuals, a civilian term life insurance policy may offer better value.
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VGLI offers coverage to veterans, but rates can get high for older veterans
Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is a type of group term life insurance offered to former members of the military. It is a continuation of the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage offered to active military personnel, meaning that to qualify for VGLI, you must have had SGLI coverage at the time of discharge.
VGLI offers death benefits ranging from $10,000 to $500,000, which can be adjusted if your needs change. The amount of the death benefit is based on how much SGLI coverage you had when you left the military. While most active-duty service members are automatically enrolled in SGLI, if you declined or lowered your coverage, this can limit your VGLI death benefit.
VGLI premium rates are based on your age and the amount of insurance coverage you want. While VGLI rates are affordable for younger veterans, they increase significantly as you age. For example, a $100,000 policy will cost $12 a month at age 35, but $60 a month when you reach 55. Premiums for older veterans can be high compared to standard term life rates.
VGLI offers guaranteed acceptance if you sign up within one year and 120 days of leaving the military. There is no medical exam required if you enroll within 240 days of leaving the service. The death benefit remains the same unless you request a change, and the policy remains in force as long as premiums are paid. There are no membership or enrollment fees.
However, VGLI has some limitations. It only offers term life insurance, which means the policy has a death benefit but does not build any cash value. Additionally, VGLI has a relatively low death benefit cap of $500,000, and you cannot increase your coverage beyond this amount.
For these reasons, while VGLI can provide good value for term coverage for some veterans, others may find a better deal with a civilian life insurance policy, especially if they are healthy and looking for coverage for a set period.
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VGLI doesn't require a medical exam, but premiums increase as you age
Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is a type of group term life insurance offered to former members of the military. It is a continuation of the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage offered to active military personnel, meaning you must hold SGLI coverage at the time of discharge to qualify for VGLI.
VGLI does not require a medical exam if you enroll within 240 days of leaving the military. This is a significant advantage for those who are unable to qualify for private life insurance due to health issues. During this period, your health will not be taken into consideration, and you will not be penalized for any pre-existing medical conditions. However, if you apply for VGLI after the 240-day period, you will need to submit medical details and prove that you are in good health.
While VGLI can be a convenient option for those with health issues, it's important to note that the premiums increase as you age. VGLI rates are based on your age and the amount of coverage you choose. The rates increase every five years and can become quite expensive for older veterans. Therefore, while VGLI may be a good option for those with health issues, healthy applicants may find more affordable options on the private market.
In summary, VGLI offers guaranteed acceptance and no medical exam within 240 days of leaving the military, but the premiums increase significantly as you age. This means that while it can be a good option for some, others may find more cost-effective alternatives. It is important to consider your individual circumstances and compare VGLI with other insurance plans to determine if it is the right choice for you.
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VGLI is a term insurance program for anyone retiring or separating from the military
Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is a term insurance program for anyone retiring or separating from the military. It is a continuation of the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage offered to active military personnel. This means that to qualify for VGLI, you must have had SGLI coverage at the time of discharge.
VGLI offers former military members the opportunity to keep their term insurance for life, as long as they continue to pay the premiums. The coverage amount ranges from $10,000 to $500,000 and is based on the SGLI coverage the member had when they left the military. VGLI premiums increase as the member ages and are generally affordable for younger veterans. However, as the member gets older, the premiums can become expensive.
One of the advantages of VGLI is that it guarantees acceptance for eligible veterans who apply within one year and 120 days of separation. Additionally, there is no medical exam required if the member enrolls within 240 days of leaving the military. VGLI also offers the flexibility to increase the coverage amount by $25,000 every five years until the member turns 60.
However, VGLI has some limitations. It only offers term life insurance, which means it has a death benefit but does not build any cash value. Moreover, VGLI has a relatively low death benefit cap of $500,000, and the premiums increase significantly as the member ages. For older veterans, VGLI rates can be high compared to standard term life rates. Therefore, it is recommended to shop around and compare rates with other insurance providers to find the best value for term coverage.
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VGLI has no membership or enrolment fees
Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is a life insurance program that allows US service members to convert their Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage to term life insurance that is renewable every five years. VGLI has no membership or enrolment fees, just like many group life insurance programs offered by private employers.
VGLI is a continuation of the SGLI coverage offered to active military personnel. This means you must hold SGLI coverage at the time of discharge to qualify for VGLI. You can increase your coverage beyond your original SGLI limit, but you can only raise your policy's death benefit by $25,000 every five years until you turn 60.
VGLI is available to service members who were on active duty for more than 30 days and had SGLI, as well as members of the Ready Reserve who had SGLI and are being separated or released from drilling assignment. It is also available to members assigned to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) or to the Inactive National Guard (ING) of a branch of service, or those who had part-time SGLI and who, while performing duty, suffered an injury or disability that renders them uninsurable at standard premium rates.
To qualify for VGLI, you must apply within one year and 120 days of leaving the military. If you sign up within 240 days, you won't need to prove you're in good health. After 240 days, you'll need to submit evidence of good health.
VGLI rates are based on your age and the amount of insurance coverage you want. While VGLI is a good option for those who cannot medically qualify for regular life insurance, rates can get high for older veterans. If you're in good health after leaving service, you may get more value from a civilian term life insurance policy.
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Frequently asked questions
Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is a life insurance program that allows service members to convert their SGLI coverage to term life insurance that is renewable every five years.
VGLI is available for:
- Service members who were on active duty for more than 30 days and had SGLI.
- Members of the Ready Reserve who had SGLI and are being separated or released from drilling assignment.
- Members assigned to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) or the Inactive National Guard (ING) of a branch of service.
- Members who had part-time SGLI and who, while performing duty, suffered an injury or disability that renders them uninsurable at standard premium rates.
You will receive a VGLI application from the SGLI office within approximately 45 to 60 days following your separation from service. You have one year and 120 days from your date of separation to apply. If you submit your application within 240 days, you only need to submit the application along with the first month's premium. If you submit after 240 days, you will need to provide proof of good health.