Paul Sanchez
Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) is a life insurance program for veterans with service-connected disabilities. It offers guaranteed acceptance whole life coverage of up to $40,000 to veterans under 80 with service-connected disabilities. VALife is one of several life insurance options provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, including Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI). These options can be accessed and managed online through the VA life insurance portal, with resources available to help veterans and their families understand their eligibility and apply for benefits.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Website | www.va.gov/life-insurance |
| Insurance Types | VALife, VMLI, SGLI, TSGLI, VGLI, FSGLI, S-DVI |
| Eligibility | Veterans with service-connected disabilities, service members, eligible family members |
| Application Process | Online |
| Management | Online |
| Contact | 800-669-8477 (TTY: 711) |
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What You'll Learn
Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife)
To be eligible for VALife, you must have a VA service-connected disability rating, even if your rating is 0%. There is no time limit to apply after receiving your disability rating. However, if you are over 81 years old, you must have applied for VA disability compensation for a service-connected disability before your 81st birthday and received a rating for that disability after turning 81. Additionally, you must apply for VALife within two years of receiving your disability rating.
VALife provides low-cost coverage, and you can keep your coverage for the rest of your life. The elected coverage takes effect two years after enrollment, as long as premiums are paid during this two-year period. You can pay your premium through the VA life insurance portal, where you can also access and manage your policy.
If your application for VALife is approved, you will be notified by email or text, and you can access your policy through the AccessVA portal. It is important to note that VALife does not offer loans or premium waivers. If you already have Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI), you can choose to keep it during the two-year waiting period for VALife benefits.
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Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI)
Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is a life insurance program that allows veterans to convert their Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) coverage to renewable term life insurance after leaving military service. VGLI is administered by the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI), a division of the Prudential Insurance Company of America, under the oversight of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
VGLI was established as part of the Veterans' Insurance Act of 1974 to provide continued life insurance protection to veterans transitioning to civilian life. Before VGLI, veterans often faced challenges in obtaining life insurance due to health issues or the high cost of individual policies. By offering renewable term life insurance, VGLI fills this gap and helps veterans secure financial protection for their families.
Military members with full-time SGLI coverage are eligible for VGLI when they leave the service. VGLI, like SGLI, is overseen by the Department of Veterans Affairs. However, it's important to note that a service member's VGLI coverage amount cannot exceed the SGLI they had when they left the service. VGLI coverage is issued in multiples of $10,000, up to a maximum of $500,000.
VGLI premiums are calculated based on the age of the insured veteran, with rates increasing in five-year age bands. As veterans age, the risk associated with providing life insurance coverage rises, leading to higher premium costs over time. Therefore, it's essential to consider your financial goals and compare VGLI with alternative military life insurance policies to determine the best option for your needs.
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Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI)
SGLI offers eligible service members term coverage at a low cost. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be automatically signed up for SGLI. You may be eligible for full-time SGLI coverage if you are an active-duty member of the armed forces or a cadet or midshipman of the U.S. military academies, among other qualifying roles.
With SGLI, you will pay a monthly premium that is automatically deducted from your base pay. The current basic SGLI premium rate is 6 cents per $1,000 of insurance coverage, and this includes an additional $1 per month for Traumatic Injury Protection coverage (TSGLI). TSGLI is an automatic feature of SGLI that provides payments to service members who suffer losses, such as amputations, blindness, or paraplegia, due to traumatic injuries incurred during their service.
When you leave the military, you have the option to convert your SGLI coverage to a permanent, individual insurance policy within 120 days from your date of discharge without proof of good health. You can also apply for Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) within one year and 120 days from your date of discharge to continue your life insurance coverage.
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Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI)
Spouses of service members with SGLI coverage are automatically insured under FSGLI, with the premium automatically deducted from the service member's pay. If the spouse is not signed up in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), the service member is still responsible for the premiums and any back payments. The service member can reduce, decline, or cancel spousal coverage by submitting changes online through the SGLI Online Enrollment System (SOES).
To receive an insurance payment, a service member must file a Claim for Family Coverage Death Benefits (SGLV 8283A). To request an advance insurance payment for a spouse who is terminally ill, a service member must file a Claim for Accelerated Benefits (SGLV 8284A).
FSGLI coverage cannot be converted to other types of policies, such as term, variable, or universal life insurance. If you wish to convert FSGLI coverage, you must choose a company from the list of participating companies, apply at their local sales office, and provide a copy of the most recent Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) showing the deduction for spousal SGLI, along with proof of coverage.
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Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI)
S-DVI was closed to new enrollment after December 31, 2022. However, if you already had an S-DVI policy before this date, you can choose to keep it. Alternatively, you can apply for the new program called Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife), which began accepting applications on January 1, 2023. VALife offers guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance of up to $40,000 to veterans with service-connected disabilities who are aged 80 and under.
If you have an S-DVI policy and want to transition to VALife, you have two options. You can choose to keep your S-DVI policy and not make any changes. Alternatively, you can apply for VALife by December 31, 2025, and keep your S-DVI coverage during the 2-year waiting period for VALife benefits. Once your full VALife coverage starts, your S-DVI policy will end. It's important to note that VALife does not offer premium waivers, so if you have a waiver for S-DVI premiums, it will not transfer to VALife.
To apply for VALife, you need to submit your first premium payment along with your application. If your application is approved, you will be notified by email, text, or both, based on your preferred communication method. You will then be able to access, download, and print a copy of your policy through the VA life insurance portal. You can also check your eligibility and apply for VALife online.
In summary, while S-DVI is no longer accepting new enrollments, existing policyholders can choose to keep their coverage or transition to the new VALife program. VALife offers guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance for veterans with service-connected disabilities and provides benefits to their survivors. For more information and assistance, you can contact the VA Life Insurance Center or visit their website to access resources and application forms.
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Frequently asked questions
You can find out about VA life insurance options for veterans, service members, and eligible family members on the VA website.
You can apply for VA life insurance online through the VA website. You will need to submit your first premium payment when you apply.
VALife is a new guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance program for all service-connected veterans aged 80 and under. It provides low-cost coverage to veterans with service-connected disabilities.
Yes, you can manage your VA life insurance policy online through the VA portal. You can use the portal to pay your premium, check your policy status, compare plans, update beneficiaries, and more.
You can contact 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 to answer any questions you may have about VA life insurance policies.
