Life Insurance
Low-cost life insurance up to $500,000 — guaranteed coverage you can keep after service, with no medical exam if you convert in time.
Overview
VA life insurance includes VALife for veterans with service-connected disabilities, SGLI for eligible service members, and VGLI for separating service members and veterans who convert their SGLI coverage. These programs are designed to keep affordable coverage available through service and beyond.
Converting SGLI to VGLI — VA Life Insurance
How to keep your military life insurance after you separate — the SGLI-to-VGLI conversion window, why it matters, and the newer VALife option for disabled Veterans.
Who may qualify
VALife: any veteran with a VA service-connected disability rating (0%–100%) who applies at age 80 or younger — guaranteed acceptance with no medical exam, and a 2-year waiting period before the full benefit pays.
SGLI: automatic, low-cost coverage up to $500,000 for active-duty, Guard, and Reserve members.
VGLI: converts SGLI to civilian coverage after separation — apply within 1 year and 120 days; applying within 240 days requires no health questions.
FSGLI: coverage for the spouse and dependent children of a service member who has SGLI.
TSGLI: traumatic injury protection that pays a lump sum for qualifying severe injuries.
How to apply
Explore & apply for VA life insurance- 1
Identify the program that fits your status: VALife, SGLI, VGLI, FSGLI, or TSGLI.
- 2
For VALife, apply online through VA.gov — most decisions are immediate.
Apply for VALife - 3
For VGLI, apply within the post-separation window to lock in coverage without a health review.
Apply for VGLI - 4
Name and regularly update your beneficiaries so your coverage pays out the way you intend.
Free information — just ask
You can ask Albert, our AI claims assistant, further questions any time. But if you’d like a direct, personal response, tell us what’s going on below and we’ll get back to you — no cost, no obligation.
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For veterans who have decided they want us on their claim. Registering is free too. It involves the registration form and signing VA Form 21-22a — by law we can’t accept your claim, work on it, or contact the VA for you until that power of attorney is signed.
Prefer to call?
702-992-4883Life Insurance — frequently asked questions
Straight answers to the questions veterans ask most about this benefit. Still stuck? Ask Albert in the chat, or request a free review with our accredited team.
What happens to my SGLI when I leave the military?
Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) ends shortly after you separate — coverage generally stops 120 days after discharge. To stay insured, you must convert to VGLI or another policy during that window. Many Veterans lose coverage simply because they did not act in time, so this is a deadline worth marking.
What is VGLI and how long do I have to sign up?
Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) lets you continue your SGLI coverage as a Veteran. If you apply within 240 days of separation, no health questions are asked — your coverage is guaranteed. You can still apply up to one year and 120 days out, but after 240 days you may have to prove good health. Apply early to lock in guaranteed coverage.
What is VALife and who is it for?
VALife is a whole-life insurance program for Veterans with any service-connected disability rating (0% to 100%). There is no medical exam — acceptance is guaranteed for eligible Veterans under age 81 — with coverage up to $40,000. It was created specifically so that disabled Veterans who were shut out of other policies could finally get guaranteed life insurance.
How much coverage can I carry?
VGLI lets you carry up to the amount of SGLI you had at separation — currently up to a maximum of $500,000, in $10,000 increments. VALife tops out at $40,000 of whole-life coverage. You can combine programs in some situations, but each has its own limits and premium structure.
Do premiums change as I age?
VGLI premiums increase in age brackets as you get older, since it is term-style coverage. VALife premiums are fixed for the life of the policy because it is whole life. Younger Veterans often find VGLI cheaper at first, while VALife offers stable lifetime pricing — which matters most for those with health concerns.
Can I get VA life insurance if I have serious health problems?
Yes — that is exactly what these programs are designed for. VGLI within 240 days and VALife for any service-connected Veteran both offer guaranteed acceptance with no medical exam. This is a critical safety net for Veterans who would be declined or charged very high rates by commercial insurers due to their health.
Is there a waiting period before VALife pays out?
Yes. VALife has a two-year waiting period — if the insured dies within the first two years from a non-accidental cause, the policy pays back premiums plus interest rather than the full benefit. After two years, the full face value is payable. It is important to enroll early so the waiting period is behind you.
How do I make sure the money goes to the right person?
Name and regularly update your beneficiaries. Life changes — marriage, divorce, new children — can leave an outdated beneficiary on file, and the policy pays whoever is listed. Reviewing your beneficiary designation every few years, and after any major life event, is the simplest way to make sure your coverage protects the people you intend.
