Life Insurance
Life Insurance for Veterans: VGLI, VALife and Private Options Compared
Veterans can keep VA coverage after service or buy private policies, and often both make sense. Here is how VGLI, VALife, VMLI and VA burial benefits work in 2026, and when private coverage costs less.
- Apply for VGLI within 240 days of leaving service to skip the health review.
- VGLI premiums rise every 5 years; healthy veterans often pay far less with private level term.
- VALife offers up to $40,000 of guaranteed whole life for any service-connected rating, with a 2-year wait.
- VA burial benefits leave most funeral home costs to the family, so many add burial insurance.
Table of Contents
Life insurance for veterans comes from two places: the VA’s own programs and private carriers. VA coverage includes VGLI, which continues your SGLI after service, and VALife, a guaranteed whole life policy for veterans with a service-connected disability. Private term, whole life and final expense policies fill the gaps. This guide compares them using the VA’s current figures, so you can see which fits your age, health and budget. Octans Insurance is an independent agency based in Massachusetts. Our licensed agents compare 120+ carriers at no fee to you.
Life insurance for veterans: your options at a glance
VA life insurance for veterans runs under several programs in 38 U.S.C. Chapter 19. Each one has its own rules on who qualifies, how much you can buy and when the full benefit starts.
| Program | Who it’s for | Coverage | Key rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| SGLI | Service members | Up to $500,000 in $50,000 steps | Free for 120 days after discharge |
| VGLI | Veterans who had SGLI | $10,000 to $500,000, up to your SGLI amount | No health review if you apply within 240 days |
| VALife | Veterans with any service-connected rating, including 0% | Up to $40,000 whole life | Guaranteed acceptance; full benefit after 2 years |
| VMLI | Severely disabled veterans with a Specially Adapted Housing grant | Up to $200,000 or the mortgage balance | Pays the lender; apply before age 70 |
| S-DVI | Existing policyholders only | Varies by policy | Closed to new applications after Dec 31, 2022 |
| Private coverage | Anyone who qualifies | Term, whole life, final expense | Priced on age, health and tobacco |
Sources: VA pages for SGLI, VGLI, VALife, VMLI and S-DVI, checked October 12, 2026.
What happens to SGLI when you leave the military?
SGLI doesn’t end the day you leave. The VA’s SGLI page says you get 120 days of free coverage from your discharge date. If you are totally disabled or meet certain other conditions, that free coverage can extend up to 2 years.
After that, VGLI is the VA’s main life insurance for veterans who want to keep coverage going. The deadlines matter:
- Within 240 days of leaving service: you can get VGLI with no health review.
- After 240 days, up to 1 year and 120 days: you can still apply, but you must submit evidence of good health.
- After 1 year and 120 days: the VGLI window closes.
You can buy up to the SGLI amount you had when you left, from $10,000 to $500,000. If you start below the maximum, you can add $25,000 one year after getting VGLI and then every 5 years after that, up to $500,000, until age 60. Coverage lasts for life as long as you pay premiums.
One timely note: the VGLI page says eligible VGLI policyholders don’t need to pay premiums from November 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027, and coverage continues during that time.
How VGLI premiums rise with age
Unlike most private life insurance for veterans, VGLI is term coverage that renews in 5-year age bands. Rates depend only on your age and the amount, not your gender or tobacco use. The VA lists these rates as of July 1, 2025, and suggests confirming current rates with OSGLI.
| Age | $10,000 monthly | $500,000 monthly |
|---|---|---|
| 29 and younger | $0.60 | $30.00 |
| 30–34 | $0.80 | $40.00 |
| 35–39 | $1.00 | $50.00 |
| 40–44 | $1.40 | $70.00 |
| 45–49 | $1.90 | $95.00 |
| 50–54 | $2.90 | $145.00 |
| 55–59 | $5.00 | $250.00 |
| 60–64 | $8.50 | $425.00 |
| 65–69 | $13.80 | $690.00 |
| 70–74 | $21.50 | $1,075.00 |
| 75–79 | $38.50 | $1,925.00 |
| 80 and older | $44.00 | $2,200.00 |
Source: VA VGLI premium rates. Each step up is steep. The $500,000 premium rises from $250 a month at 55–59 to $425 at 60–64, an increase of $425 – $250 = $175 a month. From 60–64 to 65–69 it rises another $690 – $425 = $265 a month.
VGLI vs private life insurance: which costs less?
When comparing life insurance for veterans, the answer for most healthy buyers depends on how long you need coverage. VGLI starts cheap and climbs every 5 years. Private level term locks one price for 10, 20 or 30 years, but you have to qualify on health.
Hypothetical example: A healthy, nonsmoking male veteran, age 40, needs $500,000 for 20 years.
- VGLI: 60 months at $70 = $4,200 (ages 40–44). 60 months at $95 = $5,700 (45–49). 60 months at $145 = $8,700 (50–54). 60 months at $250 = $15,000 (55–59). Total: $4,200 + $5,700 + $8,700 + $15,000 = $33,600.
- Private 20-year term: MoneyGeek shows a sample $59 a month for a 40-year-old man, $500,000, nonsmoker in average health (updated October 11, 2026). 240 months x $59 = $14,160.
Difference: $33,600 – $14,160 = $19,440 over 20 years. The VGLI figure also assumes today’s rate table stays the same. These are sample rates, not a quote.
VGLI still wins in some cases. Because its rates ignore tobacco and require no health review within 240 days, it can be the most practical life insurance for veterans who smoke or have serious health conditions. Many veterans do both: take VGLI within the window as a bridge, then apply for private term life insurance. Keep VGLI until the new policy is approved and in force.
Can you convert VGLI to a private policy?
Yes. The VGLI page says you can convert to an individual policy at standard premium rates without proving good health. You choose a participating company from the list in form SGL-133, apply at its local sales office, and give the agent a VGLI Conversion Notice from OSGLI.
There are limits. The new policy must be permanent, such as whole life insurance. Term, variable life and universal life policies are not allowed. Extras such as accidental death or waiver of premium for disability don’t carry over.
Conversion is most valuable when your health has declined. If you are still healthy, compare the conversion price with a newly underwritten policy, which may be priced in a better class than standard. For older veterans, this is one of the few routes to a large permanent amount of life insurance for veterans without new health questions.
VALife: guaranteed life insurance for veterans with a service-connected rating
VALife is the newest VA life insurance for veterans. It opened on January 1, 2023, replacing S-DVI for new applicants. If you are 80 or younger and have any service-connected disability rating, even 0%, you’re eligible, with no time limit after your rating. If you’re 81 or older, you qualify only if you applied for compensation before turning 81, received the rating after 81, and apply for VALife within 2 years of being notified.
- Amount: up to $40,000 of whole life, in $10,000 steps.
- Acceptance: guaranteed for eligible veterans, with no health proof.
- Waiting period: full coverage starts 2 years after you apply. If you die before then, beneficiaries get the premiums paid plus interest, 4.23% for a death in 2026.
- Cash value: begins to build 2 years after approval. VALife doesn’t offer loans or premium waivers.
- Price: set by your age when you apply and never increases. If more than 6 months have passed since your last birthday, you are rated one year older.
| Age at application | $10,000 monthly | $40,000 monthly |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | $22.00 | $88.00 |
| 50 | $32.50 | $130.00 |
| 60 | $50.00 | $200.00 |
| 70 | $78.00 | $312.00 |
| 80 | $127.50 | $510.00 |
Source: VA VALife rates. The full table runs from age 18 to 95 for monthly payments.
Should you switch from S-DVI to VALife?
If you already own S-DVI, the rules changed this year. You can keep S-DVI without doing anything. If you apply for VALife on or after January 1, 2026, the VA’s S-DVI page says S-DVI ends the day VALife is approved. You then pay only VALife premiums during its 2-year waiting period, but you don’t have full coverage during that time.
Veterans who applied by December 31, 2025, kept S-DVI during the waiting period and paid both premiums. That overlap is no longer available. S-DVI premium waivers also don’t transfer to VALife.
So a switch now means up to 2 years when your family would receive only premiums plus interest, not the face amount. That is a real risk if your health is poor or you rely on an S-DVI premium waiver. Call the VA Life Insurance Center before you switch, and price private life insurance for veterans at the same time.
Mortgage protection for veterans: VMLI and private options
Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance is narrow. The VMLI page says you need a severe service-connected disability and a Specially Adapted Housing grant, must hold the title and have a mortgage, and must apply before age 70. It pays up to $200,000, or the mortgage balance if less, directly to the lender. It is decreasing term: coverage drops as you pay down the loan.
Most veterans with a VA home loan don’t qualify for VMLI. For them, private life insurance for veterans, such as mortgage protection insurance or a level term policy sized to the loan, is the usual answer. A level term policy pays your family, not the lender, so they can choose whether to pay off the house or use the money elsewhere.
What VA burial benefits pay and what they don’t
VA burial benefits work alongside life insurance for veterans. They are generous in some ways and limited in others. Burial in a VA national cemetery includes, at no cost to the family, a gravesite where space is available, digging and filling in the grave, ongoing upkeep, a government headstone or marker, a Presidential Memorial Certificate and a burial flag, per the National Cemetery Administration. Spouses and eligible dependents can also qualify.
The same page states that anything from a funeral home or crematory is at the family’s expense. The burial allowance helps with that, but it is capped:
- Service-connected death: up to $2,000 for deaths on or after September 11, 2001, under 38 U.S.C. §2307.
- Non-service-connected death on or after October 1, 2026: the VA burial allowance page lists a $1,032 burial allowance and $1,032 for a plot. The veteran must meet a condition, such as receiving VA compensation or pension, or dying under VA care.
- Headstone or marker allowance: $441 for a privately purchased marker, for deaths on or after October 1, 2025.
- Deadline: no time limit for a service-connected death. Otherwise, 2 years after burial, with exceptions.
Hypothetical example: NFDA’s 2023 study put the national median for a funeral with viewing and burial at $8,300, and a funeral with cremation at $6,280, as reported by Tribute Technology. For an eligible non-service-connected death: $8,300 – $1,032 = $7,268 left for a burial, or $6,280 – $1,032 = $5,248 for cremation. For a service-connected death: $8,300 – $2,000 = $6,300. That gap is why many families add burial insurance for veterans on top of VA benefits.
Which life insurance for veterans fits your situation?
There is no single best life insurance for veterans. The table below matches common situations with the coverage that usually makes sense to look at first.
| Your situation | Start with | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Just separated | VGLI within 240 days | No health review; keeps coverage while you shop |
| Healthy, under 55, family depends on income | Private level term | Fixed price; often far cheaper than VGLI over 20 years |
| Smoker or serious health condition | VGLI, then compare | VGLI rates ignore tobacco and health |
| Any service-connected rating | VALife plus private coverage | Guaranteed whole life up to $40,000; 2-year wait |
| Over 70, wants funeral costs covered | Final expense or VALife | Compare day-one coverage against guaranteed acceptance |
| Declined elsewhere, no VA rating | Guaranteed issue | No health questions; graded benefit for 2 years |
Life insurance for veterans over 70: a worked comparison
Hypothetical example: A 70-year-old male veteran with a 10% service-connected rating wants $10,000 to cover his funeral. He compares three options:
- VALife: $78.00 a month. Guaranteed acceptance. Full benefit after 2 years; before that, premiums plus interest.
- Simplified issue final expense: Choice Mutual lists a sample $70 a month for a non-tobacco male, age 70, at $10,000 (valid March 9, 2026). Full benefit from day one, but only if he can answer the health questions “no.”
- Guaranteed issue: Mutual of Omaha’s rate chart shows $86.70 a month (effective August 1, 2026). During the first 2 years it pays 110% of premiums for a death from natural causes, per Navy Mutual.
Cost over 10 years: VALife $78.00 x 120 = $9,360. Simplified issue $70 x 120 = $8,400. Guaranteed issue $86.70 x 120 = $10,404. If he is healthy enough to qualify, simplified issue costs the least and pays in full immediately. If not, VALife costs $10,404 – $9,360 = $1,044 less than guaranteed issue over 10 years and allows up to $40,000 instead of $25,000. Sample rates only, not a quote. See life insurance over 70 for more options at this age.
How to apply for VA life insurance for veterans
Applying for VA life insurance for veterans is mostly paperwork, but the forms and addresses differ by program. Here is what the VA pages list.
VGLI. Apply online through OSGLI on Prudential’s website, or mail the Application for VGLI (form SGLV 8714) to OSGLI, PO Box 41618, Philadelphia, PA 19176-9913. If your VGLI lapsed, the reinstatement form is SGLV 180. You can name or change beneficiaries online through Prudential or with form SGLV 8721.
VALife. Apply through the VALife page on VA.gov. After approval, the VA notifies you by email, text or both, with a link to its life insurance portal where you can download your policy.
Claims. VGLI beneficiaries file a Claim for Death Benefits (SGLV 8283). A terminally ill VGLI policyholder can request an advance payment with a Claim for Accelerated Benefits (SGLV 8284). VALife beneficiaries file a Claim for One Sum Payment (VA Form 29-4125) online or by mail to the VA Insurance Center, PO Box 5209, Janesville, WI 53547.
Tell your beneficiaries which policies you hold and where the documents are. A policy your family doesn’t know about can go unclaimed. If you have health conditions, our guide to life insurance with pre-existing conditions explains the private options.
Life insurance for veterans: FAQ
Do veterans get free life insurance?
Not permanently. SGLI continues free for 120 days after discharge, or up to 2 years if you are totally disabled or meet certain conditions. After that, VGLI and VALife both charge premiums, like any other life insurance for veterans.
Is VGLI worth keeping?
It is often worth taking within 240 days, because no health review is needed. Whether to keep it long term depends on your health. Healthy veterans can often buy private term for less over 20 years. Veterans with health issues may find VGLI’s age-only pricing hard to beat.
Can I have VALife and private life insurance at the same time?
Yes. Stacking is common with life insurance for veterans. VALife caps out at $40,000, so many veterans use it for final expenses and a private policy for income replacement or the mortgage.
Does a 100% disability rating stop me from getting private coverage?
No. It can narrow your choices, but life insurance for veterans with a 100% rating is still available. Private carriers decide based on their own health questions and records, so the result depends on the conditions themselves. VALife accepts any service-connected rating, and guaranteed issue policies don’t ask health questions.
Does the VA pay for a veteran’s funeral?
Partly. Burial in a national cemetery, a headstone and a flag are provided at no cost to eligible families. Funeral home and cremation charges are the family’s expense, offset by a capped burial allowance for eligible veterans.
Checklist: life insurance for veterans
- Find your discharge date and count 240 days forward for the no-health-review VGLI deadline.
- Confirm how much SGLI you had when you left. That is your VGLI maximum.
- Check whether you have a service-connected rating, including 0%, for VALife.
- If you own S-DVI, call the VA Life Insurance Center before applying for VALife.
- Price private term while you are healthy, and keep VGLI until the new policy is in force.
- List expected funeral costs and subtract only the VA benefits you clearly qualify for.
- Name and update beneficiaries on every policy, VA and private.
- Compare carriers with a licensed agent before you choose.
Want help comparing life insurance for veterans? Call Octans Insurance at (617) 935-9220 or visit our life insurance quotes page. Our licensed agents compare 120+ carriers, at no cost to you.
Keep Reading: Related Guides
- Term life insurance
- Whole life insurance
- Burial insurance
- Life insurance over 70
- Life insurance with pre-existing conditions
- Medicare for veterans: how VA, TRICARE and Medicare work together
Important: Octans Insurance agents are licensed in the states in which they operate. Coverage availability and rates may vary by state. Premium examples, when provided, are illustrative samples from published sources, not quotes. Final rates are determined by the insurance carrier based on underwriting and applicable policy criteria. Policy terms, exclusions, limitations, riders, and availability vary by carrier and state.
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