You left the service, assumed your coverage would follow you, and stopped thinking about it. That is the most expensive mistake in veterans life insurance. SGLI does not continue into civilian life on its own, and the easy-approval window to keep coverage is shorter than most people expect.
Miss it, and you may need to prove you are healthy. A new diagnosis in the meantime can leave your family with no policy at all. This guide shows which VA plan applies to you, what it costs in 2026, and what your family receives.
What Is Veterans Life Insurance and Which Plan Applies to You?
There is no single veterans policy. The VA offers several programs, and the right one depends on whether you are serving, recently separated, or have a service-connected disability rating.
| Program | Who qualifies | Coverage | Health questions? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SGLI | Active duty, Reserve and Guard members | Up to $500,000 | No |
| VGLI | Separated within 1 year and 120 days, had SGLI | $10,000 to $500,000 term | None if you apply within 240 days |
| VALife | Any service-connected rating, even 0%, age 80 or younger | Up to $40,000 whole life | None, guaranteed acceptance |
| S-DVI | Existing policyholders only | Varies by policy | Closed to new applicants since Dec. 31, 2022 |
All details come from the VA pages for VGLI, VALife and S-DVI. SGLI and VGLI are supervised by the VA and administered by the Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance, a division of Prudential.
Watch for look-alike names
Searches for “veterans life insurance co,” “us veterans life insurance” or “disabled american veterans life insurance” can lead to private sellers using veteran branding. Real VA coverage comes only through VA and OSGLI. DAV is a nonprofit that helps veterans with benefits claims, and it is not an insurer.
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Disabled Veterans Life Insurance: What Service-Disabled Veterans Can Get Now
If you have a service-connected disability rating, VALife is your main VA option. You qualify at age 80 or younger with any rating, even 0%, and there is no time limit to apply after you receive your rating.
VALife is guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance in $10,000 increments up to $40,000. Your premium is set by your age when you apply and never increases. Cash value starts to build two years after approval, though VALife does not offer loans.
The catch is the two-year waiting period. If you die in that time, your beneficiaries receive the premiums you paid plus interest, which is 4.23% for a death in 2026. After two years, they receive the full coverage amount.
What about S-DVI, the old service-disabled program?
Service-disabled veterans life insurance (S-DVI) stopped taking new applications after December 31, 2022. If you already have it, you can keep it without doing anything.
Think carefully before switching. If you apply for VALife on or after January 1, 2026, your S-DVI ends the day VALife is approved, and you will not have full VALife coverage for two years. A premium waiver on S-DVI also does not carry over, because VALife has no waivers.
Veterans with severe service-connected disabilities who have adapted a home may also qualify for Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance, which protects the mortgage.
How Much Is Veterans Life Insurance? 2026 Rates
SGLI costs $25 a month for the full $500,000, plus $1 for TSGLI. VGLI is priced by age alone, so the same $500,000 can run from $30 to $2,200 a month. The VA’s VGLI rate tables, which show rates effective July 1, 2025, are the current rates as of the page’s October 2026 update.
| Age band | VGLI $250,000 | VGLI $500,000 |
|---|---|---|
| Under 30 | $15.00 | $30.00 |
| 40 to 44 | $35.00 | $70.00 |
| 50 to 54 | $72.50 | $145.00 |
| 60 to 64 | $212.50 | $425.00 |
| 70 to 74 | $537.50 | $1,075.00 |
VALife costs are lower in dollars because the coverage is smaller. For example, $40,000 of VALife costs $61.60 a month at age 30, $88.00 at 40, and $200.00 at 60. Disabled veterans life insurance rates are the same as for any other eligible applicant, since the VA prices by age and amount only.
Veterans Life Insurance Benefits and Death Benefits
Your beneficiaries receive the policy amount as a lump sum. For SGLI and VGLI that can be up to $500,000, and for VALife it is up to $40,000 after the waiting period.
These benefits for veterans life insurance holders are worth knowing:
- VGLI is lifelong. Coverage continues as long as you pay premiums, with no extra charge for gender or tobacco use.
- You can raise coverage. If you hold less than the maximum, you can add $25,000 one year after getting VGLI and every five years after, until age 60.
- You can convert later. You can switch VGLI to a private permanent policy through a participating company without a medical exam. See the VA’s list of participating companies.
- Terminally ill policyholders can access benefits early. The VA offers accelerated benefits using form SGLV 8284.
One limit matters here. A converted policy must be permanent, such as whole life, and term or universal life are not allowed.
Best Affordable Veterans Life Insurance: VGLI vs Private Companies
No single plan is best for every veteran. VGLI wins when health issues would block private approval or when you are close to your 240-day deadline. Private term insurance often costs less for healthy veterans in their 30s and 40s, because VGLI prices by age with no health discount.
Private insurers such as New York Life and MassMutual sell commercial policies, and veterans life insurance from them is not VA-run. Their rates depend on your health and age, so request real quotes. The VA’s VGLI comparison tool can help you weigh the trade-offs.
How to File a Veterans Life Insurance Claim
Your beneficiary files with the program that issued the policy. For SGLI and VGLI, they submit the Claim for Death Benefits, form SGLV 8283, to OSGLI. For VALife and S-DVI, they use VA Form 29-4125.
Here is how the process works:
- Identify the policy and which program issued it.
- Download the correct veterans life insurance claim form from the VA.
- Complete it and attach the documents requested.
- Submit it by secure upload, mail or the program’s online option.
- Call OSGLI at 800-419-1473 for SGLI or VGLI questions, or the VA Insurance Center at 800-669-8477 for VALife and S-DVI.
The most common delay is an outdated beneficiary. Review yours now, and update VGLI beneficiaries with form SGLV 8721.
Next Step: Check Your Window, Then Compare
Start by finding your separation date and counting forward 240 days. If you are inside that window, VGLI is easy to secure. If not, VALife and private quotes are still open to you.
If you would like a second opinion, Mlife insurance can help you compare VA coverage with private options in plain language. You can also browse our term life insurance guide.
Secure Your Family's Future with Confidence
Don’t leave your loved ones' financial security to chance. Use our expert tools and free resources to find the perfect coverage today.
FAQS
The cost depends on the policy, age, and eligibility. For eligible veterans, Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) premiums vary by age and coverage amount. Check the official VA rate chart for the current monthly premium.
Yes. The VA offers Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife), a guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance program for eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities. Age and other eligibility rules apply.
The best option depends on your age, health, budget, and coverage needs. Compare VA programs such as VALife with private insurers to check premiums, coverage limits, and policy benefits before choosing.
Not automatically. Most veterans must pay premiums for VALife or private life insurance. Some service members may qualify for coverage through military programs, but eligibility and costs depend on their circumstances.
Sources and 2026 Verification
This guide was checked against official U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) resources for eligibility, coverage limits, premiums, application deadlines, waiting periods, and claims. VGLI rates are based on the VA’s published rate table effective July 1, 2025. Confirm current eligibility and policy terms directly with the VA before making coverage decisions.
Sources
- VA: Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI)
Official eligibility rules, the 240-day health-evidence exemption, coverage limits, and premium information. - VA: Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife)
Guaranteed-acceptance eligibility, whole life coverage limits, premiums, and the two-year waiting period. - VA: VGLI Premium Rates
Official monthly premium tables and the application deadline for veterans leaving military service. - VA: S-DVI Program Information
Confirms that S-DVI stopped accepting new applications after December 31, 2022, and explains the transition to VALife. - VA: VGLI Premium Holiday FAQs
Details the three-month premium holiday scheduled for November 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027, for eligible VGLI policyholders. - VA: SGLI and VGLI Death Claim Form
Official claim form and instructions for beneficiaries seeking SGLI or VGLI death benefits. - VA: VA Form 29-4125
Official claim form for government life insurance benefits, including VALife claims.
Joyce Espinoza, Expert Life Insurance Agent
Joyce Espinoza is a trusted life insurance agent at mLifeInsurance.com. She’s been in the insurance industry for over ten years, helping people, especially those with special health conditions to find the right coverage. At MLife Insurance, Joyce writes easy-to-understand articles that help readers make smart choices about life insurance. Previously, she worked directly with clients at Mlife Insurance, advising nearly 3,000 of them on life insurance options.
