Every separating service member has exactly 485 days — one year and 120 days — to convert Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance into Veterans' Group Life Insurance before that coverage window closes for good, and VA will not extend it. Many veterans leave active duty focused on jobs, housing, and disability claims, and life insurance quietly falls to the bottom of the list until the deadline has already passed. That gap can mean losing guaranteed coverage a disabled veteran may never be able to replace on the private market. This guide breaks down SGLI, VGLI, FSGLI, VALife, and S-DVI in plain terms, so veterans and families can make an informed decision before the clock runs out.
Key Takeaways
- Convert SGLI to VGLI within 240 days of separation to skip the medical exam entirely.
- Track the hard 485-day cutoff — VA has no exceptions once it passes.
- Compare VGLI's age-banded premiums against private term life before committing.
- Consider VALife if a service-connected disability rating makes private coverage hard to get.
- Confirm FSGLI spousal coverage before relying on it — it cannot exceed the veteran's own SGLI amount.
- Update beneficiary designations immediately after separation, divorce, or remarriage.
Table of Contents
- Eligibility: Who Qualifies for VA Life Insurance
- Documentation and Requirements Gathering
- Filing Strategy: VGLI vs. Private Term Life
- Step-by-Step: How to Apply for VGLI
- After Enrollment: Renewal, Conversion, and Beneficiaries
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Eligibility: Who Qualifies for VA Life Insurance
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance covers virtually every service member on active duty automatically, up to a maximum of $500,000 in coverage. As of the VA's 2025 premium reduction, the SGLI rate is $0.05 per $1,000 of coverage, which brings maximum coverage to $25 a month, plus $1 for Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI) — a combined $26 a month for the full $500,000 policy. That coverage does not disappear the moment a service member separates. SGLI automatically extends for 120 days after separation at no cost, which is the built-in grace period every veteran should know about before assuming coverage has already lapsed.
After that free extension, eligibility shifts to Veterans' Group Life Insurance. Any veteran who had SGLI while in service is eligible to convert to VGLI, regardless of health, as long as the application is submitted within 240 days of separation. Waiting past 240 days does not disqualify a veteran, but it does require evidence of good health, and possibly a medical exam, before VA will approve the conversion. The absolute outer limit is 485 days from separation — after that, VGLI eligibility closes permanently for that period of service.
Coverage Amounts and Family Options
VGLI coverage is available from $10,000 up to $500,000, in $10,000 increments, but the starting amount cannot exceed the amount of SGLI coverage the veteran carried at separation. Spouses and dependent children of service members can also be covered through Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI), which insures a spouse for up to $100,000 — capped at the service member's own SGLI amount — and covers dependent children at no cost. Veterans with a service-connected disability rating have an additional path: VALife, a guaranteed-acceptance whole life policy of up to $40,000 with no health questions asked, available to veterans regardless of age.
Documentation and Requirements Gathering
The single most important document in this process is the DD-214, since it establishes the separation date that starts every deadline clock described above. Veterans should pull their DD-214 immediately after separation rather than waiting until an application is due, because delays in obtaining it can quietly eat into the 240-day exam-free window.
For a straight VGLI conversion filed within 240 days, no additional medical documentation is required — the application itself (SGLV Form 8714) is the primary paperwork needed, along with proof of the SGLI coverage amount held at separation, which VA already has on file in most cases.
If Applying After 240 Days
Veterans applying between day 241 and day 485 must submit evidence of good health, typically a statement of health questionnaire, and VA may require a medical exam at the veteran's expense before approving the conversion. Any veteran in this window should gather recent medical records, a list of current diagnoses and medications, and contact information for treating physicians before submitting the application, since incomplete health evidence is the most common reason these late applications stall.
For VALife or S-DVI Applicants
Veterans pursuing VALife need their VA disability rating decision letter on hand, since eligibility is tied directly to having a service-connected disability rating on record with VA — coverage is guaranteed regardless of the percentage. Veterans applying for Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI) instead need that same rating decision plus proof the application is filed within two years of receiving the service-connected disability rating, which is the eligibility window for that program.
Filing Strategy: VGLI vs. Private Term Life
The core financial trade-off with VGLI is that it uses age-banded premiums rather than medically underwritten rates. A veteran under 30 might pay roughly $0.06 per $1,000 of coverage, while a veteran in the 50-54 age bracket pays closer to $0.29 per $1,000 — and rates continue climbing every five-year bracket after that. A healthy 35-year-old veteran may find private term life insurance cheaper than VGLI for the same coverage amount, since private insurers price young, healthy applicants aggressively.
The strategic reason to keep VGLI, even when it costs more, is guaranteed insurability. VGLI never requires a new medical exam to renew or increase coverage within program limits, which matters enormously for veterans with service-connected conditions, a pending disability claim, or a family history that could trigger a private-insurer decline or rating. VA's December 2024 premium reduction lowered the calculus further: roughly 450,000 VGLI policyholders saw rate cuts between 2% and 17%, averaging 11%, effective in spring 2025 and still in effect for 2026 policyholders.
A Layered Approach
Many veterans use a layered strategy rather than an all-or-nothing choice: keep VGLI as a guaranteed base — since it cannot be canceled by the insurer for health reasons — and shop private term life insurance for supplemental coverage while still young and healthy. This protects against the scenario where a service-connected condition later makes private insurance unaffordable, while still capturing lower private rates during the years when a veteran can qualify for them.
Step-by-Step: How to Apply for VGLI
- Pull the DD-214 and confirm the exact separation date, since every deadline in this process counts from that day.
- Confirm the SGLI coverage amount held at separation, which sets the maximum VGLI amount available.
- Submit SGLV Form 8714 online through the VA's life insurance portal or by mail, ideally before day 240 to avoid medical underwriting.
- If filing after day 240, complete the required statement of good health and schedule any requested medical exam promptly, since delays here can push past the 485-day cutoff.
- Set up premium payments — VGLI premiums are billed directly, unlike SGLI, which was deducted from military pay — and confirm the first payment posts before the prior coverage period lapses.
Common Mistakes That Cost Coverage
The most frequent error is assuming the 120-day free SGLI extension is the full deadline and letting the 240-day exam-free window pass unnoticed. The second most common mistake is listing an outdated beneficiary, often an ex-spouse or a parent from before marriage, which VA will honor exactly as written regardless of a veteran's current wishes unless the designation is formally updated.
After Enrollment: Renewal, Conversion, and Beneficiaries
VGLI is renewable term coverage, meaning it continues in five-year age brackets with the premium increasing at each bracket rather than requiring a new application. Coverage does not require ongoing proof of health once enrolled, which is the core value of converting from SGLI in the first place.
Converting to a Permanent Policy
VGLI policyholders have the option to convert some or all of their term coverage to an individual permanent life insurance policy with a participating commercial insurer, without a new medical exam, at any point while VGLI is active. This is worth evaluating for veterans who want lifetime coverage with a stable premium rather than continuing to face increases at each five-year age bracket.
Keeping Beneficiaries Current
VA recommends reviewing life insurance beneficiary designations after every major life event — marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or the death of a named beneficiary — using SGLV Form 8286 for VGLI or the equivalent form for FSGLI and VALife. Because VA pays out exactly as the form is written, an outdated designation is one of the few completely avoidable ways a veteran's family can lose access to benefits they were meant to receive.
Sorting out the right VA life insurance path is only one piece of building a complete benefits picture. Veterans and families can take the free VA Claim Readiness Test at avoyvet.com to see where they stand on disability compensation, survivor benefits, and the other programs that work alongside life insurance to protect a veteran's household.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does SGLI automatically convert to VGLI when I separate from the military?
No. SGLI coverage automatically extends for 120 days after separation at no cost, but it does not automatically convert to VGLI after that. Veterans must actively submit SGLV Form 8714 to enroll in VGLI. Missing this step means coverage ends when the 120-day extension expires, even though the veteran may not realize it until much later. Setting a reminder on the separation date is the simplest way to avoid missing this step.
What happens if I miss the 485-day VGLI conversion deadline?
Once 485 days pass from the date of separation, the guaranteed conversion right from SGLI to VGLI closes permanently for that period of service. Veterans in this position typically need to seek private life insurance, which may involve medical underwriting and higher costs depending on health status. There is no VA appeals process to reopen this deadline, which is why tracking the separation date closely matters so much.
Is VGLI more expensive than private life insurance?
It depends on age and health. VGLI uses age-banded rates that are not adjusted for individual health, so a very healthy veteran in their 20s or 30s may find private term life cheaper. Veterans with service-connected conditions or health issues that would trigger higher private premiums, or a possible decline, often find VGLI more cost-effective because it guarantees acceptance without a new health screening.
Can I get VA life insurance with a service-connected disability rating?
Yes. VALife offers guaranteed-acceptance whole life coverage up to $40,000 to veterans with any service-connected disability rating, with no health questions. Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance (S-DVI) is a separate program with base coverage up to $10,000 and supplemental coverage up to $30,000 for qualifying disabled veterans, typically requiring application within two years of the disability rating decision.
Does my spouse get life insurance coverage automatically through me?
Only if the service member is enrolled in Family Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI), which covers a spouse up to $100,000 — capped at the service member's own SGLI amount — and dependent children automatically at no additional cost. FSGLI is not automatic for veterans who have separated; it applies specifically to service members with SGLI coverage during active duty or qualifying Reserve or Guard service.
How much does maximum SGLI coverage cost per month?
Following VA's premium reduction effective spring 2025, maximum $500,000 SGLI coverage costs $25 per month at $0.05 per $1,000 of coverage, plus $1 per month for Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI), for a combined $26 per month. This is deducted directly from military pay for as long as the service member remains on active duty.
Can I increase my VGLI coverage after I've already converted?
VGLI coverage can be increased in $25,000 increments up to the $500,000 program maximum, but increases beyond the original converted amount typically require evidence of good health, similar to applying after the 240-day exam-free window. Veterans expecting to need more coverage later should weigh converting at the higher end of their eligible SGLI amount up front, rather than trying to increase coverage years afterward.
What's the difference between VGLI and VALife?
VGLI is renewable term life insurance available to any veteran who held SGLI, with premiums that rise by age bracket and no permanent cash value. VALife is guaranteed-acceptance whole life insurance limited to veterans with a service-connected disability rating, capped at $40,000, with premiums that stay level and a policy that builds cash value over time. Veterans eligible for both should compare the two directly against their coverage needs and budget before choosing.
Educational information only — not legal, medical, or claim representation, and not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. For help filing or appealing, contact a VA-accredited VSO (often free), claims agent, or attorney. For current rates, forms, and deadlines, see VA.gov.
