--- title: "Veterans Life Insurance" canonical: "https://www.simplyinsurance.com/veterans-life-insurance/" description: "Some veterans do get life insurance for free — specifically, those rated 100% service-connected disabled may qualify for no-cost VA coverage." silo: "life" published: "2026-07-24" author: "sa-el" source: "Simply Insurance" --- **Some veterans do get [life insurance](/life-insurance/) for free — specifically, those rated 100% service-connected disabled may qualify for no-cost VA coverage.** For everyone else, VA programs like VALife offer coverage starting around $2.75/month, and VGLI lets you carry SGLI forward after separation. Which option makes the most sense depends on your disability rating, age, and how much coverage you actually need. --- ## What Is Veterans Life Insurance and Who Qualifies Veterans life insurance isn't one single program — it's a family of programs the VA and the Department of Defense run side by side, each targeting a different slice of the military community. ### VA Life Insurance Programs Overview Here's a quick map of the main programs: | Program | Who It's For | Coverage Amount | |---|---|---| | SGLI | Active-duty service members | Up to $500,000 | | VGLI | Veterans post-separation | Up to $500,000 | | VALife | Veterans with service-connected disability | Up to $40,000 | | S-DVI | Veterans who qualify before January 1, 2023 | Up to $10,000 (+ $30,000 supplemental) | | FSGLI | Spouses of SGLI members | Up to $100,000 | Each program has its own eligibility rules, premium structure, and coverage ceiling — so the "right" one for you isn't automatically the one with the biggest name recognition. ### Eligibility Requirements for Active-Duty, Reserve, and Retired Veterans - **Active duty:** Automatically enrolled in SGLI unless you opt out - **National Guard / Reserves:** Eligible for SGLI during active-duty periods; VGLI available after separation - **Veterans with a service-connected disability:** Eligible for VALife regardless of health — no medical exam required - **Retired veterans:** Not automatically covered; must apply for VGLI or a private policy The key distinction is *when* you're eligible and *how* your health status factors in. VGLI and VALife don't require a medical exam, which is a significant advantage if you're managing service-connected conditions. ### Does the VA Give Life Insurance to Veterans Automatically? Not usually. SGLI is automatic during active duty, but it ends 120 days after separation. After that, you need to actively apply — for VGLI, VALife, or another program. Nobody automatically keeps coverage just by having served. --- ## VALife: Veterans Affairs Life Insurance Explained VALife (Veterans Affairs Life Insurance) launched in January 2023 as a modernized replacement for the older S-DVI program. It's specifically designed for veterans with service-connected disabilities. ### What Is VALife and How Does It Work VALife is a whole life insurance policy — meaning it covers you for life and builds cash value over time. Coverage tops out at $40,000, which is modest compared to private policies but meaningful as a supplemental or final-expense plan. The big advantages: - **No medical exam required** — your service-connected disability rating gets you in the door - **Guaranteed acceptance** if you're eligible - **Cash value accumulation** begins after two years of premium payments - **Available to any veteran with a VA disability rating of 0% or higher** You must apply within two years of receiving your VA disability rating to lock in the guaranteed acceptance. Apply after that window and you'll face health underwriting. ### How to Apply and Use the VA Life Insurance Login Portal You can apply and manage your VALife policy through the VA's life insurance portal at [va.gov](https://www.va.gov/life-insurance/). Log in with your Login.gov or ID.me credentials, the same ones you probably already use for VA health care or benefits. The portal lets you apply, make payments, update beneficiaries, and check cash value. ### VA Life Insurance Phone Number and Contact Information If you'd rather talk to a person, VA life insurance customer service is available at **1-800-669-8477**, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. You can also email or use the secure message feature through your online account. --- ## Free Life Insurance for 100 Percent Disabled Veterans This is one of the most-searched questions in the veterans insurance space — and the answer is genuinely good news for some veterans. ### Do 100% Disabled Veterans Get Life Insurance at No Cost? Yes. Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating who are also rated permanently and totally (P&T) disabled may qualify for the **Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI)** waiver program or — more commonly — receive their **S-DVI premiums waived** if they were enrolled in S-DVI before the program closed to new applicants. Under the old S-DVI program, veterans who were totally disabled could apply for a waiver of premiums, meaning the VA covered the cost. VALife does **not** currently include a premium waiver provision, which is a meaningful difference if you're comparing the two programs. ### VA Life Insurance Cost Breakdown for 100% Disabled Veterans For a veteran rated 100% P&T who qualifies for a premium waiver under S-DVI: - Base coverage up to $10,000: **$0/month** (waived) - Supplemental coverage up to $30,000: premiums still apply For VALife (no waiver currently available): - A 30-year-old pays roughly $2.75/month for $10,000 in coverage - A 60-year-old pays roughly $22.88/month for the same $10,000 ### What Reddit Users Say About Free Life Insurance for 100% Disabled Veterans On r/Veterans and r/VeteransBenefits, the discussion is mixed. Veterans who locked into S-DVI before it closed are generally satisfied with the waiver benefit. Those learning about VALife for the first time often express frustration that the premium waiver didn't carry over to the new program. The consensus is: if you qualified for S-DVI's waiver, keep it. If you're newly rated 100%, VALife is your main VA option — but private final-expense policies may be worth comparing. ### Best Life Insurance Options for 100% Disabled Veterans 1. **S-DVI with waiver** — if you already have it, don't drop it 2. **VALife** — guaranteed acceptance, no exam, builds cash value 3. **Private guaranteed-issue whole life** — no health questions, higher coverage limits 4. **VGLI** — if you separated recently and have SGLI to convert --- ## Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI) ### What Is S-DVI and Who Is Eligible S-DVI closed to **new applicants on January 1, 2023**, replaced by VALife. If you already have an S-DVI policy, it remains in force and you should keep it — especially if you have or could qualify for a premium waiver. Eligibility for S-DVI (existing policyholders) required: - Release from active duty under other than dishonorable conditions - A new service-connected disability rated by the VA - Application within two years of that rating ### S-DVI Coverage Limits and Supplemental Coverage - Base policy: up to **$10,000** - Supplemental coverage: up to **$30,000** (no waiver applies to supplemental) ### How S-DVI Differs from VALife and VGLI | Feature | S-DVI | VALife | VGLI | |---|---|---|---| | Max coverage | $10,000 + $30,000 supplemental | $40,000 | $500,000 | | Premium waiver | Yes (if totally disabled) | No | No | | New applicants | Closed Jan 2023 | Open | Open | | Medical exam | No | No | No (if converting within 1 year) | | Cash value | Yes | Yes | No | If you're choosing today, VALife is your VA whole life option. VGLI is your term option if you're coming out of active duty. --- ## VA Life Insurance Rates by Age VA life insurance premiums are set by age bands and don't change based on your individual health — which is both a simplicity win and sometimes a cost disadvantage compared to healthy veterans who could qualify for preferred rates in the private market. ### VA Life Insurance Rate Chart Explained VALife rates are published on VA.gov and increase as you move into higher age brackets. The older you are when you apply, the higher your monthly premium. Rates are per $10,000 of coverage, so multiply accordingly. ### VA Life Insurance Monthly Cost Examples Here are approximate monthly costs for VALife based on age (per $10,000 of coverage): | Age | Monthly Premium (per $10,000) | |---|---| | 29 and under | ~$2.75 | | 30–34 | ~$3.00 | | 40–44 | ~$5.00 | | 50–54 | ~$9.00 | | 60–64 | ~$22.88 | | 70–74 | ~$53.00 | *Note: Check VA.gov for the current official rate chart, as these are subject to change.* ### How Much Is VA Life Insurance for $40,000? VALife's maximum coverage is $40,000. To calculate your monthly cost, multiply the per-$10,000 rate by 4. For a 40-year-old, that's roughly **$20/month** for the full $40,000 of coverage. ### How Much Is a $300,000 Life Insurance Policy a Month for Veterans? VALife doesn't go that high — its cap is $40,000. For $300,000 of coverage, you'd be looking at VGLI or a private term life policy. VGLI rates for $300,000 vary significantly by age: a 35-year-old might pay around **$27/month**, while a 60-year-old could pay **$375/month or more**. For many healthy veterans under 50, shopping [term life quotes](https://www.simplyinsurance.com/compare-life-insurance-quotes-online/) can surface rates meaningfully below VGLI. If you're comparing life insurance rates built for veterans, getting a free term life quote takes just a few minutes. --- ## Veterans Life Insurance Death Benefits ### What Death Benefits Do VA Life Insurance Policies Pay All VA life insurance programs — VGLI, VALife, S-DVI — pay a **lump-sum death benefit** to your named beneficiary. The amount equals the face value of your policy. There's no requirement that the death be service-related; these are standard life insurance contracts. For VGLI, benefits are paid by Prudential (the current contractor). For VALife and S-DVI, benefits are paid directly by the VA. ### How to File a VA Life Insurance Death Claim 1. Contact the VA life insurance office at **1-800-669-8477** 2. Complete VA Form 29-4125 (Claim for One Sum Payment) or the equivalent online form 3. Submit a certified copy of the death certificate 4. Provide policy information (policy number, veteran's full name, Social Security number) Most claims are processed within 30 days when documentation is complete. ### VA Life Insurance Claim Status: How to Check You can check claim status by calling the VA life insurance line or logging into the online portal at VA.gov. Beneficiaries can also write to the VA Regional Office and Insurance Center in Philadelphia, which handles all VA life insurance claims. --- ## VA Life Insurance Cash Value ### Which VA Life Insurance Policies Build Cash Value Only **whole life** VA policies accumulate cash value. That means: - **VALife** — yes, builds cash value - **S-DVI (base policy)** — yes, builds cash value - **VGLI** — no, it's term insurance ### VA Life Insurance Cash Value Chart Explained Cash value under VALife begins accumulating after your policy has been in force for **two years**. The VA publishes cash value tables showing how much your policy is worth at each year of coverage. Growth is slow early on and accelerates over time — this is typical of whole life insurance. ### Can You Borrow Against Your VA Life Insurance? Yes. Once your VALife or S-DVI policy has accumulated sufficient cash value, you can take a **policy loan** against it. Loans accrue interest, and unpaid loan balances reduce the death benefit paid to your beneficiary. The mechanics are the same as any whole life loan — it's your money, you're just borrowing against it. --- ## Veterans Life Insurance Through Prudential (VGLI) ### What Is Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) VGLI is the VA's group term life insurance program, administered by **Prudential**. It allows veterans to convert their SGLI coverage directly into a civilian policy without a medical exam — as long as they apply within **1 year and 120 days** of separation. Coverage matches your SGLI amount at the time of separation, up to **$500,000**, and you can increase coverage by $25,000 every five years (up to the maximum) without medical underwriting. ### How VGLI Rates Compare to Private Insurers VGLI doesn't require a medical exam, which is its main selling point — but that convenience comes at a price. Veterans who are in good health can often find **private term life insurance 30–50% cheaper** than VGLI, especially at younger ages. VGLI becomes more competitive for veterans with health conditions that would trigger higher rates or outright declines in the private market. ### Converting SGLI to VGLI After Separation The clock starts ticking at separation. Apply within **240 days** and no medical exam is required. Apply between 241 days and 1 year + 120 days, and you'll need to provide health information. Miss that window entirely and you'll need to qualify medically for private coverage. --- ## Best Life Insurance for Disabled Veterans Beyond the VA ### Top Private Life Insurance Options for Disabled Veterans VA programs aren't the only option — and for some veterans, they're not the best one. Private insurers compete on price and coverage limits in ways VA programs can't always match. Top considerations: - **Term life insurance** — usually the most affordable way to get $250,000–$1,000,000+ in coverage - **Guaranteed-issue whole life** — no health questions, smaller face amounts, good for final expenses - **Simplified-issue life insurance** — a few health questions, no exam, faster than fully underwritten policies ### No-Medical-Exam Policies for Veterans With Service-Connected Conditions Several insurers offer no-medical-exam or simplified-issue policies that look favorably on service-connected conditions when they're well-managed. PTSD, TBI, and chronic pain conditions vary widely by underwriter — one company may decline while another rates you standard. Working with an independent broker who knows veteran health profiles helps. ### USAA Life Insurance for Veterans: What to Know USAA is available exclusively to military members, veterans, and their families. They offer term, whole, and universal life products with competitive rates for healthy veterans. USAA is not a VA program — it's a private mutual company — so you'll go through medical underwriting. The advantage is access to a company that understands military life: deployments, hazardous duty, and the unique gaps that come with service. --- ## Frequently Asked Questions ## How Much Is VA Life Insurance for $40,000? VALife's maximum coverage is $40,000. Monthly costs depend on your age — a veteran in their early 40s pays roughly $20/month for the full $40,000, while a 60-year-old would pay closer to $91/month. Multiply the per-$10,000 rate from the VA's published rate chart by four to get your total. Always check VA.gov for the current rates since they're updated periodically. ## Does the VA Give Life Insurance to Veterans? Yes, through several programs: VALife (whole life for veterans with a service-connected disability rating), VGLI (term life for veterans converting from SGLI after separation), and the now-closed S-DVI program. Veterans don't receive coverage automatically — you have to apply and meet eligibility criteria for each program. ## Who Has the Best Life Insurance for Veterans? It depends on your health and coverage needs. VGLI is a strong no-exam option if you're recently separated and have health conditions. VALife is best for disabled veterans who want whole life coverage with guaranteed acceptance. For healthy veterans who want $250,000 or more in coverage, private term life through companies like USAA or major insurers often beats VA program rates by a wide margin. ## Do 100% Disabled Veterans Get Life Insurance for Free? Veterans with a 100% service-connected disability who had S-DVI could apply for a premium waiver, effectively making their coverage free. VALife, the current VA whole life program, does not offer a premium waiver. So if you're newly rated 100%, you'll still pay VALife premiums — though rates are set by age, not health status. ## Do Veterans Get Life Insurance for Free? Most veterans don't get free life insurance. The closest thing to free coverage was the S-DVI premium waiver for totally disabled veterans — but S-DVI closed to new applicants in January 2023. Some veterans may also have residual SGLI coverage for 120 days post-separation at no cost. After that grace period, coverage requires an active application and premium payments. ## How Much Is a $300,000 Life Insurance Policy a Month for Veterans? VALife maxes out at $40,000, so for $300,000 you'd use VGLI or a private policy. VGLI rates for $300,000 vary significantly by age — a 35-year-old might pay around $27/month, while a 60-year-old could pay $375/month or more. Private term life insurance can be significantly cheaper for healthy veterans, sometimes by 40% or more depending on your age and medical history.