Life Insurance With a VA Disability Rating or PTSD

Yes, you can get life insurance with a VA disability rating, and that includes a rating for PTSD. If you have any service-connected rating, even 0%, and you are 80 or younger, VA says you are eligible for VALife, a guaranteed-acceptance whole life policy of up to $40,000. Private insurers are another option, and they base their decision on your health, not on the VA percentage.

Most veterans with a rating end up choosing between VA programs, private coverage, or a mix of both. This guide explains how each works and what underwriters look at.

Can you get life insurance with a VA disability rating?

Yes. A disability rating is a VA benefit decision, not a reason a life insurer must turn you down. What matters to a private insurer is the medical condition behind the rating, how it is treated, and how stable it is.

For example, a hypothetical veteran rated 30% for knee and hearing issues may look like an average applicant to a private insurer. A veteran with the same 30% rating for a heart condition may face more questions. The number alone tells an insurer very little.

What is VALife and who qualifies?

VALife is VA's whole life insurance program for veterans with service-connected disabilities. According to VA (page last updated May 15, 2026):

• If you are 80 or younger, any service-connected rating, even 0%, qualifies you. There is no deadline to apply after your rating.
• If you are 81 or older, you qualify only if you applied for compensation before 81, got the rating after 81, and apply within 2 years of the rating notice.
• Coverage is up to $40,000, in $10,000 steps.
• It is guaranteed acceptance, with no health questions.
• Premiums are set by your age when you apply and never increase.
• Cash value begins building 2 years after approval. VALife does not offer loans or premium waivers.

What is the VALife waiting period?

Full VALife coverage starts 2 years after you apply. If you die during those 2 years, VA pays your beneficiaries the premiums you paid plus interest (VA lists 4.23% for a death in 2026). After 2 years, the full amount is paid. Our VALife guide covers this in more detail.

How much does VALife cost?

VALife costs depend only on your age at application and the coverage amount. On VA's current rate table (page last updated May 15, 2026), $10,000 of coverage is listed at $32.50 a month at age 50, $50.00 at age 60, and $78.00 at age 70. Check the current table on va.gov before you apply.

How do VA life insurance programs compare?

Each VA program serves a different need. This table compares them using VA's published rules.

VGLI is worth a close look if you recently separated. VA says you have 1 year and 120 days to apply, and applying within the first 240 days means no health review. See our guide to SGLI to VGLI conversion for the deadlines.

VMLI is decreasing term insurance that pays your mortgage lender, not your family. If you want money that goes to your family, you need a separate policy.

How do private insurers view PTSD?

Private insurers look at how your PTSD affects your daily life and health, not just the diagnosis. Questions often cover:

• When you were diagnosed and whether you are in treatment
• Medications and whether the dose is stable
• Any psychiatric hospital stays, and how recent they were
• Any history of self-harm or suicide attempts
• Alcohol or drug use
• Whether you are working and managing daily life

Underwriting rules differ from one insurer to the next. In general, stable treatment and no recent hospital stays tend to lead to better offers. A recent crisis may mean a delay, a higher rate, or a referral to a simplified or guaranteed issue product.

If you are struggling right now, the Veterans Crisis Line is available by dialing 988 and pressing 1.

Which private policy types work with a disability?

There are three main paths, and the right one depends on your health. The NAIC describes the two basic types as term and permanent (cash value) coverage.

1. Fully underwritten term or whole life. You answer health questions and may take an exam. This usually gives the most coverage for the money if your conditions are well controlled.
2. Simplified issue. Health questions, but no exam. Faster, often with lower limits and somewhat higher prices. Learn more about no medical exam life insurance.
3. Guaranteed issue. No health questions. Coverage amounts are small, and most policies have a graded death benefit for the first 2 or 3 years.

For a broader look at conditions like diabetes or heart disease, read our guide to life insurance with pre-existing conditions.

How do you apply with a disability rating?

A few steps make the process smoother:

1. Apply for VALife first if you qualify. It needs no health review, and the 2-year clock starts when you apply.
2. Decide how much coverage you need. Add up debts, income your family relies on, and final expenses. Our life insurance calculator can help.
3. Gather your records. Have your diagnoses, medications, and doctors' names ready.
4. Answer honestly. Incomplete answers can put a future claim at risk.
5. Compare several insurers. Underwriting varies, so one company's decline is not every company's answer.

What if you already have S-DVI?

If you have the older Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI), you can keep it or switch to VALife. VA says that if you apply for VALife on or after January 1, 2026, your S-DVI ends the day VALife is approved. That means no full coverage during the 2-year VALife waiting period, and any S-DVI premium waiver will not carry over.

Before switching, think about whether that gap matters for your family. If your health is good enough, a private policy can help cover the waiting period.

Can you use VALife for final expenses?

Yes. Many veterans use VALife to help with funeral costs. VA burial benefits help too, but they cover only part of the bill. See what VA burial benefits pay and what they don't, or explore all of our veterans life insurance guides.