Life insurance and burial benefits for New Mexico veterans

Military life insurance is federal, so the options are the same in every state: convert SGLI to VGLI after separation, apply for VALife if you have a service-connected rating, or buy private coverage. Healthy veterans often compare VGLI against private term life, since VGLI rates rise every five years.

VA national cemeteries

• Santa Fe National Cemetery — Santa Fe
• Fort Bayard National Cemetery — Fort Bayard

State veterans cemeteries

• Angel Fire State Veterans Cemetery — Angel Fire
• Fort Stanton State Veterans Cemetery — Fort Stanton
• Gallup State Veterans Cemetery — Gallup
• Taos State Veterans Cemetery — Ranchos de Taos

Burial in a VA national cemetery, a government headstone or marker, and a burial flag are available to eligible veterans at no cost; see VA burial benefits for current allowances. Source: VA National Cemetery Administration: Cemeteries in New Mexico; NM Department of Veterans Services: State Veterans' Cemeteries

Starting with 2026 notices of value, veterans with a service-connected disability certified by the Department of Veterans Services can exempt a share of their home's taxable value equal to their disability rating, so a 100% rating means no residential property tax; a separate veteran exemption removes $10,000 of taxable value for New Mexico resident veterans or their unmarried surviving spouses. Source: Bernalillo County: Exemption Formula for Veterans with Service-Connected Disability Is Now Set

Veterans entitled to the veteran property tax exemption who don't own enough property to use the full exemption may pay motor vehicle registration fees at two-thirds of the regular rate. Source: New Mexico Department of Veterans Services: State Benefits

The Vietnam Veteran Scholarship pays tuition at state-funded New Mexico colleges for honorably discharged Vietnam Campaign Medal recipients who entered service from New Mexico or have lived in the state for at least ten years. Source: New Mexico Department of Veterans Services: State Benefits

For help applying, contact the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services.