Life insurance that keeps serving your family
Free to useNo obligationLicensed agents only
Leaving service, comparing VGLI or adding to VA coverage: answer a few quick questions and we'll connect you with a licensed agent who can compare private options next to what VA offers.
- Free to use, no obligation to buy
- Compare private coverage side by side with VGLI and VALife
- Not affiliated with VA or any government agency
Why veterans look beyond SGLI
SGLI ends 120 days after you separate
SGLI keeps covering you for 120 days after you leave service. After that you need VGLI, a private policy or both, and VGLI's no-health-questions window closes 240 days after separation.
VGLI rates step up every 5 years
VGLI prices only on your age and coverage amount, and premiums rise every 5 years. For a healthy, tobacco-free veteran, a private level-term policy can cost less over the years you need it.
VALife adds a small permanent policy
Veterans 80 or younger with any service-connected rating, even 0%, can get $10,000 to $40,000 of VA whole life with no health questions. Full coverage starts after a 2-year wait.
Your family may need more than VA covers
VGLI tops out at $500,000 and VALife at $40,000. If your household relies on your income, an agent can help size coverage around the mortgage, debts and years of support.
- 01
Separating in the next year
SGLI, VGLI deadlines and private options all line up around your separation date. An agent can help you compare them before the 240-day window closes.
- 02
Already paying for VGLI
If your premium keeps stepping up, a private quote is worth comparing. Keep VGLI in force until any new policy is issued and you've read it.
- 03
Service-connected rating
A rating may qualify you for VALife, and private insurers look at the condition and how well it's managed. Insurers don't all treat the same condition alike, so comparing matters.
- 04
Over 60
VGLI's 5-year price steps get steeper with age. Permanent and final expense policies are worth comparing, and an agent can show what's available at your age.
- 05
Covering a spouse
Family coverage through the military ends after you leave service. An agent can look at coverage for your spouse at the same time as yours.
- 06
National Guard or Reserve
VA lists several Guard and Reserve situations that qualify for VGLI. An agent can compare private coverage alongside whatever VA offers you.
Life insurance for veterans
VGLI vs. Term Life Insurance: Which Costs Less for Veterans?
VGLI is usually the better deal if your health would make private coverage expensive or hard to get, because it skips health questions if you apply within 240 days of leaving service. If you are healthy and don't use tobacco, a private level-term policy can cost less over 10 to 30 years, because VGLI rates rise every 5 years with your age.
Editorial Team · September 30, 2026
VALife Explained: Eligibility, Cost, and the 2-Year Wait
VALife is VA's guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance for veterans with a service-connected disability rating, including 0%, who are 80 or younger, with coverage up to $40,000. Full coverage starts 2 years after you apply; if you die before then, VA pays your beneficiaries the premiums you paid plus interest.
Editorial Team · September 30, 2026
SGLI to VGLI Conversion: Deadlines, Steps, and Options
You can convert SGLI to VGLI within 1 year and 120 days of leaving service, but only applications made within 240 days skip proof of good health. Your SGLI keeps covering you for 120 days after separation, so the smart move is to apply early and have VGLI start the day SGLI ends.
Editorial Team · September 30, 2026
Life Insurance With a VA Disability Rating or PTSD
Yes, veterans with a VA disability rating, including a rating for PTSD, can get life insurance. Any service-connected rating, even 0%, makes you eligible for VALife guaranteed-acceptance whole life up to $40,000 if you are 80 or younger, and private insurers look at your actual health, not the rating number alone.
Editorial Team · September 30, 2026
VA Burial Benefits: What the VA Pays and What It Doesn't
For a veteran who died on or after October 1, 2025, the VA lists a non-service-connected burial allowance of up to $1,002 plus up to $1,002 for a plot, and up to $2,000 for a service-connected death on or after September 11, 2001. Burial in a VA national cemetery, a headstone, and a burial flag are provided at no cost to eligible families, but the VA does not cover most funeral home charges.
Editorial Team · September 30, 2026
Life Insurance for Veterans Over 60: Your Best Options
Veterans over 60 can choose from VGLI (if they already have it), VALife (if they have a service-connected rating), private term or whole life, and final expense insurance. The best fit depends on your health, how much coverage you need, and how long you need it.
Editorial Team · September 30, 2026
Common questions
How long does SGLI last after I leave the military?
SGLI keeps covering you for 120 days after you leave service, and you don't pay premiums for that period. You can convert to VGLI up to 1 year and 120 days after separation. If you apply within 240 days, VA won't ask about your health; after that, you'll need to show evidence of good health.
Is VGLI or private term life cheaper?
It depends on your health and how long you need coverage. VGLI prices only on age and amount and rises every 5 years, while private term usually stays level for the whole term. A healthy, tobacco-free veteran often pays less with private term; VGLI can be the better buy if health problems would make private coverage expensive or hard to get.
Who qualifies for VALife?
VALife is VA's guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance for veterans 80 or younger with any service-connected disability rating, including 0%. You can choose $10,000 to $40,000 of coverage with no health questions. Full coverage starts 2 years after you apply; if you die before then, VA pays your beneficiaries the premiums you paid plus interest.
Can I have VGLI, VALife and a private policy at the same time?
Yes. VA says you can hold other VA policies, such as VGLI, along with commercial life insurance. Many veterans keep a small permanent VALife policy and add private term coverage for the years their family depends on their income most. An agent can help you see how the pieces fit together.
Can I get private life insurance with a VA disability rating?
Often, yes. A rating doesn't automatically rule you out. Private insurers look at the specific condition, its severity and how well it's managed, and each insurer weighs that differently. That's why comparing insurers matters, and why VALife can be a useful backstop if private coverage is expensive.
Are you part of VA?
No. We're a free matching service, not an insurance company, and we're not affiliated with the Department of Veterans Affairs or any government agency. VGLI and VALife are applied for directly through VA. We connect you with a licensed agent who can compare private options alongside them.
Is this service free, and who will I talk to?
Yes, it's free. You answer a few questions about your service and your goals, and we connect you with a licensed agent who can go over options with you. There's no cost to use the service and no obligation to buy anything.