VA Life Insurance Programs: A Simple Guide for Veterans

VA life insurance programs, explained

The government gives you life insurance while you serve, and options after. Each program has its own rules, deadlines, and price curve, and missing one date can cost your family real protection. These guides cover the three programs in plain English, with every figure checked against VA.gov. Veteran Life Plan is a private education service. We are not the VA, and we verify our facts against theirs.

SGLI timeline and deadlines

Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) ends 120 days after you separate, and two more deadlines follow it. This guide puts every date on one timeline, with a checklist so nothing slips.

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How to manage VGLI premiums

Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) premiums jump with every five-year age band. See the current rate table and three moves that keep the cost under control as you age.

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VALife eligibility and the age 80 rule

Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) accepts any veteran with a service-connected rating, even 0%, at age 80 or younger. Over 81, a strict three-part exception applies. Here are the exact rules.

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Start with the basics

New to these programs? Start with what SGLI covers, how VGLI works, and how to convert SGLI to VGLI. If you are leaving the service soon, what happens to your coverage after service walks the whole transition. When you are ready to compare the VA programs against private coverage, see VGLI vs term life.

Ready to explore your life insurance options?

Get the free guide, "Leaving the Service: Your Life Insurance Decision Guide," or take the quiz, Which Coverage Fits You?

About the Author

Veteran Life Plan was founded by a career Army veteran to provide clear, honest guidance on life insurance for military families. Our articles are written to help you understand your options without jargon or high-pressure sales, so you can make a confident choice for your family's future.