Insurance
Keep your group life insurance after you separate. Here is the VGLI window, the no-health-review period, and how coverage works.
U.S. Army photo by Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner, Indianapolis, Indiana, DVIDS (public domain)
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Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) lets you keep group term life coverage after you leave the military, for as long as you pay the premiums. You can carry up to the amount of SGLI you had when you separated, to a maximum of $500,000. Apply within 1 year and 120 days of leaving. Apply within 240 days and you skip the health review, which matters if your health has changed.
Source: VA.gov
It is the veteran version of the SGLI coverage you carried on active duty. VGLI is term life insurance you can keep after service for as long as you pay the premiums. Coverage runs from $10,000 to $500,000, and the amount you can take is based on how much SGLI you had when you left.
Source: VA.gov
You generally have 1 year and 120 days from the day you leave the military to apply. Inside that window, timing changes one thing. If you sign up within 240 days of separating, you do not have to prove you are in good health. After the 240-day mark, you can still apply up to the 1 year and 120 day deadline, but you have to submit evidence of good health. If your health has changed since you served, that 240-day period can be the difference between easy acceptance and a tougher review.
Source: VA.gov
You can sign up for coverage up to the SGLI amount you carried at separation, in $10,000 steps, to a $500,000 maximum. If you take less than the maximum, you can increase your coverage by $25,000 one year after getting VGLI and then every 5 years, up to $500,000, until age 60. Premiums are based on your age and the coverage amount. As an example, using the rates posted effective July 1, 2025, $400,000 of coverage runs $24.00 per month for ages 29 and younger and $56.00 per month for ages 40 to 44. Premiums rise as you age, so check the current table for your bracket.
Source: VA.gov
You apply through the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI), the VA's insurance administrator. You can apply online through the OSGLI system, or download the Application for Veterans' Group Life Insurance (SGLV 8714) and mail or fax it, and take a minute to update your beneficiaries so the payout goes where you intend. Set a reminder at out-processing so the window does not slip past you, since SGLI coverage ends a short time after you separate.
Source: VA.gov
When does my SGLI end after I separate?
SGLI ends a short time after you leave the service. VGLI is how you keep coverage past that point. Confirm your exact SGLI end date on VA.gov.
Do I have to answer health questions?
Not if you apply within 240 days of separating. After that, you submit evidence of good health.
Can I raise my coverage later?
Yes. You can add $25,000 one year after enrolling and every 5 years after that, up to $500,000, until age 60.
Is VGLI my only option?
No. You can compare VGLI with private term life and weigh how much life insurance you actually need. VGLI asks no health questions inside the 240-day window, which can help if you have health conditions. This guide does not recommend a specific company.
Can I convert VGLI to a private policy later?
Yes. VGLI can be converted to an individual permanent policy with a participating company, at standard rates, without proving good health.
What happens if I miss the window?
If the deadline passes, you generally lose the option to enroll in VGLI. That is why the timeline matters.
VetraFi does not provide financial, investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. The content provided is for informational purposes only. You should consult your own advisors before engaging in any transaction.
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