SGLI vs VGLI vs VALife 2026: Rates, Costs & Comparison
Compare SGLI, VGLI, VALife, FSGLI, TSGLI, S-DVI, and VMLI side by side. Interactive calculator shows monthly premiums by age and coverage amount.
For estimation and educational purposes only. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is the authoritative source for SGLI/VGLI/VALife rates and eligibility. Always verify current rates at va.gov/life-insurance.
Last updated May 1, 2026 · 2026 SGLI/VGLI/VALife rates · 7 program comparison
Bottom line up front
Military and veteran life insurance has seven distinct programs: SGLI (active duty, $500K max, $25/mo), VGLI (post-separation, age-rated up to $500K), FSGLI (spouses, $100K max), TSGLI (traumatic injury rider on SGLI, included), VALife (the new VA program for service-connected veterans 0%-100% rated, no medical exam, any age ≤80), S-DVI (legacy program, mostly closed to new applicants), and VMLI (mortgage insurance for SAH-grant veterans up to $200K). The two deadlines that matter most: SGLI continues 120 days post-separation at no cost — automatic, no action; and VGLI must be enrolled within 240 days for guaranteed-issue (no medical exam) — up to 1 year + 120 days total but underwritten after day 240. Miss the 240-day window and you lose guaranteed-issue forever. Critical decision pattern: VGLI is age-rated with bracket jumps every 5 years — affordable young (age 30-44 = $0.80–$1.40/$10K/mo), expensive old (70-74 = $21.50/$10K/mo, 80+ = $44/$10K/mo). For young healthy veterans, private term life is usually cheaper with longer level periods (20-30 years). For service-connected disabled veterans or those with health conditions, VGLI’s no-underwriting feature often wins. Always enroll VGLI within 240 days as a safety net, then comparison-shop private term — you can drop VGLI later but cannot re-enroll without underwriting.
Frequently Asked Questions
VGLI premiums by age bracket (full rate table)
VGLI is age-rated — premiums step up every 5 years. As of the July 2025 VA discount, monthly premiums per $10,000 of coverage are: age 29 and under: $0.60; 30-34: $0.80; 35-39: $1.00; 40-44: $1.40; 45-49: $1.90; 50-54: $2.90; 55-59: $5.00; 60-64: $8.50; 65-69: $13.80; 70-74: $21.50; 75-79: $38.50; 80+: $44.00. A 45-year-old veteran with $400,000 of VGLI pays $76/month. The same coverage at age 65 costs $552/month. The calculator above projects your total cost across age brackets over a chosen time horizon.
Should I keep VGLI or replace it with private term life?
It depends on age, health, and service-connected status. VGLI is a strong deal for veterans with health conditions that would make private term life expensive or unavailable — because VGLI has no medical underwriting if you enroll within 240 days of separation. For young, healthy veterans under 40, private term life is usually cheaper and offers longer level-premium periods (20-30 years of fixed rates instead of VGLI's 5-year step-ups). As you cross 50, 60, and 70, VGLI's bracket jumps become expensive fast — a 70-year-old paying $21.50/$10,000/mo is paying $860/month for $400K coverage, which often exceeds private quotes for a healthy person. For service-connected disabled veterans, VGLI is often the most affordable lifelong option because the rates are not individually underwritten. The calculator above shows your VGLI cost vs an estimated private term quote so you can compare.
What are the SGLI, VGLI, and VALife enrollment deadlines?
Three deadlines matter most: (1) SGLI continues 120 days after separation at no cost — this is automatic, no action needed. (2) VGLI enrollment window: 240 days with no medical exam, then up to 1 year + 120 days total but medical underwriting applies after day 240. The 240-day window is the most important deadline on this page — miss it and you lose the guaranteed-issue benefit forever. (3) VALife enrollment: any time for veterans age 80 or younger with any service-connected rating (0%-100%). Practical advice: even if you plan to shop for private insurance, enroll in VGLI within 240 days as a safety net. You can drop VGLI later if private quotes come in cheaper, but you can't go back and re-enroll without underwriting.
What happens to my SGLI/VGLI payout after I die?
Beneficiaries file VA Form SGLV 8283 (claim for death benefits) with OSGLI (Prudential), the SGLI/VGLI program administrator. Documentation needed: certified death certificate, your DD-214 or proof of military service, and the beneficiary's identification. Once filed, payment typically takes 2-4 weeks. Beneficiaries can receive the payout as a lump sum or as the Alliance Account (an interest-bearing checking account where they can write checks against the death benefit and earn interest while deciding on use). For SGLI, payouts are tax-free. Update your beneficiary designations regularly — especially after marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or death of a previously-named beneficiary — using VA Form SGLV 8286 (or the online milConnect tool while still in service).
Can I increase my VGLI coverage after I'm enrolled?
Yes, but with limits. VGLI lets you increase coverage by $25,000 every 5 years up to a maximum of $500,000, until you reach age 60. After age 60, you cannot increase coverage. The 5-year increase is automatic-eligible — no medical exam required — but you must apply for it within the eligibility window (the 120-day period around your 5-year anniversary). If you originally enrolled in VGLI at, say, $200,000 of coverage, you could ratchet up to $225K, then $250K, and so on at each 5-year mark, eventually reaching the $500K cap. Most veterans miss this benefit because the VA doesn't aggressively notify you of the window. If you're between 25 and 60 and your VGLI is below $500K, mark your calendar for the 5-year increase opportunity.
This calculator was built by Em, a retired U.S. Navy Commander (Medical Service Corps, 20+ years). Page 214 is free, privacy-first, and entirely client-side. Operational rate sources are cited in the in-tool Sources block above. Higher-level statutory framework: 38 U.S.C. Chapter 19 governs the entire SGLI/VGLI/S-DVI/VALife/TSGLI/FSGLI suite; 38 U.S.C. § 1965–1980A establishes the SGLI program (active duty); 38 U.S.C. § 1977 establishes VGLI and the 240-day guaranteed-issue window; 38 U.S.C. § 1980 establishes TSGLI; 38 U.S.C. § 1922 covers S-DVI (closed to most new applicants after Dec 31, 2022, replaced by VALife); 38 U.S.C. § 1922B establishes VALife (the 2023 program for service-connected veterans 0%-100% with no medical exam, age ≤80); 38 U.S.C. § 2106 establishes VMLI (Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance for Specially Adapted Housing grant recipients, up to $200,000); and the SGLI Family Coverage (FSGLI) at 38 U.S.C. § 1967(a)(1)(A)(i). VGLI 5-year-bracket increase rule and the $25,000-every-5-years coverage-bump option (until age 60, no medical exam, 120-day window around the anniversary) follow 38 C.F.R. § 9.5. Most veterans miss the 5-year coverage-increase window because the VA does not aggressively notify; mark your calendar. Beneficiary updates use VA Form SGLV 8286 (active duty / SGLI) or apply through OSGLI for VGLI. This is a planning tool, not personalized insurance advice — private term life quotes vary by health, gender, age, and tobacco use; the calculator’s private-quote estimates are illustrative. Always get real quotes from at least three carriers before deciding to drop VGLI.
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