SGLI to VGLI: Keeping Your Life Insurance After You Leave the Military

Not financial advice. Educational only. The right amount of life insurance depends on your family, debts, and other coverage.

SGLI is easy. It comes out of your pay, and you never think about it. When you separate, that coverage ends, and you have to choose to keep it. VA's Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) lets you carry it over. The timing matters.

The deadlines

Within 240 days of leaving: you can get VGLI without a health review, per VA. If you have health conditions, this is the window that matters most.
Within 1 year and 120 days: you can still apply, but you'll have to show you're in good health.
After that, the option is gone.

You can apply online through the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI) on the Prudential site, or use form SGLV 8714.

How much coverage

VGLI runs from $10,000 to $500,000, but it can't be more than the SGLI you had when you left. If you had less than the maximum, VA lets you add $25,000 one year after getting VGLI and then every 5 years. You can do that until you're 60, up to $500,000 total.

What it costs

VGLI premiums depend only on your age and coverage amount. Gender and tobacco use don't change the price. Premiums also go up as you move into older age bands. Here are examples from VA's table for $500,000 of coverage (rates as of July 1, 2025):

Age	Monthly premium, $500,000
29 and younger	$30.00
35 to 39	$50.00
45 to 49	$95.00
55 to 59	$250.00
65 to 69	$690.00

Check VA's VGLI page for your exact age band and amount.

Premium holiday: VA says eligible VGLI policyholders don't have to pay premiums from November 1, 2026, through January 31, 2027, and coverage continues. See VA's page to confirm you're eligible.

VGLI vs. private term life

VGLI's strength: no health questions in the first 240 days, and you can renew for life as long as you keep paying. If you have service-connected conditions, that can be worth a lot.
Private term's strength: if you're young and healthy, a private policy may lock in a level premium for 20 or 30 years. VGLI's premium goes up with your age band.
A common approach: apply for VGLI inside the 240 days so you're covered. Then shop private term at your own pace. Drop VGLI only once the new policy is actually in force.

You can also convert VGLI to a permanent individual policy with a participating insurer without a medical exam. VA's page lists the steps.

Don't forget your beneficiaries

Once you have VGLI, check who's listed as your beneficiary, especially after a marriage, divorce, or new child. You can update them online through your Prudential policy or with form SGLV 8721.