When you leave the military, your SGLI coverage does not simply continue. You have a set window to convert it to Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), and one of those deadlines decides whether you have to answer health questions. This page lays out the dates, shows what VGLI costs as you get older, and explains when it makes sense to compare a private policy.
The three deadlines that matter
120 days: free SGLI coverage ends
Your SGLI continues at no cost for 120 days after you separate.
240 days: VGLI with no health questions
If you apply for VGLI within 240 days of separating, you do not have to answer health questions.
1 year and 120 days: the final VGLI deadline
After day 240 you can still apply until one year and 120 days after separation, but you must answer health questions. After that, VGLI is no longer available.
Your dates and your VGLI cost
Enter your separation date, age and SGLI amount.
Your deadlines
| Free SGLI coverage ends (120 days) | |
|---|---|
| Last day to get VGLI with no health questions (240 days) | |
| Final VGLI deadline (1 year and 120 days) |
What VGLI would cost you
| Monthly premium at your age today | |
|---|---|
| Total VGLI premiums over the next 20 years |
What to consider
VGLI rates are the VA's published monthly rates per $10,000 of coverage, effective July 1, 2025. Check va.gov for the current rates. VGLI coverage cannot exceed your SGLI amount at separation. Lifeworth Insurance Agency is an independent agency and is not affiliated with the VA or the U.S. government.
VGLI or a private policy?
VGLI is guaranteed within the 240-day window and does not depend on your health, which makes it valuable if you have health conditions or a service-connected disability. Its premiums rise every five years, though, so it becomes much more expensive in your 50s and 60s.
A private level-term policy keeps one price for the whole term, often 20 or 30 years. Healthy veterans often find it competitive. The safest approach is to compare before day 240, so VGLI stays available if the private option does not work out.
Frequently asked questions
How much does VGLI cost?
VGLI is priced by age band, so the premium rises every five years. $400,000 of coverage costs $32 a month at age 30 and $340 a month at age 60. See the full table in VGLI rates by age.
Should I choose VGLI or a private policy?
VGLI is guaranteed if you apply within 240 days, which matters most if you have health conditions. If you are healthy, a level-term policy may cost less over time. Compare before day 240 and keep VGLI until any new policy is in force. See VGLI vs. private term life insurance.
Can I get more VGLI than I had in SGLI?
Not at first. VGLI starts at up to your SGLI amount at separation. VA rules allow increases of $25,000 at set times, up to $500,000 in total, until age 60. See what each amount costs in VGLI rates by age.
Can I turn VGLI into a permanent policy later?
Yes. You can convert VGLI to a whole life policy with one of the VA’s participating companies without proof of good health. Term and universal life policies are not allowed for the conversion. See how this compares in VGLI vs. private term life insurance.
What happens to my spouse’s coverage?
Your spouse’s FSGLI coverage ends 120 days after you separate, and VGLI does not cover spouses. Within those 120 days, your spouse can convert the coverage to a permanent individual policy with no health questions. See spouse life insurance after military separation.
I missed the 240-day window. What now?
You can still apply for VGLI with health questions until the final deadline, and you can compare private coverage at the same time. If you have a VA service-connected disability rating, VALife may also be an option. See missed the 240-day VGLI window.
Lifeworth Insurance Agency is an independent agency and is not affiliated with the VA or the U.S. government. VGLI rates are the VA’s published rates, effective July 1, 2025; check va.gov for the current rates and rules.
Related guides
VGLI rates by age · VGLI vs. private term life insurance · Missed the 240-day VGLI window? · Spouse coverage after separation (FSGLI)
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Lifeworth Insurance Agency
2881 E Oakland Park Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33306
(954) 834-5433 · contact@lifeworthinsurance.com