ince before World War I, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) 

has been working to keep the promise made by Abraham Lincoln 

to our nation’s servicemembers and veterans – “to care for him who shall 

have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.” We believe 

that life insurance speaks directly to President Lincoln’s promise by providing financial assistance to families in the event of a servicemember’s 

or veteran’s death. We want to ensure that you and your family receive 

the support you deserve for faithful service to our country. 

In order to keep this promise, VA needs your help. We need you to plan 

today for your life insurance needs and let us help you protect your loved 

ones tomorrow. You can take the first step toward protecting your family 

by reading the information in this brochure and learning about how you 

can obtain VA life insurance coverage. 
Life insurance is not something you think about every day. You may even put off 

obtaining life insurance because the possibility of something happening to you 

seems remote. But consider this--if tragedy hit tomorrow, would your family be 

protected? 

★ Would they be able to pay the bills?

★ Could they save for your children's education?

★ Could they remain in your family home? 

★ Could they maintain their current standard of living? 

As a separating servicemember, you can provide your family with financial security in the event of your death with life insurance coverage form VA. Whether 

you are healthy or disabled, you are eligible for coverage as part of your VA 

benefits. However, you must apply for these benefits within the program's eligibility period. 

The information in this package will provide you with detailed information on the 

Department of Veterans Affairs life insurance programs. It explains eligibility, 

coverage, and how you can get more information on each of our programs. Look 

inside for information on: 

★ Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Disability Extension

★ Veterans' Group Life Insurance

★ Family Coverage

★ Service-Disabled Veterans' Insurance

★ Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance

If you have any questions on any of our life insurance programs, you can also 

check our website at www.insurance.va.gov.
SGLI DISABILITY EXTENSION

SERVICEMEMBERS’ GROUP LIFE INSURANCE

DISABILITY EXTENSION

What is SGLI Disability Extension? 

Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) Disability Extension allows servicemembers 

who are totally disabled at time of discharge to retain the SGLI coverage they had in service 

for up to two years at no cost. 

Is SGLI Disability Extension For You? 

SGLI Disability Extension is available to you if you are totally disabled when 

you are discharged. To be considered totally disabled, you must have a disability that prevents you from being gainfully employed or have on e of the following conditions, regardless of your employment status: 

★ Permanent loss of use of both hands 

★ Permanent loss of use of both feet 

★ Permanent loss of use of both eyes 

★ Permanent loss of use of one hand and one foot 

★ Permanent loss of use of one foot and one eye 

★ Permanent loss of use of one hand and one eye 

★ Total loss of hearing in both ears 

★ Organic loss of speech (loss of ability to express oneself, 

both by voice and whisper, through normal organs for 

speech. Being able to speak with an artificial appliance 

is disregarded in determination of total disability) 

What Coverage does SGLI Disability Extension Provide? 

SGLI Disability Extension provides the same amount of coverage you had 

when you were discharged from service. This coverage is free and continues 

for two years from your date of discharge or until you are no longer totally disabled, whichever comes first. SGLI disability Extension can be converted to 

Veterans’ Group Life Insurance. See the Veterans’’ Group Life Insurance insert in this folder for more information. 

How Can You Get More Information On SGLI Disability Extension? 

To get more information on SGLI Disability Extension, obtain an application, or get the latest program updates, please go to the VA Insurance 

website at www.insurance.va.gov or contact the Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance at 800-419-1473. 

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VGLI

VETERANS’ GROUP LIFE INSURANCE

What is VGLI? 

Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is a program which allows you to convert 

the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance you had while in the military to a renewable term life insurance policy. This policy is renewable every five years, regardless of health, and can be retained for your entire life, if you desire. 

Is VGLI For You? 

You are eligible to apply for VGLI if you are insured under SGLI and: 

★ You are being released from active duty, or were released within 

the last one year and 120 days 

★ You are a member of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) or Inactive National Guard (ING) 

★ You are a reservist being released from drilling assignments 

★ You are a reservist who suffers injury or disability during active 

duty or inactive duty training and become uninsurable at standard 

premium rates 

★ You are eligible for or assigned to the Retired Reserves 

What Coverage does VGLI Provide? 

VGLI provides five-year term life insurance coverage in an amount 

equal to or less than the amount of SGLI coverage you are carrying 

when you leave service, in increments of $10,000, up to a maximum of 

$250,000. 

In addition, VGLI offers an Accelerated Benefits Option (ABO) for insureds. ABO provides terminally-ill insureds up to 50 percent of their coverage in a lump sum prior to death to help pay for medical and other expenses during the last months of life. 

How Can You Get More Information About VGLI? 

An application for VGLI is enclosed. To receive more information about 

VGLI or get the latest program updates, please go to the VA Insurance website at www.insuraance.va.gov or contact the Office of Servicemembers’ 

Group Life Insurance at 800-419-1473. 

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FAMILY COVERAGE

FAMILY COVERAGE 

What Is Family Coverage? 

Family coverage is available under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance 

(SGLI) and provides automatic life insurance protection for the servicemember's spouse and dependent children. 

What Coverage Does It Provide? 

The servicemember's spouse will get automatic coverage of $100,000 or 

an amount equal to the servicemember's coverage, whichever is less. Premiums for spousal coverage are age-based. It also provides for free, automatic coverage of $10,000 per dependent child. The member can decline 

or elect lesser spousal coverage in increments of $10,000, but cannot decline coverage for dependent children. 

Coverage for spouses terminates 120 days after the following events: 

★ The date a servicemember separates from service 

★ The date of divorce from a servicemember 

★ The date a servicemember dies 

★ The date a servicemember elects in writing to terminate the spousal coverage 

★ The date a servicemember elects in writing to terminate his or her own coverage 

Coverage for children ends 120 days after any of the following events: 

★ The date a servicemember separates from service 

★ The date the children are no longer a servicemember's dependents 

★ The date a servicemember dies 

★ The date a servicemember terminates his or her own coverage 

Can Family Coverage Be Converted? 

The servicemember's spouse has the option of continuing his or her coverage 

by converting to an individual commercial policy within 120 days of the above 

mentioned events. Family coverage cannot be converted to Veterans' Group 

Life Insurance. Dependent child coverage cannot be converted. 

How Can You Get More Information On Converting Family Coverage? 

If you had spousal coverage while on active duty or in the Reserves, and your 

spouse wants more information on converting to an individual policy, go to the VA 

Insurance website at www.insurance.va.gov or contact the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance at 800-419-1473. 

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S-DVI

SERVICE-DISABLED VETERANS' INSURANCE 

What Is S-DVI? 

Service-Disabled Veterans' Insurance (S-DVI) is life insurance for veterans who 

receive a service-connected disability rating by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

Is S-DVI For You? 

S-DVI is open only to veterans who meet all of the following conditions: 

★ Receive a rating for a service-connected disability from the VA 

★ Separate from service on or after April 25,1951 under other than dishonorable conditions 

★ In good health except for service-connected conditions 

Veterans must apply for S-DVI within two years from the date they are notified that a new service-connected disability has been established. The 

two-year eligibility period begins again if the veteran is rated by the VA for 

a new service-connected disability. 

Example: Mr. Veteran is rated for a knee condition on April 1, 2001. He 

does not apply for S-DVI within two years. However, he is rated for diabetes on June 3, 2003. He is eligible to apply for S-DVI by June 3, 2005. 

What Coverage Does S-DVI Provide? 

Basic S-DVI — Basic S-DVI provides a maximum of $10,000 of life insurance coverage, but is also available in smaller amounts of $1,000 increments. The S-DVI program offers a range of insurance plans, including ordinary life and term policies. 

Premiums for basic S-DVI coverage can be waived if the veteran is totally disabled. 

Supplemental S-DVI – Supplemental S-DVI is available to basic S-DVI policyholders 

who are eligible for a waiver of premium on their basic coverage. Supplemental SDVI provides for up to an additional $20,000 of life insurance coverage. Premiums for 

this program may not be waived. 

Veterans who are totally disabled and obtain a waiver of premium on their basic coverage must apply for Supplemental S-DVI coverage within one year of 

the notice that they have been granted a waiver for the basic coverage. 

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S-DVI

What Is Gratuitous S-DVI? 

Gratuitous S-DVI allows families of veterans to obtain a lump sum payment 

of $10,000 of coverage after the death of the veteran if all of the following 

conditions exist:

★ The deceased veteran met the basic eligibility requirements for S-DVI 

★ The deceased veteran did not apply for S-DVI because of a continued 

mental incompetence due to a service-connected disability 

★ The deceased veteran died before the appointment of a guardian or within 

two years of an appointment 

Gratuitous S-DVI is only paid in a lump sum to the following family embers, 

in the order listed below:

★ To the widow or widower of the insured, if living 

★ To the child or children of the insured, if living, in equal shares 

★ To the parent or parents of the insured, if living, in equal shares 

Families of veterans who believe they may qualify for this benefit should 

contact VA at the number listed below to obtain an application and discuss 

eligibility. 

How Can You Get More Information About S-DVI? 

To receive more information about S-DVI, obtain an application, or get the 

latest program updates, please go to the VA Insurance website at www.

insurance.va.gov or contact VA at 800-669-8477. 

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VMLI

VETERANS' MORTGAGE LIFE INSURANCE 

What Is VMLI? 

Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) is a life insurance program offered 

through the Department of Veterans Affairs that provides insurance coverage on 

the home mortgages of severely disabled veterans. 

Is VMLI For You? 

VMLI is only available to veterans who receive Specially-Adapted Housing Grants. 

These grants are provided by VA to veterans who receive a service-connected disability rating for one or more of the following permanent and total disabilities: 

★ Loss of use of both legs 

★ Blindness in both eyes plus the loss of use of one leg 

★ Loss of use of one leg with residuals of disease or injury that affect balance 

or propulsion 

★ Loss of use of one leg together with the loss of use of one upper extremity 

which affects balance or propulsion 

If you are rated by VA for one of these conditions, you can apply for a Specially-Adapted Housing Grant and Veterans' Mortgage Life Insurance. 

What Coverage Does VMLI Provide? 

VMLI provides a maximum of $90,000 of insurance on the mortgages of 

eligible veterans. In the event of the death of an insured veteran, VA will 

pay the amount still owed on the veteran's mortgage up to $90,000. The 

insurance is payable only to the mortgage lender. Eligible veterans must 

apply for the coverage before their 70th birthday. Eligible veterans can apply for VMLI coverage on a new mortgage, an existing mortgage, a refinanced mortgage, or a second mortgage. In addition, each time veterans 

sell their home, they can obtain the full amount of coverage on a new 

home. 

How Can You Get More Information About VMLI? 

To receive more information about VMLI, obtain an application, or get the latest 

program updates, please go to the VA Insurance website at www.insurance.va.

gov or contact VA at 800-669-8477. 

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