PolicySolutionsLeaving the service? The life insurance clock is already running.
Your SGLI doesn't follow you into civilian life for long. There's a limited, deadline-driven window to convert it to VGLI — and for many veterans, a private policy is a better long-term fit. A licensed specialist walks you through both, honestly, at no cost to you.
In short: When you leave the military your SGLI coverage ends shortly after separation, but you have a limited window to convert it to VGLI without proving your health. VGLI is convenient, though its premiums rise with age — so for many healthy veterans a private term or permanent policy is cheaper long term. Comparing both before the deadline is the key move, and a licensed agent can do it at no cost.
Your military coverage doesn't follow you out.
SGLI is real protection while you serve — but it's built to end, and the window to replace it is short.
Maximum SGLI coverage while you serve — and the ceiling VGLI now matches after separation.
— U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA.gov)How long SGLI continues free after you separate. After that it ends unless you convert or replace it.
— U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA.gov)Veterans, service members, and families currently protected by VA life insurance programs, with about $1.5 trillion of coverage in force.
— U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA.gov)The SGLI → VGLI timeline, in plain English.
The single most important thing to understand as you separate — because the best option can expire.
Day 0 — you separate
Your SGLI coverage — the group life insurance you carried on active duty, with a maximum of $500,000 — generally continues free for 120 days after separation. — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA.gov)
Within 240 days — no health questions
Apply for VGLI within 240 days of separation and you're accepted regardless of your health — no medical questions. This is the window that protects veterans with a service-connected condition. — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA.gov)
Up to 1 year and 120 days — with health questions
After 240 days, you can still apply for VGLI up to 1 year and 120 days after separation — but you'll now have to answer questions about your health. — U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA.gov)
After the window closes
Miss the VGLI window and that guaranteed path is gone. Your remaining route is the private market, where coverage depends on your age and health at the time. That's why it's worth comparing both before day 240 — while guaranteed acceptance is still on the table.
Deadlines and coverage amounts are set by the VA and can change — always confirm the current rules for your situation at VA.gov. This page is educational and not affiliated with the VA or any government program.
Guaranteed acceptance, or a better long-term rate?
Neither one is "the answer" for everybody — the right call depends on your health, your budget, and how long you need coverage. Here's the honest trade-off.
VGLI can be the right call when…
- You have a service-connected condition or health issue that would make private underwriting hard — and you're still inside the 240-day guaranteed window.
- You want coverage in place immediately with no exam and no questions.
- You value the certainty of guaranteed acceptance over the lowest possible long-term price.
- Note: VGLI is renewable term with age-banded premiums that rise over time; its coverage tops out at the same maximum as SGLI.
Private coverage can win when…
- You're in good health — a level-premium term or permanent policy may cost less over the years than age-banded VGLI.
- You want a premium that's locked in for the length of the term instead of rising.
- You want features VGLI doesn't offer — like cash value (whole life / IUL) or a longer guaranteed term.
- As an independent agency, we compare multiple carriers — and their underwriting of veteran-specific conditions varies widely.
One conversation, every option on the table.
Because we're not tied to a single carrier, we can lay VGLI and the private market side by side and tell you which actually fits — not which pays us more (it's the same to us either way).
Conditions are often insurable
A VA disability rating, PTSD, sleep apnea, or other conditions don't automatically mean "no." Different carriers underwrite them differently — comparing several is exactly where an independent agent earns their keep.
No cost to you
The carrier pays the agent out of the premium it already set, so working with us adds nothing to your price for the same policy from the same carrier. You get the comparison and the guidance for free. We earn nothing if you keep VGLI or do nothing at all — so if VGLI is the better fit for you, we'll say so.
Straight answers, before the clock runs out
Separating is a busy season. You get straight answers on the deadlines and the trade-offs quickly — so you can decide before a window closes, not after.
Veterans life insurance — frequently asked questions
How long do I have to convert SGLI to VGLI?
Per the VA, you generally have up to 1 year and 120 days after separation. Apply within 240 days and no health questions are asked — coverage is guaranteed. After 240 days (up to the 1-year-120-day cutoff), you can still apply but must answer health questions. Confirm current rules at VA.gov.
What happens to my SGLI when I leave the military?
SGLI generally continues free for 120 days after separation, then ends unless you convert it — most often to VGLI, or to a private policy. Confirm the current specifics at VA.gov.
Is VGLI or private life insurance better?
It depends on your health and goals. VGLI's advantage is guaranteed acceptance within 240 days of separation, regardless of health — valuable with a service-connected condition — but its premiums are age-banded and rise over time. Healthy veterans can often find level-premium private coverage that costs less long term and may build cash value. A specialist can compare both.
Can I get coverage with a disability rating or PTSD?
Often yes. VGLI is guaranteed within the 240-day window regardless of health. In the private market, many conditions — including a VA disability rating or PTSD — are insurable, though the offer and rate depend on the specifics and the carrier. Comparing multiple carriers is the advantage of an independent agent.
Does comparing my options cost anything?
No. Working with a licensed independent agent is free — the carrier pays the agent, and your premium is the same as going direct. Our role is to compare honestly and help you choose.
Don't let the best option expire.
A licensed independent specialist (NPN #20612303) will map your VGLI deadline against private coverage and help you choose — at no cost to you.
No call-center pile-on. Here's exactly what to expect.
You reached out, so a real licensed agent picks it up — not a rotating call center, and never a sale you don't need.
- 1
A licensed agent reaches out
We aim to reach you the same business day — someone licensed where you live, who answers your questions straight.
- 2
A few honest questions
Enough to understand your situation and match you to the partner carrier that treats it most favorably. If it isn't a fit, we'll tell you.
- 3
Real options — your call
We compare carriers and show you what actually fits. No pressure, no obligation; you decide if and when.
- 4
Covered, with a safety net
If you move forward, a free-look period lets you review the real policy and change your mind for a full refund — a limited window that starts when the policy is delivered to you. Most states set a minimum length; where a state sets none, the window your insurer prints on the policy controls.
Realistic timelines: approval times vary by product and by carrier. Policies underwritten from health questions alone are typically much faster. Fully underwritten policies take longer — they require a medical exam and a records review. Your agent will tell you which path your application is on and what to expect. Any estimate you see online is a ballpark. Your real rate comes from a licensed agent comparing carriers for your exact age and health.