--- title: Life Insurance for Veterans and military | Coverfolk url: https://coverfolk.com/jobs/veterans updated: 2026-10-08 --- # Life insurance for veterans and military If you serve, you can get up to $500,000 of SGLI coverage. When you leave, that coverage keeps going for 120 days for free. After that, it is up to you. [Find my coverage gap](/jobs/veterans/calculator) Updated October 8, 20264 sources[Fact checked](/editorial-standards) **15.7 million**About 15.7 million veterans in the U.S. (2024)[Source: U.S. Census Bureau: Veterans Day 2025 Facts for Features](https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2025/veterans-day.html) [### veterans coverage calculator Your pay, your loans, your work plan. See the gap in 30 seconds. Open](/jobs/veterans/calculator) ## Why it matters You can switch to VGLI within 1 year and 120 days of leaving. Apply within 240 days and you skip the health questions. VGLI is term coverage from $10,000 to $500,000, but no more than your SGLI amount. Veterans with a service connected disability rating, even 0 percent, may qualify for VALife. It is up to $40,000 of whole life with no health questions. You can also compare a private policy to see what fits. * SGLI coverage lasts 120 days after you leave the military. You can convert to VGLI within 1 year and 120 days, or to a private policy within 120 days without a health exam. * VGLI needs no health review if you apply within 240 days of leaving. After that you must show you are in good health. * VALife offers up to $40,000 of whole life in $10,000 steps. Full coverage starts 2 years after you apply. If you die in those 2 years, your family gets premiums paid plus interest. ## What an insurer may ask you Have these ready. Being honest up front gets you a real price and avoids problems at claim time. * Your discharge date * Current SGLI amount * Service connected disability rating * Health, age, and tobacco use * Current job ## Common questions How long do I have to convert SGLI to VGLI? 1 year and 120 days after you leave. Apply within 240 days to skip the health review. How much VGLI can I get? From $10,000 to $500,000, up to the SGLI amount you had when you left. What is VALife? Whole life from the VA for veterans with a service connected rating. Up to $40,000. No health questions. Full coverage starts after 2 years. Can I raise my VGLI later? If you are under the max, you can add $25,000 one year after you get VGLI, then every 5 years, until age 60. ## Coverage people in this job pick [**Term life: The most coverage for the least money, for 10 to 30 years.**](/coverage/term-life)[**Mortgage protection: Life insurance sized to your home loan, so the house stays paid.**](/coverage/mortgage-protection)[**Final expense: Small whole life plans that pay for a funeral and last bills.**](/coverage/final-expense)[**What life insurance can veterans get? (VGLI, VALife)**](/answers/veterans-life-insurance)[**Does my job change what I pay for life insurance?**](/answers/does-my-job-affect-life-insurance)[**Is the life insurance from my job enough?**](/answers/work-life-insurance-enough) ## Sources 1. [VA: Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (SGLI)](https://www.va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/sgli/) 2. [VA: Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI)](https://www.va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/vgli/) 3. [VA: Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife)](https://www.va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/valife/) 4. [U.S. Census Bureau: Veterans Day 2025 Facts for Features](https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2025/veterans-day.html) Other jobs ## We cover a lot of hard jobs [**7.7x** the average risk**Truck drivers**Long hauls, owner operators and company drivers.](/jobs/truck-drivers)[**5.3x** the average risk**Lineworkers**Power line crews who climb for a living.](/jobs/lineworkers)[**14.8x** the average risk**Roofers**One of the riskiest jobs in the country.](/jobs/roofers)[**4.4x** the average risk**Construction**Laborers, helpers and crew leads.](/jobs/construction-workers)[**2.2x** the average risk**Electricians**Union, open shop and self employed.](/jobs/electricians)