For the most current information visit: https://www.va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/valife/

Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) is VA’s newest whole life insurance program that offers cash value and very competitive premium rates. Enrollment opens on Jan. 1, 2023, for all service-connected Veterans age 80 and under.

Learn more about the program and find answers to some common questions:

  1. Who is eligible for VALife?

Veterans age 80 or under with any level of service-connected disability (0-100%) are eligible to apply at any time.

Veterans age 81 or older may also apply for VALife within two years of receiving notification of a new service-connected disability if they:

    • Applied for a new VA rated disability before age 81, and
    • Received a new service-connected disability after turning 81

  1. How do I apply for VALife?

The VALife application goes live on Jan. 1, 2023, at https://www.benefits.va.gov/insurance/valife.asp. The application process is completely online, and Veterans will receive an automated instant decision about their eligibility for the program. If accepted into the program, Veterans can enroll and manage most aspects of their VALife policy online.

  1. What coverage does VALife offer?

VALife offers up to $40,000 in coverage, available in $10,000 increments. There are no medical exams or health questions for enrollment. The policy has cash value that builds over time after the first two years of enrollment.

  1. How much are VALife monthly premium rates?

A full breakdown of VALife monthly premium rates by age can be found here: https://www.benefits.va.gov/insurance/valife-rates.asp

VALife premium rates are competitive—or better than—similar programs offered by the private sector. Premiums are based on age upon enrollment and coverage amount selected. Current medical condition(s) or gender are not factored into premium rates. Once enrolled, premiums will never increase on the coverage selected. If coverage is increased in the future, rates will be based on age at that time.

  1. Why is there a two-year waiting period for VALife coverage to take full effect?

The two-year waiting period eliminates the need for applicants to answer health questions or provide proof of good health to be eligible. This waiting period ensures access to guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance for more Veterans than ever before.

  1. Do I have to pay monthly premium rates during the two-year waiting period for my VALife coverage to take effect?

Yes, Veterans must pay premiums during the two-year waiting period. If the Veteran dies during the two-year waiting period, all premiums paid plus interest will be paid to their designated beneficiary. The full face value of the policy will be paid to the beneficiary after the two-year period. Veterans who pay premiums directly, rather than by deduction from their compensation or military retirement or checking account, have the option to pay premiums annually.

  1. How does VALife coverage compare to similar private sector programs?

VALife’s maximum coverage of $40,000 is greater than what’s offered by many similar guaranteed acceptance whole life insurance programs in the private sector. The cost per $1,000 is very competitive or less than similar products, providing savings to Veterans.

  1. Can I switch from my current VA insurance program to VALife? Can I be enrolled in VALife and another program at the same time?

Veterans currently enrolled in Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI) may either keep that coverage or switch to VALife when the application goes live:

    • If you have S-DVI and submit your VALife application on or before Dec. 31, 2025, then by law, you may only keep your S-DVI coverage for two years. When the two-year period concludes, your S-DVI coverage ends, and the full VALife coverage amount takes effect. Any cash value from your S-DVI coverage will be paid to you or can be applied toward your VALife premiums.
    • If you have S-DVI and submit your VALife application on or after Jan. 1, 2026, then by law, your S-DVI coverage ends on the day you enroll in VALife. However, you will still need to wait two years before your full VALife coverage amount takes effect.

Eligible Veterans currently enrolled in Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) may have both VGLI and VALife coverage. Veterans can also be enrolled in Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) or other VA insurance coverage and VALife at the same time. By law, only S-DVI and VALife is an either/or choice.

  1. Does VALife also cover family members?

VALife does not cover spouses or dependents of eligible Veterans.

  1. Is there a premium waiver option for VALife?

No, by law, there is no premium waiver option for VALife.

More information

To learn more about VALife, visit the program website here: https://www.benefits.va.gov/insurance/valife.asp.

Topics in this story

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37 Comments

  1. Wayne December 5, 2022 at 11:02

    Your are just like every other Insurance and a two year waiting time, give me a break.
    Your are a con.
    Most Vets cannot afford the cost of Insurance.
    Have a nice day.

  2. Juanita Haddad November 30, 2022 at 14:47

    I don’t understand the 0 percent disability rating. I use the va but I’m not disabled

  3. Dennis P. Waidler November 30, 2022 at 11:07

    Yes, I am very interested in procuring life insurance in the amount of $40,000. How can I enroll? Send me an application please

  4. Gary Erickson November 29, 2022 at 01:00

    Seems like a good program to me. We will be signing up Jan 1, 2023.

  5. Gaylor Holloway November 28, 2022 at 16:00

    Gaylor Holloway

  6. Willis E TOMLIN JR November 27, 2022 at 11:57

    Can you transfer an outside policy N Y Life, to cover the two years period.

  7. Charles Flagler November 25, 2022 at 22:38

    Well thank you very much, I turned 81 this past Monday.

    This does nothing for thousands of Vietnam Veterans like myself.

    This VA Program exemplifies age discrimination in full flower.

    When will the VA apply age discrimination to my healthcare benefits?

  8. Gary Schmidt November 25, 2022 at 17:56

    their is a lot of great questions here and it seems no one is around to answer these questions? all it talk about how much one has to pay.

  9. stephen J Guittard November 25, 2022 at 12:28

    VA insurance is a joke. The amounts haven’t changed since the Korean War an what little they pay out will not help a surviving spouse very well. There was a bill in Congress that was supposed to up the amount of on of the policies to 97,000 but that never went through, yet they passed this POS that is about the same as any other policy they have to offer.

  10. Lloyd November 25, 2022 at 11:37

    After 8 years (96 monthly $418.40 payments) my total payments will have been $40,160.64 on my $40,000 policy. What next ?

  11. Clie Sanchez November 24, 2022 at 21:21

    This is criminal!!!!!!!! I know you can do better than this.. There are Insurance Companies that will insure for less, and more coverage up to more than $1 million…You all need to keep working harder on getting better life insurance for Veterans.. This is PATHETIC and again taking advantage of Veterans.

  12. Darby Beattie November 24, 2022 at 15:14

    I am single vet female.I need burial expense insurance.Please help.

  13. Tony November 24, 2022 at 14:24

    Cost too much!

  14. George L Robison November 24, 2022 at 13:15

    I’m 79 be 80 Jan 3rd
    Have someone call me. I have 10% VA Dis.

  15. PATRICK PETERMAN November 24, 2022 at 11:45

    IS THERE ANY MORTGAGE INSURANCE AVAILABLE FOR 100% SERVICE-CONNECTED VETERANS- I AM 74 AND REALIZE I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO PAY OFF MY VA HOME LOAN; I HAVE ATTEMPTED OVER THE YEARS TO APPLY FOR INSURANCE THROUGH THE PRIVATE- SECTOR; HOWEVER, DUE TO MY SERVICE CONNECTED DISABILITIES- I HAVE BEEN DENIED COVERAGE THE WHOLE LIFE PREMIUMS ARE WAY TOO EXPENSIVE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD; ANY ASSISTANCE, SUGGESTIONS, ADVICE GREATLY APPRECIATED; THANK YOU ALL, GOD BLESS US ALL!! PATRICK.J.PETERMAN

  16. John Cott November 24, 2022 at 09:06

    When can I stop making payments? After x years the plan is paid in full.

  17. Patrick Gorman November 24, 2022 at 08:01

    To clarify my previous email question, I’ve had VA insurance for 10 yrs now, is the 2 yr waiting period in effect with the new insurance. I would hope that it wouldn’t. Please clarify this. Thanks

    • Ron Sebastian November 29, 2022 at 20:33

      Buy Term, invest the rest. You keep control and get a better deal, both insurance and return.

  18. Patrick Gorman November 24, 2022 at 07:54

    If you currently have VA life insurance, is there still a 2 yr waiting period, if you decide to get the new insurance?

  19. Arthur Irving Sr November 24, 2022 at 07:39

    Are you freaking kidding me? These prices are ridiculous!! For me, the premiums would be over $400.00 per month. How is this going to be beneficial for a veteran? Get with the program. I always thought the VA was there to help a veteran, not to rob them of what they get for going overseas and risking their lives for over a year.

  20. Junior Peeks November 24, 2022 at 06:28

    So veterans 80 and over can’t get this? Seems to me if they are over 80 they are getting a more or less a “fck you “ if all my veterans can’t get it regardless of age then why was this even tabled to begin with

  21. Peter Madsen November 24, 2022 at 06:16

    Does the policy carry a cash value that can be redeemed or borrowed against? Many whole life policies have such a feature.

    thank you!

  22. RAYMOND FRALEY November 24, 2022 at 05:50

    SEVERAL YEARS AGO WE NOT UNDERSTANDINNG THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY GOT SUCKERED INTO A POLICY BY AGENT FOR BALTIMORE LIFE INS. COMPANY THAT DID NOT TURN OUT TO BE WHAT WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE IT WOULD BE, IT SEEMS IT WAS A RUSE CREATED BY INSURANCE PROVIDERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A ND CHEAT ONKNOWING GULLEBEL PEOPLE INTO BUY WHAT WE HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED MAY BE A WORTHLESS LIFE INS. POLICY, OTHER INSURANCE AGENTS HAVE OVER THE YEARS TRIED TO TRICK US INTO BUYING INTO THEIR PLANS BUT IN END IT SEEMS WE WOULD LOSE MORE THAN WE HAVE PUT INTO THE CURRENT LIFE PLAN WE HAVE, GOVT. SEEMS TO ALLOW SUCH CRIMINALLY TONED INSURANCE PLANNERS TO RIP OFF PEOPLE BY LETTING INSURANCE COMPANYS CUT CLIENTS OFF AFTER A CERTAIN AGE IS REACHED WITH CLIENTS GETTING NOTHING BACK AFTER YEARS OF PAYING PREMIUMS. SO HOW CAN US INSURANCE DUMMYS EVER GET SOME RETURNS ON WHAT WE PAY IN OTHER THAN CLOSE OUT EXISTING POLICYS AND PAY OUTRAGEOUS PENALTY FEES AND END UP WITH NO INSURANCE AFTER WE REACH A CERTAIN AGE, INSURANCE COMPANYS USE OUR MONEY TO GAIN HUGE PROFITS BUT IN THE END WE GET NOTHING. CAN I TRANSFER ANY MONEYS I MAY HAVE FROM BALITMORE LIFE INTO THE NE VA LIFE, I AM NOT CONCERNED ABOU A POLICY COVERING SPOUSE, WE HAVE PREPAID BURIAL EXPENSES, ALL REALLY WANT IS FOR MY WIFE TO GET SOMETHING IF I LEAVE LIFE B4 SHE DOES. I AM 100% FOR PTSD., WAS EXPOSSED TO AGENT ORANGE, BUT NOT GET ANYTHING FOR IT, WATCHED OLDER BROTHER DIE AT YOUNG AGE OF 63 FROM AGENT ORANGE, HE WAS A CAREER AMY WITH 23 YEARS ACTIVE DUTY.

  23. James Adams November 24, 2022 at 01:01

    This is totally bullsht

  24. Rosemary Blankenship November 24, 2022 at 00:56

    Can I enroll now….or do I need to wait until January 2023.. ?? also if I have a policy with someone else can I still apply for this insurance..?

  25. Robert Carleton November 23, 2022 at 23:51

    I’m 80. It looks like if I live for 6 more years (or so) I will have paid $20,000 into the program. If I die at that point, will there be any return of interest or payments in addition to the 20K face value of the policy? What if I continue to live? Will there be any return on my continued payments when I do die after 8 or 10 years or more?

  26. RUSSELL SHEPHERD November 23, 2022 at 23:24

    WHY DO YOU REFUSE TO GIVE THE COST…ANOTHER VA BENEFIT

  27. Jones November 23, 2022 at 20:15

    Those premiums are way to high my bank offers a free $1000 and for 100,000 it’s only $11.00 a month

    • Alonzo Green December 16, 2022 at 21:34

      I am interested in the VA life insurance! Send me an application as soon as possible!!

      Green.

      Please send me info on your insurance company! But it’s hard to get a insurance policy over 40.000$ with PTSD!

      Green

  28. Shawn Gray November 23, 2022 at 19:28

    i would like to know more about the va mortgage life insurance if someone could contact me

  29. William McCLure November 23, 2022 at 19:15

    no waiver of premiums on new plan—hmmmm–not even for 100% service connected Veterans–hmmmm—new insurance is a private insurance company offering to sell new plan to Veterans—great way to rip off Veterans disguised as great new plan—I like the part in this article that says –by law–meaning the crooked politicians did not think it was necessary to provide for Veterans—SOP under current policy Sec of VA—

  30. Labron Prescott November 23, 2022 at 18:59

    Yes I think it was unfair because I was not told or life insurance but I become 100% that I could get life insurance and I think it was unfair that I wasn’t even told about that I could get homeowners insurance through VA that is something I think it’s unfair it should be addressed

  31. George A. Welsh November 23, 2022 at 14:38

    I think this is the greatest new benefit that the Veterans Administration has offered to military personnel. Thank you so much!

  32. Eugene Whitley November 23, 2022 at 11:57

    If a veteran receiving SDVI with a “waiver of premium” gets $10,000.00 coverage, why can’t he get additional coverage ($20K, 30K, 40K), premium exempt? I mean if you couldn’t afford the $10K premium how can you afford the $20K, 30K, 40K premium? Seems discriminatory to me to be denied extra insurance because you can’t afford it. After all, our beneficiaries have just as much need after we pass-away as anyone else.
    Don’t get me wrong, I do appreciate the premium exempt for the $10k coverage.

  33. Henry M Dulsky November 23, 2022 at 04:49

    More information about life insurance

    • G November 23, 2022 at 19:21

      I agree with you Henry. It sounds crazy stupid for our service to/for the USA. It should be free for some veterans. I will just keep SDVI until it go away!! Retired Army Vet Roberts

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