VA offers high-quality life insurance programs, but eligibility windows are brief. Veterans need to know the deadlines so they don’t miss out on these benefits.
To keep Veterans in the know, VA and Blue Star Families recently teamed up for an #ExploreVA Facebook Live event. Kristan Hoffman, insurance specialist for VA Insurance Center, and Amse Heck, D.C. Blue Star Families’ regional director provided participants with information about benefit options, eligibility requirements and critical enrollment deadlines.
Some deadlines Veterans need to know are:
• Within 120 days of separation – Spouses must apply to convert their spousal coverage under the Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance program to a participating company.
• Within 240 days of separation – No health questions are asked if you apply for VGLI and were previously covered by Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance.
• Within 1 year and 120 days of separation – Apply for Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI).
“It’s important to take action quickly because during certain periods VA does not perform health reviews,” Hoffman says. “In applying for life insurance, many insurance companies will look at your health to determine whether or not to approve you.” She explained that injuries or medical conditions resulting from service can make securing private life insurance difficult, or even impossible, for some Veterans.
VA representatives responded to questions following the conversation. They directed Veterans to resources, such as Explore.VA.gov to learn more about life insurance programs and how to apply.
If you missed this event, check out some highlights below.
Many participants were curious about eligibility criteria relating to service-connected disability ratings.
Others wanted to know why they should choose VA life insurance over private companies.
Some wanted to know more about the cost of VA life insurance.
There was also interest in the deadlines.
And Veterans wanted to know where to go to start the process.
Thank you to all Veterans, service members and their supporters who participated in the event. Stay tuned to the ExploreVA events page for information about upcoming events.
For more details about VA benefits and how to apply, visit Explore.VA.gov. Watch the full video below or visit Blue Star Families’ Facebook page.
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When transferring SGLI to VGLI I understood that the benefit was that there are no exams or paperwork involved. It says so in the article. OSGLI is basically asking for a physical via an Attending Physicians Statement due to answers to questions on my survey. They cancelled my application that I pursued well within 240 days of separation stating I needed this documentation. I did not realize this until I went to double check all was in order and found that it was cancelled. Now I am scrambling to get my application done within said windows. Something isn’t right here. Is it no exam or paperwork…or do survey questions answered as I was told on the phone prompt it anyway?