Veterans Life Insurance Coverage Built for Those Who Served
Veterans have unique insurance options — some through the VA, some through private carriers. We help you understand exactly what you have, what it costs over time, and whether there's a better fit for where you are now.
No medical exam required. Coverage available up to age 85.
What the VA Provides for Burial
The VA burial allowance is a one-time benefit that helps cover funeral, burial, and plot costs for eligible veterans. As of October 1, 2025, the VA pays up to $1,002 for burial expenses and an additional $1,002 for the plot if the veteran is not buried in a national cemetery.
For service-connected deaths, the allowance increases to up to $2,000. The VA may also reimburse transportation costs to the final resting place.
Here's the reality: the average funeral in our coverage states costs between $8,000 and $12,000. The VA burial benefit covers a fraction of that — which means most veterans' families are still left with thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs. That's exactly the gap that veterans life insurance is designed to fill.
The Two VA Life Insurance Programs
The VA offers two life insurance programs specifically for veterans. Here's an honest look at both — what they offer and what they don't.
VGLI
Veterans' Group Life Insurance
- Term life insurance — coverage for a set period, not your whole life
- Limited living benefits — terminal illness benefit available, but no accelerated benefit for chronic or critical illness
- Premiums increase every 5 years as you age — significantly more expensive over time
- No cash value — you pay premiums but build nothing
- Coverage up to $500,000
- No health exam if applied within 240 days of separation
- Must apply within 1 year and 120 days of leaving service
VALife
Veterans Affairs Life Insurance
- Whole life insurance — covers you for your entire life as long as premiums are paid
- Premiums never increase — locked in at the rate you start with
- Builds cash value over time
- 2-year waiting period — if you pass away in the first 2 years only premiums plus interest are returned, not the full death benefit
- Only eligible up to age 80
- No living benefits — death benefit pays to your beneficiary only, nothing accessible while living
- Available only to veterans with service-connected disabilities
Private Life Insurance for Veterans — No Waiting. No Exam.
Private life insurance for veterans fills the gaps that VA programs leave behind. Whether VGLI's rising premiums no longer make sense for your budget, or VALife's 2-year waiting period concerns you, private coverage offers a straightforward alternative.
Joe and Denise work with private carriers that offer veterans specialized final expense and burial coverage — designed specifically for where most veterans are in life.
Your full death benefit is in force from day one — not after a 2-year delay.
Most veterans qualify with a few health questions — no doctor's visit, no blood draw.
Unlike VALife which closes at 80, private coverage is available to veterans up to age 85.
Unlike VGLI, your rate is locked in from day one and never goes up as you age.
Permanent whole life coverage that grows cash value over time, unlike term-based VGLI.
If you're diagnosed with a terminal illness, you can access up to 50% of your death benefit while still living — to cover medical bills, final expenses, or anything else you need.
How Your Options Compare
Every veteran's situation is different. This table gives you an honest starting point.
| VGLI | VALife | Private Coverage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Policy Type | Term | Whole Life | Whole Life |
| Premiums | Increase every 5 years | Fixed for life | Fixed for life |
| Waiting Period | None | 2 years | None |
| Cash Value | No | Yes | Yes |
| Medical Exam | No (within 240 days) | No | No |
| Max Age | No limit | Age 80 | Age 85 |
| Death Benefit | Up to $500,000 | Up to $40,000 | Varies by carrier |
| Living Benefits | Terminal illness only | No | Yes — up to 50% |
Sources: VA.gov VGLI · VA.gov VALife. Private coverage terms vary by carrier and applicant health profile. Speak with Joe or Denise for a personalized comparison.