SGLI to VGLI Conversion Explained

Your SGLI cover ends when you leave. Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) is how you keep life cover afterwards, for as long as you pay the premiums.

There are two deadlines, and the difference between them is the whole point of this page:

  • Within 240 days of leaving, you can convert without answering any health questions. Your health is simply not assessed.
  • Within 1 year and 120 days, you can still apply — but you will need to prove you are in good health.

That gap is where the consequence sits. If something has been diagnosed since you separated, the 240-day window may be the only one you can actually pass through. Missing it does not just mean paperwork; it can mean cover you are no longer able to get.

Coverage runs from $10,000 to $500,000, in line with what you held under SGLI. You can increase it by $25,000 one year after enrolling and then every five years, up to age 60.

Who is eligible?

Anyone leaving the military who held SGLI can convert to VGLI, subject to the deadlines above.

The 240-day route asks nothing about your health. The later route does, and that is the difference worth planning around — a condition diagnosed in your first year out can make the difference between cover and no cover.

It's worth being clear that VGLI is term insurance with premiums that rise with age. It is not always the cheapest option for someone in good health, and comparing it against commercial term cover is a reasonable thing to do — but do that comparison inside the 240-day window, so the no-health-questions route is still open if the commercial quotes come back badly.

How do I apply?

  • Diarise 240 days from your separation date, now: This is the single most consequential date in this section, and it is easy to lose in the first months out.
  • Apply through the VA: At va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/vgli.
  • Compare against commercial cover early, not late: If you are in good health, term cover may be cheaper. Do the comparison while the no-questions window is still open.
  • Decide your coverage amount deliberately: Between $10,000 and $500,000. It is easier to hold a level you can afford than to increase later.
  • Note the increase schedule: You can add $25,000 one year in, then every five years, until 60.
  • Do not rely on the outer deadline: 1 year and 120 days requires proving good health. It is a fallback, not a plan.

Common questions

How long do you have to convert SGLI to VGLI?

240 days from leaving the military with no health questions asked, or up to 1 year and 120 days if you can prove you are in good health.

What happens if you miss the 240-day window?

You can still apply within 1 year and 120 days, but you will have to prove good health — which can mean cover is unavailable if something has been diagnosed since you separated.

How much VGLI coverage can you get?

Between $10,000 and $500,000, in line with your SGLI level. You can add $25,000 a year after enrolling and then every five years, until age 60.

Is VGLI the cheapest option?

Not necessarily. It is term cover with premiums that rise with age, so commercial term cover may be cheaper if you are in good health — but compare inside the 240-day window while the no-questions route is still open.

Does SGLI continue after you separate?

No. It ends with your service, which is what VGLI exists to replace.

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