SGLI may be converted to renewable five-year term coverage known as VGLI (Veterans' Group Life Insurance). The following is a summary of VGLI:
Veterans Group Life Insurance
VGLI is a life insurance program which allows servicemembers to convert their SGLI coverage to renewable term insurance. Members with full-time SGLI coverage are eligible for VGLI upon release from service. VGLI, like SGLI, is overseen by the Department of Veterans Affairs, but is administered by the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.
Coverage Amounts
VGLI coverage is issued in multiples of $10,000 up to a maximum of $400,000. However, a servicemember's VGLI coverage amount cannot exceed the amount of SGLI they had in force at the time of separation from service.
Eligibility For VGLI
Full-time coverage is available for the following members:
- A SGLI insured servicemember who is being released from active duty or active duty for training under a call or order to duty that does not specify a period of less than 31 days, or
- A member of the Ready Reserves insured under SGLI who is being separated or released from drilling assignment, or
- A member assigned to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) or to the Inactive National Guard (ING) of a branch of service, or
- A member of the Public Health Service (PHS) or Inactive Reserve Corps (IRC), or
- A member who had part-time SGLI and who, while performing duty (or traveling directly to or from duty), suffered an injury or disability which renders him/her uninsurable at standard premium rates.
How To Apply For VGLI
Within approximately 45 to 60 days following your separation from service, you should receive an application from OSGLI.
You have one year and 120 days from your date of separation from service to apply for VGLI. After this, you are no longer eligible for VGLI. There are different criteria for applying within 120 days from your date of separation or after 120 days from your date of separation as noted below:
If you submit a VGLI application within 120 days following separation from service, please submit the application along with the first month's premium. You do not need to provide evidence of good health.
If you submit a VGLI application between 120 days and one year and 120 days after separation from service you need to provide proof of good health and enclose the first month's premium with your application.
Note: Your application may be disapproved if you are not in good health.
If you do not receive an application from OSGLI in the mail, you may apply for VGLI using a form SGLV 8714, Application for VGLI. If you use this form, you need to enclose a copy of your DD 214 or other equivalent proof of service.
Time Limits To Apply For VGLI
To be eligible, a member must apply for VGLI within the following time limits:
- Ordinarily, a member must submit an application to the OSGLI with the required premium within 120 days following separation from service.
- If a member is totally disabled at the time of separation from active duty and is granted extended free SGLI coverage, he or she may apply for VGLI anytime during the one year period of extension.
- Individuals who are assigned to the IRR and ING have 120 days after assignment to apply, without evidence of good health, and one year after that with evidence of good health.
- If an application or the initial premium has not been submitted within the time limits above, VGLI may still be granted if an application, the initial premium and evidence of insurability (good health) are submitted to OSGLI within 1 year and 120 days following separation from service. Applications will not be accepted after one year and 120 days.
- An application for an incompetent member may be made by a guardian, committee, conservator or curator. In the absence of a court appointed representative, the application may be submitted by a family member or anyone acting on the member's behalf.
Payment Of Premiums
Once your VGLI application is approved, the OSGLI will send you (the insured) a certificate of coverage and you will begin receiving bills on a monthly basis (unless you are a retiree and choose to have the premium payments taken directly from your retirement pay).
There are several options available for the payment of premiums. For some of these options the insured may benefit from a discount of premiums. Visit the VGLI website to get the latest premium and rate information.
Follow this link for information on contacting the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.