Leaving the Service

We can help you make a smooth transition to civilian life.

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You’ll probably need life insurance coverage.

When leaving active duty service, servicemembers lose access to their SGLI coverage. Fortunately, there are life insurance options available to veterans and retirees. A veteran can choose to convert their SGLI policy to a commercial whole life policy through select companies, or they can elect to participate in Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI). Neither of these options require any medical underwriting if obtained within specific time periods after leaving active duty. Veterans also have access to VALife, a whole life product, if they have a disability rating.

We encourage you to explore your options.

SGLI coverage remains in effect until 120 days after a servicemember separates from service. From there, a servicemember has multiple options:

1. Convert their SGLI coverage to a specific commercial life insurance policy within 120 days of separation without having to provide proof of good health. Spouses are also eligible to convert their coverage provided they were covered by FSGLI, though children are not.
2. Convert their SGLI coverage to Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) coverage within one year and 120 days of discharge. If the veteran wishes to avoid providing proof of good health, they must apply within 240 days of separation. Note that VGLI does not provide coverage to spouses or children, and premiums increase every five years.
3. Explore VALife, the VA’s final expense life insurance product. VALife is permanent life insurance offered to all veterans under 80 years old who have a disability rating. It provides up to $40,000 of guaranteed whole life insurance coverage to all eligible veterans who enroll, with no proof of good health required. Coverage becomes effective two years after enrollment and lasts for the duration of a veteran’s life.
4. Consider Navy Mutual’s life insurance options for the service community. In addition to our term and permanent life insurance options, we offer recently separated servicemembers and their families a permanent life insurance alternative to VGLI without requiring a medical exam. Servicemembers who have been separated from the military for 120 days or less and were covered by SGLI are eligible for up to $500,000 of Flagship Whole Life coverage. Furthermore, provided they were covered by FSGLI, spouses are eligible for up to $100,000 of Flagship Whole Life Coverage, and children under 21 years of age are eligible for a $25,000 Child Benefit Rider.