Types of VA Life Insurance
Veterans with mesothelioma can get VA life insurance through Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI), Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) or Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife). Your eligibility depends on your service status and whether you have a service-connected disability rating.
These are life insurance programs that pay out to your named beneficiaries when you die or, in some cases, partially while you’re still living. They’re separate from VA disability compensation, which pays monthly benefits to living veterans.
Servicemembers and their families may also qualify for Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance. This covers spouses and dependent children of SGLI-enrolled members.
VA Life Insurance Programs at a Glance
| Program | Who It’s For | Max Coverage | Medical Exam? |
| SGLI | Active-duty members and certain reservists | Up to $500,000 | No (automatic enrollment) |
| VGLI | Veterans converting from SGLI after separation | Up to SGLI amount held at separation | No, if you apply within the deadline |
| VALife | Veterans with a service-connected disability rating | Up to $40,000 (whole life) | No (guaranteed acceptance) |
Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance
Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance is low-cost group term life insurance for active-duty servicemembers. Most members are automatically enrolled at the maximum coverage amount of $500,000 unless they choose a lower amount or decline coverage entirely.
Coverage continues at no cost for 120 days after separation. Then, it expires unless you convert to VGLI. If you’re still serving and have a mesothelioma diagnosis, you likely already have SGLI coverage in place.
Veterans’ Group Life Insurance
Veterans’ Group Life Insurance lets veterans convert their SGLI coverage into renewable term life insurance after separation. It’s one of the most important steps a veteran can take after leaving service, especially if they later receive a serious diagnosis like mesothelioma.
The conversion deadline matters. You have 1 year and 120 days from the date of separation to apply. If you apply within 240 days, you don’t need to prove good health.
After 240 days, you’ll need to submit evidence of good health, which can be a problem for veterans already dealing with an asbestos-related illness. VGLI premiums increase with age.
Veterans Affairs Life Insurance
Veterans Affairs Life Insurance is a guaranteed-acceptance whole life insurance program for veterans with any service-connected disability rating. There are no medical exams or health questions. The VA often assigns veterans with mesothelioma a 100% service-connected rating. This makes them eligible for VALife even when private insurers won’t cover them. Coverage goes up to $40,000.
There is a 2-year waiting period before the VA pays the full death benefit. If a veteran enrolls and dies during that period, beneficiaries receive the premiums the veteran paid plus interest instead of the full $40,000.
For veterans already facing a terminal diagnosis, an existing SGLI or VGLI policy paired with the Accelerated Benefits Option (ABO) may be more useful than enrolling in a new VALife policy.
On January 1, 2023, VALife replaced Service-Disabled Veterans Insurance. S-DVI no longer accepts new applicants. Veterans with an existing S-DVI policy keep their coverage.
How Terminally Ill Veterans Can Access Life Insurance Early
Veterans with mesothelioma who have SGLI or VGLI can access the ABO to receive part of their payout while they are still alive. This money can help cover treatment costs, travel to a specialist or everyday expenses for the veteran’s family.
How It Works
- A physician certifies your terminal diagnosis with a prognosis of 9 months or less.
- You request an accelerated benefit through your SGLI or VGLI administrator.
- You receive up to 50% of your coverage in $5,000 increments as a lump sum.
- Your beneficiaries receive the remaining balance after your death.
To qualify, a doctor must certify that you have a life expectancy of 9 months or less. You can receive up to 50% of your coverage amount, paid out in $5,000 increments as a lump sum. The remaining balance still goes to your beneficiaries after you pass.
The ABO only applies to SGLI and VGLI. It doesn’t apply to VALife. Other financial assistance options may also be available to veterans with mesothelioma.
How VA Life Insurance Differs From Disability Compensation and DIC
VA life insurance, disability compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) are separate programs that serve different purposes. Many families qualify for more than one. Understanding the differences can help you make sure you’re getting everything you’ve earned.
VA life insurance covers SGLI, VGLI and VALife. These are insurance policies that pay out to your named beneficiaries when you die. If you have SGLI or VGLI and a terminal diagnosis, you may also access part of that payout early through the ABO.
VA disability compensation provides a separate monthly, tax-free payment to living veterans for a service-connected condition like mesothelioma. This benefit does not pay out to beneficiaries. The VA often rates veterans with mesothelioma as 100% service-connected, which affects the amount they receive.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is a monthly benefit paid to a surviving spouse or dependents after a veteran dies from a service-connected condition. It’s not tied to any insurance policy. A family can receive DIC in addition to a life insurance payout. If the VA denies your claim, you have the right to appeal. Each of these benefits has its own eligibility rules and application process. A VA-accredited advocate can help you determine which apply to your situation.
Filing a Life Insurance Claim
Keeping your beneficiary designations current is one of the most important things you can do for your family. SGLI, VGLI and VALife pay out to whoever you name on file with the VA, not automatically to your next of kin. If your designations are outdated or missing, your family may face delays or complications when filing a claim.
When a covered veteran dies, the named beneficiary files a claim with the VA or its administrator to receive the payout. For SGLI and VGLI, that administrator is Prudential. For VALife, claims go directly to the VA.
Beneficiaries can reach out to our Veterans Department for help locating coverage and navigating the claims process.
How Our Veterans Department Helps Veterans With Mesothelioma
The Mesothelioma Center’s Veterans Department is staffed by VA-accredited advocates who help veterans understand and access every benefit they’ve earned. This includes life insurance, disability compensation and survivor benefits. Our team helps at no cost to veterans or their families.
The process starts with understanding your exposure history. As Aaron Munz, Director of Veterans Department and VA-accredited Claims Agent at The Mesothelioma Center, explains: “We help veterans understand their exposure to asbestos, how to connect with the right doctors to get an accurate diagnosis and how to develop the medical evidence to support their claim with the VA.”
From there, our team can help you navigate life insurance options, file or appeal a VA claim and connect with specialists who understand how the VA handles asbestos-related illness. Veterans and their families can get hands-on help from people who understand the process.
We can help you or a loved one file asbestos-related VA claims and access potential benefits.
Get Help NowCommon Questions About VA Life Insurance for Veterans
- Can a veteran with mesothelioma still get VA life insurance?
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Yes, through VALife. VALife offers guaranteed acceptance to any veteran with a service-connected disability rating, including mesothelioma. There’s no medical exam and no health questions.
VALife has a 2-year wait period before it pays the full death benefit. For veterans already facing a terminal diagnosis, pairing an existing SGLI or VGLI policy with the ABO may be more useful.
- What happens to my SGLI when I leave the military?
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SGLI coverage ends 120 days after separation. You can convert it to VGLI to keep your coverage. If you apply within 240 days of separation, you won’t need to prove good health. After that window, a health review applies. This can be a problem for veterans already dealing with an asbestos-related illness.
- Can a terminally ill veteran collect life insurance before death?
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Yes, in part. Veterans with SGLI or VGLI and a terminal prognosis can use the ABO to receive up to 50% of their coverage early. A doctor must certify a life expectancy of 9 months or less to qualify.
- Is VA life insurance free for disabled veterans?
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VALife isn’t free, but it’s affordable and guaranteed. Your age at enrollment and the coverage amount you choose determine your premiums. They never increase after that. The VA guarantees acceptance for any veteran with a service-connected disability rating, regardless of health status.
- Who receives the life insurance payout when a veteran dies?
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Whoever is named as beneficiary on file with the VA receives the payout. SGLI, VGLI and VALife don’t automatically pay a spouse or next of kin. Keeping your beneficiary designations current is essential. The named beneficiary files a claim to receive the benefit.
- What’s the difference between VA life insurance and DIC?
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They’re separate benefits. VA life insurance pays your named beneficiary from a policy you hold. DIC is a monthly VA survivor benefit paid when a veteran dies of a service-connected condition. A family may qualify for both.
