United States Department of Veterans Affairs

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Insurance News & Announcements

Increase in the No-Health Period for VGLI applicants

VA has amended its regulations to increase the period in which Veterans may apply for VGLI without providing evidence of good health from 120 days to 240 days.

Who is affected by the change in the VGLI no-health period?

The change in the VGLI no-health period affects only Servicemembers who separate from service on or after November 1, 2012, as explained below.

If you separated before November 1, 2012…
You still have 120 days from separation to apply for VGLI without answering any health questions. After this period, you must answer health questions to obtain VGLI.

If you separated on or after November 1, 2012…
You have 240 days from separation to apply for VGLI without answering any health questions. After this period, you must answer health questions to obtain VGLI.

 

Does the increase in the VGLI no-health period change the total time period to apply for VGLI?

No. You still have a total of one year and 120 days in which to apply for VGLI.

Does the increase in the VGLI no-health period change the SGLI free coverage period?

No. Servicemembers with SGLI coverage still have 120 days of free coverage from their date of separation.

Does the increase in the VGLI no-health period have any effect on converting spousal coverage or separating Servicemembers’ coverage to a permanent plan with a private insurance company?

No. A spouse or separating Servicemember still has 120 days after separation to convert coverage to a permanent plan with one of the SGLI Program’s participating companies.

Does the increase in the VGLI no-health period affect how long I have to increase coverage within the VGLI application period without answering any health questions?

Yes. Servicemembers have 240 days from the date of separation to increase VGLI coverage up to the amount of SGLI at separation without answering health questions.

For example: John Jones separated from the service on November 1, 2012, with $400,000 of SGLI and applied on November 15, 2012, for only $200,000 in VGLI. A few months later, John wants to increase his VGLI coverage from $200,000 to $400,000.

John Jones would have until May 29, 2013 (240 days from November 1, 2012) to apply for an additional $200,000 of VGLI (for a total of $400,000) without answering any health questions. From May 28, 2013 until the end of his 1 year and 120 day VGLI application period, John would have to answer health questions in order to be approved for VGLI.

If John Jones does not apply for additional VGLI during the 1 year and 120 day application period, he will still be eligible to obtain additional VGLI insurance every 5 years.

Applying for VGLI is simple using one of the following methods:

Losses to the Genitourinary System Now Covered by SGLI Traumatic Injury Protection

VA has amended its regulations to add certain genitourinary injuries to the Schedule of Covered Losses under the Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection Program, or TSGLI. Genitourinary injuries are injuries of or to the genitals or the urinary system. Payments for covered genitourinary losses range from $25,000 to $50,000 and are retroactive to October 7, 2001. The new losses added to the TSGLI Schedule of Losses include the following: anatomical loss of penis, permanent loss of use of the penis, anatomical loss of one or both testicles, permanent loss of use of both testicles, anatomical loss of the vulva, uterus or vaginal canal, permanent loss of use of the vulva or vaginal canal, anatomical loss of one or both ovaries, permanent loss of use of both ovaries, and total and permanent loss of urinary system function.