Veterans Life Insurance Calculator (2026): SGLI, VGLI & How Much Coverage You Need
If you’re serving in the military or recently separated, you already have one of the best life insurance deals in America: Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) costs just 5 cents per $1,000 of coverage per month — about $26/month total for the maximum $500,000, including the $1 Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI) premium. After separation, Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI) lets you keep up to $500,000 of coverage with no medical exam if you apply within 240 days.
But here’s the question most veterans never get a straight answer to: is that VA coverage actually enough — and is it the cheapest option? This calculator compares your SGLI or VGLI premium against a civilian term life policy for the same coverage, then runs your family’s numbers through a survivor-needs model that credits the tax-free VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) your spouse and children would receive — something most insurance calculators completely ignore.
SGLI rate: $0.05 per $1,000/month + $1 TSGLI (va.gov, 2026). VGLI rates by age bracket, effective July 1, 2025 (va.gov).
How the Veterans Life Insurance Calculator Works
This tool combines three calculations in one page, so you can see your full picture without jumping between websites:
- Choose your service status. Active-duty members are priced on SGLI (a flat $0.05 per $1,000 plus $1 TSGLI). Veterans are priced on VGLI, whose rates step up in five-year age brackets.
- Set your age and coverage amount. SGLI and VGLI both cap at $500,000, which is the VA maximum for both programs.
- Tab 1 shows your exact VA premium — monthly, annual, and 20-year totals, plus your effective rate per $1,000.
- Tab 2 compares that against a civilian term policy using your health class, tobacco status, gender, and preferred term length.
- Tab 3 runs your family’s survivor needs — income replacement, mortgage, debts, college, and final expenses.
- The DIC credit is applied automatically. If your spouse would receive VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, the tool subtracts the tax-free benefit stream from your coverage need.
- Read the gap verdict. You’ll see exactly how much coverage your current SGLI/VGLI leaves uncovered — and what filling that gap costs per month.
SGLI vs. VGLI vs. Civilian Term: What’s the Difference?
The table below lays out how the three coverage routes compare. The headline numbers use a 30-year-old at the $500,000 maximum — the most common configuration for a young service member or recently separated veteran.
| Feature | SGLI (Active Duty) | VGLI (Veteran) | Civilian Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Active-duty, Reserve, National Guard | Veterans within 1 yr + 120 days of separation | Anyone who passes underwriting |
| Maximum coverage | $500,000 | $500,000 | $2 million+ |
| Medical exam required | No | No (if applied within 240 days) | Usually yes |
| Rate basis | Flat: $0.05/$1K + $1 TSGLI | Age bracket, rises every 5 years | Locked for the whole term |
| Monthly cost at 30, $500K | $26.00 | $40.00 | $105.00 (Preferred, 20-yr) |
| Renewability | Ends at separation (120 days free) | Renewable for life | Until term ends |
| Convertible? | To VGLI or individual policy | To permanent policy, no health proof | Usually convertible |
| Best for | Everyone while serving | Veterans who want guaranteed coverage | Healthy veterans wanting lower long-term cost |
2026 VGLI Rates by Age (Official VA Table)
VGLI premiums are set by the VA and adjusted periodically — these rates took effect July 1, 2025 and are the current 2026 rates. Notice how the per-$1,000 cost roughly doubles every decade. That’s why a 30-year term policy bought while you’re young can beat VGLI over 20+ years.
| Age Bracket | Rate per $1K / month | $250,000 / month | $500,000 / month | $500,000 / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 and younger | $0.06 | $15.00 | $30.00 | $360 |
| 30–34 | $0.08 | $20.00 | $40.00 | $480 |
| 35–39 | $0.10 | $25.00 | $50.00 | $600 |
| 40–44 | $0.14 | $35.00 | $70.00 | $840 |
| 45–49 | $0.19 | $47.50 | $95.00 | $1,140 |
| 50–54 | $0.29 | $72.50 | $145.00 | $1,740 |
| 55–59 | $0.50 | $125.00 | $250.00 | $3,000 |
| 60–64 | $0.85 | $212.50 | $425.00 | $5,100 |
| 65–69 | $1.38 | $345.00 | $690.00 | $8,280 |
| 70–74 | $2.15 | $537.50 | $1,075.00 | $12,900 |
| 75–79 | $3.85 | $962.50 | $1,925.00 | $23,100 |
| 80 and older | $4.40 | $1,100.00 | $2,200.00 | $26,400 |
VA DIC Changes the Whole Math
Most life insurance calculators tell a veteran “you need 10–15× your income,” then hand you a terrifying number. They ignore the fact that your family has a second safety net most civilians don’t: VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. In 2026, a surviving spouse receives $1,699.36/month tax-free, plus $421.00/month for each child under 18 — the rates were updated effective December 1, 2025. That’s $20,392/year for a spouse alone, or $30,497/year for a spouse with two kids.
Over a 15-year income-replacement horizon, a spouse with two children would receive roughly $457,000 in tax-free DIC payments — money that directly reduces how much life insurance you need to buy. DIC is available when a service member dies on active duty or a veteran dies of a service-connected condition. An 8-year total-disability provision adds $360.85/month, and since 2023 the old SBP-DIC offset is fully gone, so survivors keep 100% of any military Survivor Benefit Plan annuity too.
VA Life Insurance Programs at a Glance
Beyond SGLI and VGLI, the VA offers several other programs worth knowing about:
- FSGLI — Family Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance covers a spouse up to $100,000 and each dependent child up to $10,000; spouse premiums are age-based.
- TSGLI — Traumatic Injury Protection pays up to $100,000 for severe injuries; the $1/month premium is bundled into SGLI.
- VALife — Guaranteed-acceptance whole life up to $40,000 for veterans with service-connected disabilities; no medical exam, with a 2-year graded benefit period.
- S-DVI — Older Service-Disabled Veterans’ Life Insurance program, largely replaced by VALife for new applicants.
- VMLI — Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance pays off a specially adapted home mortgage, up to $200,000, for severely disabled veterans.
- 120-day free SGLI extension — Automatic no-cost coverage after separation; extends to 2 years free if you’re totally disabled at discharge.
Real-World Survivor Scenarios
These five scenarios run the calculator’s model with typical military profiles. Coverage recommendations are rounded to the nearest $10,000 and assume DIC is received at 2026 rates.
| Scenario | Profile | DIC / month | Coverage need | Recommended coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E-4 active duty, 2 kids | $48K income, 15 yrs, $240K mortgage, $50K college each | $2,541 | $1,090,000 | $630,000 |
| O-3 officer, 1 kid | $110K income, 20 yrs, $420K mortgage, $80K college | $2,120 | $2,745,000 | $2,240,000 |
| Retired E-7, no minor kids | $75K income, 10 yrs, $180K mortgage, small debts | $1,699 | $955,000 | $750,000 |
| Disabled veteran (VALife), single | $40K income, 5 yrs, $100K mortgage, no dependents | — | $320,000 | $180,000 |
| National Guard, 3 kids | $65K civilian income, 15 yrs, $260K mortgage, $60K college each | $2,962 | $1,455,000 | $920,000 |
Common Mistakes Veterans Make
- Assuming $500,000 is “enough.” With a $60K income, a mortgage, and two kids, your real need can exceed $700,000 after DIC — let alone without it.
- Letting VGLI lapse. Reinstatement after the 1-year + 120-day window is far harder, and you lose guaranteed-issue eligibility forever.
- Not shopping civilian term before separation. Your health while on active duty is often the best it will ever be — lock in Preferred rates before any conditions develop.
- Ignoring DIC in the math. Buying 15× income when DIC covers a third of it means overpaying for coverage you don’t need.
- Forgetting the 120-day clock. You have 120 days of free SGLI after discharge and 240 days to apply for VGLI without health questions — mark the calendar.
Tips to Maximize Your Coverage
- Keep VGLI as your guaranteed floor. Even if civilian term is cheaper today, VGLI is the only coverage that renews regardless of what happens to your health.
- Buy civilian term while young and healthy. A 20-year level term at age 25–30 locks in rates that beat every VGLI bracket until your 60s.
- Ladder your policies. A 10-year policy covering your mortgage plus a 20-year policy covering income replacement can cost less than one 20-year policy for the full amount.
- Add FSGLI for your spouse. Up to $100,000 of spouse coverage with no underwriting is a deal most civilians can’t match.
- Re-run this calculator every PHA and every PCS. Marriage, kids, and mortgage changes should trigger a coverage review.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much life insurance do veterans get through the VA?
Active-duty members get SGLI up to $500,000 in $50,000 increments. After separation, veterans can convert to VGLI for the same amount — up to $500,000 — without a medical exam if they apply within 240 days. Veterans with service-connected disabilities can also get up to $40,000 of VALife whole life coverage.
Is VGLI cheaper than civilian term life insurance?
It depends on your age and health. Under 30, VGLI costs $0.06 per $1,000 ($30/month for $500K) — cheaper than most civilian quotes. By age 45–49 the rate jumps to $0.19 per $1,000 ($95/month), and a healthy civilian applicant at the same age might pay less for a 20-year level term. Use Tab 2 of this calculator to compare your exact numbers.
How long can I keep my SGLI after leaving the military?
Your SGLI coverage continues free for 120 days after separation. If you’re totally disabled at discharge, the free extension can last up to 2 years. You must apply for VGLI within 1 year and 120 days of separation to convert without losing coverage; applying within the first 240 days waives the health questions.
Can I convert VGLI to a civilian policy?
Yes. VGLI policyholders can convert to a permanent individual policy (whole life) at standard rates without proof of good health, through a list of participating insurers. You cannot convert to a term or universal policy — the conversion product must be permanent coverage.
How does VA DIC affect how much life insurance I need?
DIC is a tax-free monthly survivor benefit: $1,699.36 for a spouse plus $421 per child under 18 in 2026. Because it replaces part of your income, it reduces the life insurance you need to buy. For a spouse with two kids over 15 years, DIC is worth roughly $457,000 — this calculator subtracts that amount from your coverage need automatically.
What is VALife and who qualifies?
VALife is guaranteed-acceptance whole life insurance up to $40,000 for veterans with any service-connected disability rating. There’s no medical exam and premiums never increase with age, but the full death benefit only applies after a 2-year graded period. It replaces the older S-DVI program for new applicants.
Can veterans with health problems get life insurance?
Yes — VGLI is guaranteed-issue if you apply within 240 days of separation, regardless of health, and it renews for life. That’s the most valuable protection for veterans with conditions like PTSD, TBI, or diabetes. Civilian policies are also available through simplified-issue or guaranteed-issue products, though at higher rates. See our guide to life insurance for veterans for the full rundown.
Related Resources
Continue your research with these related guides and tools:
- Life Insurance for Veterans in 2026: Smart Strategies, VA Benefits & Costs
- DIME Life Insurance Needs Calculator (2026) — the standard needs model without the DIC credit
- Social Security Survivor Benefits Calculator (2026) — the civilian equivalent of this tool
- Mortgage Protection Life Insurance Calculator (2026)
- Life Insurance Cost of Waiting Calculator (2026) — see what delaying costs you
External references: VA Life Insurance Options & Eligibility · VA DIC Survivor Rates (2026) · NAIC Consumer Resources · AM Best Insurance Ratings
