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Direct answer: SGLI costs 5 cents per $1,000 a month plus $1 for TSGLI, so the $500,000 maximum is $26.00 a month at any age. After you leave the military, VGLI can keep that coverage; its price depends only on age: $500,000 is $30.00 a month at 29 or younger and $95.00 at 45 to 49.
By the numbers: The current basic SGLI premium rate is 5 cents per $1,000 of insurance coverage. The premium includes an additional $1 per month for Traumatic Injury Protection coverage (TSGLI). Source: VA: SGLI (updated Oct. 14, 2026)
“You can apply for VGLI within 240 days of leaving the military without a health review.” — VA: Veterans' Group Life Insurance (updated Oct. 13, 2026)
Updated 2026-10-17
5 cents per $1,000 of coverage a month plus $1 for TSGLI, taken from base pay: $26.00 a month for the $500,000 maximum, $13.50 for $250,000, $3.50 for $50,000. Coverage comes in $50,000 steps and the price doesn't change with age (VA SGLI page, updated Oct. 14, 2026).
It depends only on your age band and amount (VA rates as of July 1, 2025). For $500,000: $30.00 a month at 29 or younger, $40.00 at 30-34, $50.00 at 35-39, $70.00 at 40-44, $95.00 at 45-49, $145.00 at 50-54, $250.00 at 55-59, $425.00 at 60-64, $690.00 at 65-69, $1,075.00 at 70-74, $1,925.00 at 75-79 and $2,200.00 at 80 or older.
VA says eligible VGLI members pay no premiums for November 2026, December 2026 and January 2027, and coverage continues. Your VGLI must be active on Nov. 1, 2026; it's applied automatically. New members still pay their first month. If you pay through your bank's bill pay, stop it for Nov. 1, 2026 and restart Feb. 1, 2027. It doesn't apply to SGLI, FSGLI, TSGLI, VALife or S-DVI.
1 year and 120 days from your release. Apply within 240 days and there's no health review; after that you must show you're in good health. SGLI stays free for 120 days after you leave, so the earliest VGLI start is the 121st day (VA).
Up to $100,000, never more than the member's SGLI. Monthly cost for $100,000 by spouse age: $4.00 under 35, $4.70 at 35-39, $6.20 at 40-44, $8.50 at 45-49, $13.50 at 50-54, $23.00 at 55-59, $40.00 at 60 or older. Each dependent child is covered for $10,000 free (VA FSGLI page).
$25,000 to $100,000 for a qualifying traumatic injury, depending on the loss (38 U.S.C. 1980A). You must survive 7 full days and have the scheduled loss within 2 years of the injury. It costs $1 a month inside your SGLI premium (VA TSGLI page).
Yes, if you have less than $500,000: by $25,000 one year after you get VGLI and every 5 years after that, until you're 60, with no health questions (VA VGLI page; 38 U.S.C. 1977). You must elect it; it isn't automatic.
As of Oct. 17, 2026 · VA life insurance pages · 38 U.S.C. chapter 19
SGLI is $26.00 a month for the $500,000 maximum at any age; VGLI keeps coverage after you leave, priced by age. The VGLI deadline is 1 year and 120 days after separation, and only the first 240 days skip the health questions. VGLI members whose coverage is active Nov. 1, 2026 pay nothing for Nov. 2026 to Jan. 2027.
The math:
Sources: VA SGLI page · VA VGLI page · VA premium holiday FAQs
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| Coverage | SGLI | TSGLI | Total a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| $500,000 | $25.00 | $1.00 | $26.00 |
| $450,000 | $22.50 | $1.00 | $23.50 |
| $400,000 | $20.00 | $1.00 | $21.00 |
| $350,000 | $17.50 | $1.00 | $18.50 |
| $300,000 | $15.00 | $1.00 | $16.00 |
| $250,000 | $12.50 | $1.00 | $13.50 |
| $200,000 | $10.00 | $1.00 | $11.00 |
| $150,000 | $7.50 | $1.00 | $8.50 |
| $100,000 | $5.00 | $1.00 | $6.00 |
| $50,000 | $2.50 | $1.00 | $3.50 |
| Age | Per $10,000 | $100,000 | $250,000 | $400,000 | $500,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 and younger | $0.60 | $6.00 | $15.00 | $24.00 | $30.00 |
| 30 to 34 | $0.80 | $8.00 | $20.00 | $32.00 | $40.00 |
| 35 to 39 | $1.00 | $10.00 | $25.00 | $40.00 | $50.00 |
| 40 to 44 | $1.40 | $14.00 | $35.00 | $56.00 | $70.00 |
| 45 to 49 | $1.90 | $19.00 | $47.50 | $76.00 | $95.00 |
| 50 to 54 | $2.90 | $29.00 | $72.50 | $116.00 | $145.00 |
| 55 to 59 | $5.00 | $50.00 | $125.00 | $200.00 | $250.00 |
| 60 to 64 | $8.50 | $85.00 | $212.50 | $340.00 | $425.00 |
| 65 to 69 | $13.80 | $138.00 | $345.00 | $552.00 | $690.00 |
| 70 to 74 | $21.50 | $215.00 | $537.50 | $860.00 | $1,075.00 |
| 75 to 79 | $38.50 | $385.00 | $962.50 | $1,540.00 | $1,925.00 |
| 80 and older | $44.00 | $440.00 | $1,100.00 | $1,760.00 | $2,200.00 |
Monthly premiums, VA rates as of July 1, 2025 (VA's tables list every $10,000 step from $10,000 to $500,000; each is the per-$10,000 rate times the units). Source: VA VGLI page.
| Spouse age | $20,000 | $50,000 | $100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Younger than 35 | $0.80 | $2.00 | $4.00 |
| 35 to 39 | $0.94 | $2.35 | $4.70 |
| 40 to 44 | $1.24 | $3.10 | $6.20 |
| 45 to 49 | $1.70 | $4.25 | $8.50 |
| 50 to 54 | $2.70 | $6.75 | $13.50 |
| 55 to 59 | $4.60 | $11.50 | $23.00 |
| 60 and older | $8.00 | $20.00 | $40.00 |
Monthly, taken from the service member's pay. Spouse coverage is up to $100,000 in $10,000 steps and can't be more than the member's SGLI; dependent children get $10,000 free. Spouses married on or after Jan. 2, 2013 who are service members themselves aren't covered automatically. Sources: VA FSGLI page · 38 U.S.C. 1967.
VGLI doesn't charge more for gender or tobacco use, and if you apply within 240 days there's no health review, so VA notes you can get coverage even with health conditions. Its premium does step up each time you move into an older age band (table above). We don't show private quotes; see term life insurers compared and how much life insurance (and the fine print).
Facts and arithmetic only. VaultRubric isn't VA or OSGLI, and this isn't advice on how much coverage to buy. Prices are VA's published monthly premiums; your bill or LES is the final number.
5 cents per $1,000 of coverage a month plus $1 for TSGLI, taken from base pay: $26.00 a month for the $500,000 maximum, $13.50 for $250,000, $3.50 for $50,000. Coverage comes in $50,000 steps and the price doesn't change with age (VA SGLI page, updated Oct. 14, 2026).
It depends only on your age band and amount (VA rates as of July 1, 2025). For $500,000: $30.00 a month at 29 or younger, $40.00 at 30-34, $50.00 at 35-39, $70.00 at 40-44, $95.00 at 45-49, $145.00 at 50-54, $250.00 at 55-59, $425.00 at 60-64, $690.00 at 65-69, $1,075.00 at 70-74, $1,925.00 at 75-79 and $2,200.00 at 80 or older.
VA says eligible VGLI members pay no premiums for November 2026, December 2026 and January 2027, and coverage continues. Your VGLI must be active on Nov. 1, 2026; it's applied automatically. New members still pay their first month. If you pay through your bank's bill pay, stop it for Nov. 1, 2026 and restart Feb. 1, 2027. It doesn't apply to SGLI, FSGLI, TSGLI, VALife or S-DVI.
1 year and 120 days from your release. Apply within 240 days and there's no health review; after that you must show you're in good health. SGLI stays free for 120 days after you leave, so the earliest VGLI start is the 121st day (VA).
Up to $100,000, never more than the member's SGLI. Monthly cost for $100,000 by spouse age: $4.00 under 35, $4.70 at 35-39, $6.20 at 40-44, $8.50 at 45-49, $13.50 at 50-54, $23.00 at 55-59, $40.00 at 60 or older. Each dependent child is covered for $10,000 free (VA FSGLI page).
$25,000 to $100,000 for a qualifying traumatic injury, depending on the loss (38 U.S.C. 1980A). You must survive 7 full days and have the scheduled loss within 2 years of the injury. It costs $1 a month inside your SGLI premium (VA TSGLI page).
Yes, if you have less than $500,000: by $25,000 one year after you get VGLI and every 5 years after that, until you're 60, with no health questions (VA VGLI page; 38 U.S.C. 1977). You must elect it; it isn't automatic.
Facts, not insurance advice. We don't sell insurance or provide quotes; confirm coverage and requirements with the insurer, an agent or your state insurance department.
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