Posted on Jun 6, 2022
VA to launch new life insurance program for service-disabled Veterans?
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If you’re a Veteran with a service-connected disability rating who didn’t qualify for life insurance before from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), mark your calendar for Jan. 1, 2023: That’s when you can apply for a “VALife” policy with coverage of up to $40,000.
The new Veterans Affairs Life Insurance program, authorized by the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, which became public law 116-315 on Jan. 5, 2021, provides whole life insurance coverage of up to $40,000 to eligible Veterans aged 80 and under with any level of service-connected disability, from 0% to 100%. (Some Veterans above age 80 may also qualify.)
“VALife opens life insurance coverage to more service-connected Veterans than ever before,” VA said in May 30 news release announcing the program.
Under this guaranteed acceptance program — and in contrast to VA’s Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI) program — you won’t be required to undergo a medical exam or answer questions about your health to qualify for enrollment. Instead of medical underwriting, this type of coverage kicks in two years after the date of enrollment, as long as premiums are paid. (If the policy holder dies within the two-year waiting period, however, the beneficiary still receives all premiums plus interest, according to VA.)
The monthly premiums for VALife are based on your age when you enroll and your coverage amount, which start at $10,000 and can rise in $10,000 increments up to a $40,000 maximum. Premium rates — which VA said are competitive with or lower than rates attached to private-sector life insurance policies — are locked in for life, and won’t increase as you age.
Premium rates — what you pay per month or year for coverage — are based on the age when you enroll, and are lowest for younger Veterans. For example, if you enroll at age 18, your estimated monthly premium for $10,000 in coverage would be $11; if you enroll at age 52, your monthly premium would be an estimated $35.80, according to a VA rate table.
Another benefit of VALife that contrasts with S-DVI is that you don’t have to apply for coverage within two years of receiving your disability rating from VA. (However, enrolling early locks you into the lowest possible rate for life.)
When the program opens on Jan. 1, 2023, you can enroll online and be instantly approved. If you’re a Veteran who holds an S-DVI policy, elect to keep that coverage or apply for VALife when the application process opens. As long you apply between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2025, you can keep your S-DVI policy until the full VALife coverage takes effect after two years.
If you don’t currently have an S-DVI policy and want this coverage as well as coverage under VALife in the new year, VA recommends enrolling now for S-DVI, which will close to new applicants after Dec. 31. That way, you’ll have coverage under S-DVI during VALife’s two-year coverage waiting period.
Learn more
On Jan. 1, 2023, apply for VALife at https://www.benefits.va.gov/insurance/VALife.asp
Apply for S-DVI now at https://www.va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/s-dvi
View the VALife website, where you can sign up for email updates about the program, at https://www.benefits.va.gov/insurance/VALife.asp
Read the news release, “VALife insurance program coming January 2023 for Veterans with service connection,” at https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/103790/valife-insurance-program-coming-january-2023-veterans-with-service-connection
The new Veterans Affairs Life Insurance program, authorized by the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, which became public law 116-315 on Jan. 5, 2021, provides whole life insurance coverage of up to $40,000 to eligible Veterans aged 80 and under with any level of service-connected disability, from 0% to 100%. (Some Veterans above age 80 may also qualify.)
“VALife opens life insurance coverage to more service-connected Veterans than ever before,” VA said in May 30 news release announcing the program.
Under this guaranteed acceptance program — and in contrast to VA’s Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI) program — you won’t be required to undergo a medical exam or answer questions about your health to qualify for enrollment. Instead of medical underwriting, this type of coverage kicks in two years after the date of enrollment, as long as premiums are paid. (If the policy holder dies within the two-year waiting period, however, the beneficiary still receives all premiums plus interest, according to VA.)
The monthly premiums for VALife are based on your age when you enroll and your coverage amount, which start at $10,000 and can rise in $10,000 increments up to a $40,000 maximum. Premium rates — which VA said are competitive with or lower than rates attached to private-sector life insurance policies — are locked in for life, and won’t increase as you age.
Premium rates — what you pay per month or year for coverage — are based on the age when you enroll, and are lowest for younger Veterans. For example, if you enroll at age 18, your estimated monthly premium for $10,000 in coverage would be $11; if you enroll at age 52, your monthly premium would be an estimated $35.80, according to a VA rate table.
Another benefit of VALife that contrasts with S-DVI is that you don’t have to apply for coverage within two years of receiving your disability rating from VA. (However, enrolling early locks you into the lowest possible rate for life.)
When the program opens on Jan. 1, 2023, you can enroll online and be instantly approved. If you’re a Veteran who holds an S-DVI policy, elect to keep that coverage or apply for VALife when the application process opens. As long you apply between Jan. 1, 2023, and Dec. 31, 2025, you can keep your S-DVI policy until the full VALife coverage takes effect after two years.
If you don’t currently have an S-DVI policy and want this coverage as well as coverage under VALife in the new year, VA recommends enrolling now for S-DVI, which will close to new applicants after Dec. 31. That way, you’ll have coverage under S-DVI during VALife’s two-year coverage waiting period.
Learn more
On Jan. 1, 2023, apply for VALife at https://www.benefits.va.gov/insurance/VALife.asp
Apply for S-DVI now at https://www.va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/s-dvi
View the VALife website, where you can sign up for email updates about the program, at https://www.benefits.va.gov/insurance/VALife.asp
Read the news release, “VALife insurance program coming January 2023 for Veterans with service connection,” at https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/103790/valife-insurance-program-coming-january-2023-veterans-with-service-connection
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