If you are below the age of 80 and have a Disability rating of at least 0% then you qualify for a new broader iteration of life insurance coverage provided by the Department of Veteran Affairs called VALife.
CAVEAT:
If you are 81 or over then all these must be true:
Before you turned 81 years old, you applied for VA disability compensation for a service-connected disability, and
After you turned 81 years old, you received a rating for that same disability, and
You apply for VALife within 2 years of getting notification of your disability rating
source: https://www.va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/valife/
The program provides coverage across 4 tiers (from $10,000 to $40,000). Program premiums are based on your age and which amount you choose.
The chart for the premium costs can be found on the VA website.
One of the downsides to VALife is that your beneficiaries will not receive the full amount of your coverage within the first two years from when you begin the monthly payments on your policy. Prior to 2 years, the amount paid into the program will be refunded instead.
Also, you can not borrow from the value of your insurance coverage.
Some veterans have commented on how this is effectively taking their entire disability payment which will be closer to true for older veterans as their monthly premium is much higher than those about 40 or younger.
For example, the maximum monthly payment as of May 2026 is for those who are aged 80 enrolled in the $40,000 coverage tier at $510/m. This is far greater than for those who enroll in their 20s where the average payment for the same coverage is around $50/m.
To see the full charts visit: https://www.va.gov/life-insurance/options-eligibility/valife/ and scroll down where each age group with premium and coverage information is sorted.
