VGLI premiums are due every month for as long as you carry the policy, and nothing about the plan pauses itself if a payment doesn't go through. Miss enough payments and the policy doesn't go on hold — it lapses, and the death benefit goes with it. Here's what actually happens when payments stop, and what you can still do about it.
What Does It Mean for VGLI to Lapse?
Veterans' Group Life Insurance is administered by the Office of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (OSGLI), a division of Prudential, under the supervision of the Department of Veterans Affairs. When premiums go unpaid long enough, OSGLI terminates the policy. Once that happens, coverage is gone — if the veteran dies after the lapse date, there is no death benefit for beneficiaries to claim, because the policy no longer exists (VA — Veterans' Group Life Insurance).
This is different from a lot of other bills. A late credit card payment costs you a fee. A lapsed life insurance policy costs you the coverage itself, and getting it back is not guaranteed.
Can You Get VGLI Back After It Lapses?
Yes, but only through a specific process: the Application for Reinstatement of Veterans' Group Life Insurance, VA/OSGLI Form SGLV 180. You can apply online at myvgli.prudential.com or mail the paper form to OSGLI, P.O. Box 41618, Philadelphia, PA 19176-1618 (SGLV 180, VA Forms).
What the form actually requires depends entirely on one thing: how long ago your policy lapsed.
| Your situation | What you complete | Health questions required? |
|---|---|---|
| Lapse date is less than 6 months ago, and your health hasn't changed since then | Section 2 — a signed statement certifying you're in as good health as you were on the lapse date | No — your signature is the only evidence needed |
| Lapse date is more than 6 months ago, OR your health has changed since the lapse date | Section 3 — a full medical history questionnaire covering conditions like heart trouble, cancer, diabetes, and hospital stays | Yes — your answers are reviewed and can result in denial |
That 6-month line is a hard threshold, not a guideline. Reinstate quickly and truthfully certify your health hasn't changed, and OSGLI takes your word for it. Wait past six months, and you're back to full underwriting — the same kind of health screening you'd face applying for a new policy.
How Much Does Reinstatement Cost?
The reinstatement amount OSGLI requires is three times your monthly premium, calculated at your current age. Premiums themselves are based on your age and the coverage amount you carry — not your gender or tobacco use — and they climb sharply as you get older. You can look up your monthly rate with the premium calculator at myvgli.prudential.com, or see current rate tables in VGLI Rates by Age: What Veterans' Group Life Insurance Actually Costs.
If you're not sure what your account currently owes or what your exact lapse date was, OSGLI's contact center can tell you: 800-419-1473, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern.
Why Does Answering Section 3 Honestly Matter So Much?
The reinstatement form says it plainly: any deception or false statement — by reference, omission, or otherwise — can result in loss of coverage or denial of a claim for benefits. That means the risk isn't just a rejected application. If you understate a health condition to get reinstated and it surfaces later, OSGLI can deny a death claim after the fact, leaving your beneficiaries with nothing despite years of paid premiums.
If you have a condition you're unsure how to describe, that's a question for OSGLI or a licensed insurance professional before you sign — not something to guess at on the form.
Is Reinstatement Your Only Option If VGLI Lapses?
Not necessarily. VGLI includes a standing option to convert to an individual permanent policy — such as whole life — through a participating private insurer, at standard premium rates and without a medical exam, whether or not your policy has lapsed. That path doesn't require the 6-month test that reinstatement does, though it locks you into a different type of policy with its own premium structure. For a broader comparison of how these products differ, see Term vs. Whole Life vs. Final Expense Insurance: What's the Difference?.
Some veterans in this position also look at coverage built specifically to cover funeral and burial costs rather than replace lost income, which is a narrower and often simpler product to qualify for later in life. If your VGLI lapsed years ago and full underwriting isn't appealing, that's worth comparing before you assume reinstatement is your only route back to coverage.
It's also worth remembering that VGLI itself only exists because of military service — it isn't something every veteran automatically has. If you're unclear on whether your SGLI ever converted to VGLI in the first place, see Does SGLI Life Insurance Continue After You Leave the Military?.
What to Do About It
- Check your lapse date first. Log into myvgli.prudential.com or call 800-419-1473 before doing anything else — the date determines which section of SGLV 180 you'll need to complete.
- If it's been under 6 months, move fast. You still qualify for the simplified certification in Section 2. Waiting past the 6-month mark converts your application into full medical underwriting.
- Have three months' premium ready. Reinstatement requires paying three times your current monthly premium up front, not just the going-forward rate.
- Answer Section 3 completely and honestly if you're past 6 months. An inaccurate answer can jeopardize a future claim, not just the current application.
- If reinstatement isn't realistic, compare your alternatives before you decide. Conversion to a private permanent policy, term coverage, or final-expense insurance may fit your situation better than restarting VGLI underwriting.
- Set up a payment method that won't lapse again. Ask OSGLI about the payment options available on your account so a missed payment doesn't put you back in this position.