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Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI)

Service-Disabled Veterans Life Insurance (S-DVI) provides low-cost coverage to eligible service members. This program stopped taking new applications after December 31, 2022. But if you already have S-DVI, you can keep it. Read this page to learn more about S-DVI.

Am I eligible for VA life insurance as a Veteran with a service-connected disability?

Yes. We have a new program called Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) for Veterans with service-connected disabilities. We began accepting applications for VALife on January 1, 2023.  

Find out if you’re eligible for VALife and how to apply

Questions about your existing S-DVI policy

How much are my S-DVI premiums?

Your premium (the amount you’ll pay for your coverage) depends on these factors:

  • Your age, and
  • The amount of insurance you have, and
  • The coverage plan you requested, and
  • Whether you pay once each month or once each year

You can review the premium rates for S-DVI plans.

Get S-DVI RH Information and Premium Rates (VA Pamphlet 29-9) to download

Can I get a waiver so I don’t have to pay the premiums?

Yes, in some cases. Under certain conditions, the basic S-DVI policy still provides a premium waiver for Veterans who are totally disabled.

Learn more about premium waivers

If you have supplemental S-DVI, you’ll need to pay premiums for this supplemental coverage—even if you have a waiver for your basic S-DVI premiums.

Note: Supplemental S-DVI also stopped taking new applications after December 31, 2022.

Can I change from S-DVI to VALife?

Yes. If you have S-DVI, you have these 2 options:

  • You can apply now for VALife, or
  • You can keep your S-DVI. You don’t have to do anything to keep your coverage.

What to know about changing to VALife

If you apply for VALife by December 31, 2025, you can keep your S-DVI during the 2-year waiting period for VALife benefits. Your S-DVI (including policies with premium waivers) will end when your full VALife coverage starts. You must pay premiums for both policies during the 2-year waiting period.

If you apply for VALife on or after January 1, 2026, your S-DVI (including policies with premium waivers) will end the day we approve your VALife application. You’ll need to pay only VALife premiums during the 2-year waiting period. But you won’t have full coverage during this time.

Note: VALife doesn’t offer premium waivers. If you have a waiver for S-DVI premiums, your waiver won’t transfer to VALife. 

What if I have more questions?

You can call the VA Life Insurance Center at 800-669-8477 (TTY: 711). We’re here from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.

We can help answer questions about these policies: 

  • VALife
  • S-DVI
  • Any VA life insurance policy that starts with a V, J, RS, or W