Funeral expenses are rising across the U.S., leaving seniors scrambling for ways to help reduce their end-of-life cost burdens. Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces are usually left to cover their funeral expenses themselves, but some senior veterans qualify for a low-cost life insurance exclusively offered by the Department of Veterans Affairs: VALife Insurance.
VALife provides veterans with one simple burial insurance policy, which is typically a great way to cover end-of-life expenses. VALife offers whole life coverage, growing cash value, and benefits tailored to seniors’ needs, but how well does it work for senior veterans?
As a leading burial insurance agency, Final Expense Benefits is here to help you understand how VALife Insurance could fit into your senior veteran life insurance needs, or if you may need to look elsewhere. We partner with over 20 of the top senior burial insurance companies and can help you find a great policy, regardless of your budget or health needs.
To learn more about your options for senior veteran life insurance, call Final Expense Benefits at (866) 786-0725 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Want to check how much coverage you may need and how much it could cost? Try our free customizable funeral cost calculator and personalized burial insurance quoting tool.
Key takeaways
- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers disabled veterans VALife burial insurance, a low-cost type of whole life insurance.
- VALife Insurance disregards health conditions on applications, but is only available to veterans with disabilities certified by their branch of service.
- VALife rates are competitive with many guaranteed-acceptance policies, but are a poor value overall for healthy seniors.
- Healthy seniors looking to save on their coverage should try one of Final Expense Benefits’ top life insurance partners.
What is VALife Insurance?
VALife Insurance is a whole life insurance program offered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA offers this program to help provide disabled veterans with affordable, accessible burial insurance coverage. Because these policies are guaranteed acceptance, regardless of health concerns, large benefit payouts that grow in cash value, and industry-standard rates, there’s a lot to like about VALife insurance.
Benefits range from $10,000 to $40,000 in $10,000 increments, which is plenty to cover the cost of a funeral, cremation, burial plot, or other end-of-life expenses. Most burial insurance policies start as low as $5,000 and range to $50,000.
However, VALife Insurance is held back by its strict eligibility requirements and lack of flexibility. Here’s more information about VALife Insurance eligibility and how this policy works:
VALife Insurance Eligibility
Only disabled veterans qualify for VALife Insurance. Eligibility is significantly more open than private senior life insurance companies: while most companies allow applicants around ages 45 to 80, VALife accepts applications from veterans ages 18 past 80.
To qualify, applicants beyond age 80 must meet some specific disability requirements from the VA:
- They must have applied for VA disability compensation for a service-related disability before turning 81
- After turning 81, they must have received an armed services rating for their disability
- And they must apply for VA life within 2 years of being notified of that rating
VALife permits a much wider range of applicants than most private insurers, but burial insurance is often only necessary for seniors starting around age 50. In addition, VALife rates aren’t competitive with most insurers, especially for healthy seniors. Here’s more information about VA whole life insurance rates:
How Much Does VALife Insurance Cost?
Rates for VALife Insurance are higher than most private life insurers, but these policies guarantee acceptance. VALife accepts veteran applicants, regardless of health issues, which offers crucial coverage to seniors with pre-existing medical conditions. Guaranteed-acceptance policies usually cost around 25% to 40% more than comparable non-guaranteed plans. However, all guaranteed plans, including VALife, require a two-year waiting period.
If the policyholder dies within that time, their payout will be delayed or reduced. Instead of the full payout, VALife only pays a return of any paid premiums plus a small amount of interest if the policyholder dies during the waiting period. VALife rates are lower than other guaranteed plans, but aren’t competitive with standard policies. Here’s more about their rates:
VA Life Insurance Rates by Age
Like all whole life insurance, VALife rates are determined by the applicant’s age and are locked following policy approval. Unlike most burial insurance providers, male and female applicants all pay the same rates for VALife policies. Most private life insurance providers require men to pay higher rates because they typically have a shorter life expectancy.
Here are VALife rates for policies with benefits ranging from $10,000 to $40,000 for applicants aged 50 through 80:
| Age | Monthly Rate ($10,000 Benefit) | Monthly Rate ($20,000 Benefit) | Monthly Rate ($30,000 Benefit) | Monthly Rate ($40,000 Benefit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
40 |
$22 |
$44 |
$66 |
$88 |
|
50 |
$33 |
$65 |
$98 |
$130 |
|
60 |
$50 |
$100 |
$150 |
$200 |
|
70 |
$78 |
$156 |
$234 |
$312 |
|
80 |
$128 |
$255 |
$383 |
$510 |
These figures are courtesy VALife’s website.
To learn more about your options for veteran life insurance, contact Final Expense Benefits, or check our free online quoting tool for a personalized pricing estimate.
VALife Insurance Pros & Cons
Pros
- Low rates for guaranteed life insurance
Though VALife rates are higher than conventional burial insurance, they are competitive with other guaranteed policies. Their policies are much more affordable than poor-value, limited providers like Colonial Penn and Lincoln Heritage. - Competitive rates for men
Men typically pay higher rates for life insurance, due to their shorter life expectancy. Because VALife rates are the same for men and women, men’s rates are much more competitive against private insurers, especially for large benefit payouts over $30,000. - Accepts younger applicants
Most burial insurance providers accept applicants starting around 45 years old, but VALife accepts applicants as young as 18.
Cons
- Poor rates for women
Though men’s rates for VALife policies are competitive, women’s rates are not. Most insurers charge lower monthly premiums for women, due to longer life expectancies. Because VALife charges a single premium, women’s rates are higher than they would be with most private insurers.
- Constrained eligibility
VALife policies are only available to veterans with disabilities certified by their branch of the armed forces.
- Limited options
Most companies offer life insurance riders for policyholders needing customized, additional coverage for diverse health or financial needs, but VALife offers none. In addition, benefits are limited to $10,000 increments between $10,000 and $40,000. Most insurers allow policyholders more control over their death benefits.
- Pricier for middle-aged applicants
Most burial insurance providers accept applicants starting at age 50, which is about the “sweet spot” for most policies. Burial insurance is typically most affordable for applicants around 50 or 60. Although we recommend seniors apply early to qualify for reduced rates around this age, VALife rates are higher than most providers in this range. - Waiting period
Because VALife is guaranteed life insurance, it has a mandatory waiting period of two years after policy approval. If the policyholder dies during this time, their benefit will be reduced to just a return of paid premiums, plus limited interest.
The Best Life Insurance for Senior Veterans: Burial Insurance
Also called final expense insurance, standard burial insurance is a better choice than guaranteed policies for most seniors. Guaranteed policies aren’t necessary for most seniors, as burial insurance accepts seniors with many pre-existing health concerns thanks to its relaxed medical underwriting requirements.
Standard burial insurance policies don’t have a waiting period, allowing seniors to secure immediate coverage.
While guaranteed plans only start gaining cash value when the waiting period ends, no-wait policies begin accumulating as soon as they start. That cash value can be used to purchase additional coverage, be directly withdrawn, or used as collateral for a loan.
How Much Does Burial Insurance for Veterans and Seniors Cost?
The best part about standard burial insurance policies for seniors is the cost. With average benefits ranging from around $5,000 to $50,000 and monthly rates averaging around $30 to $150 for typical $10,000 policies, burial insurance is a reliable, affordable, and accessible tool for seniors to secure peace of mind. Here are average rates for men and women for burial insurance ranging from $10,000 to $40,000, so you can compare our top partner providers’ prices to VALife insurance rates.
These estimates are calculated for non-smoking applicants with no pre-existing conditions, using averages from three of Final Expense Benefits’ top providers: Aetna Accendo, Americo, and Mutual of Omaha.
1
Burial Insurance Average Rate Chart for Men
| Age | Monthly Rate ($10,000 Benefit) | Monthly Rate ($20,000 Benefit) | Monthly Rate ($30,000 Benefit) | Monthly Rate ($40,000 Benefit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
40 |
$25 |
$47 |
$69 |
$90 |
|
50 |
$32 |
$60 |
$89 |
$117 |
|
60 |
$46 |
$88 |
$131 |
$173 |
|
70 |
$73 |
$142 |
$211 |
$281 |
|
80 |
$138 |
$274 |
$407 |
$532 |
2
Burial Insurance Average Rate Chart for Women
| Age | Monthly Rate ($10,000 Benefit) | Monthly Rate ($20,000 Benefit) | Monthly Rate ($30,000 Benefit) | Monthly Rate ($40,000 Benefit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
40 |
$23 |
$42 |
$61 |
$80 |
|
50 |
$26 |
$48 |
$71 |
$93 |
|
60 |
$36 |
$69 |
$101 |
$134 |
|
70 |
$55 |
$106 |
$158 |
$202 |
|
80 |
$99 |
$195 |
$289 |
$383 |
These figures are estimates only, calculated using averages for $10,000 to $40,000 policies from Aetna Accendo, Americo, and Mutual of Omaha, using non-smoking applicants with no pre-existing health conditions.
Call Final Expense Benefits at (866) 786-0725 if you’re interested in a policy from these or any of our top-rated partners, or check our free online quoting tool to learn more.
Final Thoughts
VALife offers a fine life insurance product to America’s disabled veterans, but its prices are only competitive for seniors who require guaranteed coverage. Private burial insurance, such as a policy from one of Final Expense Benefits’ top partner providers, is a better choice for most seniors in good health.
We partner with only the best life insurance companies so that you know you are getting great coverage, regardless of health concerns or budget.
To learn more about your veteran life insurance options, call Final Expense Benefits at (866) 786-0725 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET. Check our free funeral cost calculator and quoting tool to see how much coverage you may need and how much it’ll cost.
FAQ
What is Veterans Affairs Life Insurance?
Veterans Affairs life insurance, also known as VALife, is a guaranteed-issue burial insurance program that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides to veterans with service-related disabilities.
Can veterans get free life insurance?
Veterans Affairs doesn’t provide free life insurance policies, though VALife prices are comparable to many guaranteed life insurance providers.
How much is Veterans Life Insurance?
Rates for Veterans Affairs Life Insurance are comparable to other guaranteed-acceptance life insurance providers, ranging from around $30 to $130 monthly for $10,000 policies. Rates are higher for older applicants and policies with large death benefits, reaching $510 per month for a $40,000 policy for an 80-year-old applicant.
Is VA Life Insurance good?
VALife insurance is affordable compared to guaranteed-acceptance life insurance, but its noncompetitive pricing for women, constrained benefit payouts, and poor flexibility make it a limited choice overall.
How to claim Veterans Life Insurance?
Claims for VALife benefits can be placed through the Department of Veterans Affairs website.
What is Veterans Group Life Insurance?
Veterans Group Life Insurance is a program managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs that allows veterans recently released from service to maintain existing servicemember group life insurance. However, group coverage is often a poor choice because benefits and premiums can be changed by the insurance provider.
What is burial insurance?
Burial insurance is a low-cost type of whole life insurance designed to offer seniors accessible, affordable coverage. Average benefit payouts range from around $5,000 to $50,000 and are typically used to cover costs for funerals, cremations, burial plots, and other end-of-life expenses. Check our free online quoting tool for monthly rate estimates.
How much does a funeral cost?
In 2025, average funeral costs in the U.S. are around $10,000, which is why most sample burial insurance quotes are for $10,000 policies. Check our free funeral cost calculator to see how much coverage you need.