05/23/2023
What the VA Covers for Veterans When They Pass Away: Know Your Options!
Too many Veterans do NOT know what the VA covers for them when they pass away.
I discovered this through helping Veterans, and definitely need to educate more.
So here’s the breakdown of exactly what is paid to Veterans:
$2,000 = For service-related deaths the VA will pay up to $2,000 toward burial expenses
$796 = For non-service-related deaths the VA will pay up to $796 toward burial and funeral expenses (Only if hospitalized by VA at time of death).
$300 = If not hospitalized by the VA at the time of death the VA will pay $300 toward burial and funeral expenses.
$796 = plot interment allowance is available to veterans that are NOT buried in a national cemetery.
Here are the 3 scenarios...
$2,796: service-related deaths plus the plot allowance (Most veterans death will be non-service-related)
$1,592: the most a Veteran can get if he/she is hospitalized by the VA at the time of death
$1,096: the most a Veteran can get if he/she is NOT hospitalized by the VA at the time of death.
The average cost of cremation is $2,500. (That’s a difference of $1,404)!
The average cost of a funeral is $12,000. (That’s a difference of $10,904)!!!
“Your funeral is 100% covered” is a misconception and is a major issue that I see out in the field.
Insurance must be customized for you and your situation, not cookie cutter like VGLI or VALife and not only covering a fraction of your funeral cost.
With Veterans’ Group Life Insurance (VGLI), you may be able to keep your life insurance coverage after you leave the military for as long as you continue to pay the premiums. Find out if you qualify for VGLI and how to manage your coverage.