VA Burial Benefits, SGLI & VGLI Education

Burial & Memorial Benefits

What the VA may cover—and what it may not.

Eligibility depends on discharge status, service history, the circumstances of death, burial location, and other VA rules.

VA national cemetery

For an eligible Veteran, burial in a VA national cemetery can include the gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, a government grave liner, a headstone or marker, and perpetual care at no cost to the family. A burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate may also be available.

Headstone or marker cost: $0. The VA provides the government headstone or marker, and national-cemetery staff order and set it at no cost to the family.

Costs that may remain: funeral-home services, viewing or embalming, casket or urn, obituary, flowers, and transportation unless a separate reimbursement rule applies.

Check national-cemetery eligibility on VA.gov ↗

Private cemetery

VA may provide an eligible Veteran with a government headstone, marker, or medallion, plus a burial flag and Presidential Memorial Certificate. But the private cemetery may still charge for the plot, opening and closing, vault or liner, setting the marker, placement, maintenance, and other services.

Headstone or marker benefit: For an eligible Veteran, the VA may furnish a government headstone, marker, or medallion at $0. For qualifying deaths on or after October 1, 2025, the VA also lists a maximum headstone or marker allowance of up to $441. The allowance is not automatic, and families should confirm which benefit applies rather than assuming both benefits will be provided.

Private-cemetery costs may remain: The VA does not cover the cemetery’s installation, marker-base, setting, placement, or maintenance fees.

A qualifying burial or plot allowance may help with some costs, but it may not cover the full bill.

Review private-cemetery benefits on VA.gov ↗

Current VA Burial Allowances

The amount depends on how and where the Veteran died.

These are maximum federal amounts currently published by VA. They are reimbursements for eligible claims—not a promise that every family or expense will qualify.

Service-connected death

For deaths on or after September 11, 2001, VA lists a maximum burial allowance of $2,000. If burial is in a VA national cemetery, some or all transportation costs may also be reimbursed.

Qualifying non-service-connected death

For deaths on or after October 1, 2025, VA lists a $1,002 burial allowance and $1,002 plot allowance. A plot allowance generally applies when the burial is not in a national cemetery.

Death while under VA care

A Veteran who dies in a VA facility, a VA-contracted facility or nursing home, or while traveling for authorized VA care may qualify under special rules. Transportation reimbursement may also be available.

Important

A benefit must be eligible, documented, and sometimes claimed.

Keep the death certificate, DD214 or other discharge documents, and itemized receipts. Some claims have filing deadlines. VA says qualifying non-service-connected burial claims generally must be filed within two years after burial, with exceptions for deaths under VA care, plot or interment claims, and transportation claims.

Verify current VA burial rates Apply for an allowance

SGLI, VGLI & the Life Insurance Gap

Military life insurance can be valuable. It still needs to be reviewed.

SGLI while serving

SGLI is low-cost term life insurance for eligible service members, with coverage up to $500,000. It generally includes 120 days of free coverage after leaving the military. Certain totally disabled members may qualify for a longer extension.

VGLI after service

Eligible Veterans may apply for $10,000 to $500,000 of VGLI term coverage. The application deadline is 1 year and 120 days after leaving the military. Applying within 240 days avoids a health review.

What can create a gap?

Missing the VGLI deadline, carrying less coverage than the family needs, outdated beneficiaries, or assuming a VA burial benefit will replace a life-insurance death benefit.

What should be reviewed?

Coverage amount, beneficiary designations, debts, income replacement, funeral wishes, family needs, affordability, and whether another policy is needed to supplement or replace existing coverage.

VGLI premiums are based on age and coverage amount and may increase as the insured ages. SGLI and VGLI are term insurance and do not create a separate VA funeral fund.

Official SGLI information Official VGLI information

VA Healthcare, Medicare & CHAMPVA

These programs are connected to military service—but they are not the same coverage.

VA healthcare

VA healthcare is for eligible Veterans. To use VA benefits, care generally must be received at a VA facility or be authorized by VA in advance. Priority group, service connection, and the type of care can affect costs and access.

Medicare

Medicare and VA healthcare are separate systems. VA encourages eligible Veterans to enroll in Medicare so they have options outside VA. Each time care is received, the Veteran generally uses either VA authorization or Medicare—not both for the same service.

CHAMPVA

CHAMPVA is generally for qualifying spouses, dependent children, and survivors—not a general health plan for every Veteran. Eligibility is tied to specific permanent-and-total or service-connected disability and death rules, and a person eligible for TRICARE cannot receive CHAMPVA.

Why Medicare still matters

It can cover eligible care from non-VA doctors and hospitals.
Delaying Part B may cause a lifetime late-enrollment penalty.
Dropping Part B can limit options and may delay re-enrollment.
VA prescription coverage may be creditable for Part D, but deadlines still matter if that coverage ends.

See how VA works with Medicare ↗

CHAMPVA and Medicare

If a CHAMPVA beneficiary becomes eligible for Medicare, VA generally requires Medicare Part A and Part B to get or keep CHAMPVA. CHAMPVA is a cost-sharing program and other health insurance is normally billed first.

Check CHAMPVA eligibility on VA.gov ↗

Plan Before the Crisis

Six questions every Veteran family should answer.

A short conversation now can prevent confusion when the family is grieving.

Do we have the Veteran’s DD214 and current benefit records?
Has the Veteran requested a pre-need cemetery eligibility decision?
Is the plan a VA national cemetery or a private cemetery?
Which funeral, cemetery, and transportation costs would remain?
Are SGLI, VGLI, private life insurance, and beneficiaries current?
Do we understand how VA healthcare, Medicare, and CHAMPVA apply to each family member?

Official Help

Start with the VA. Then identify the financial gaps.

Apply for pre-need eligibility before it is urgently needed. For national-cemetery scheduling after a death, call the VA National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.

Apply for pre-need eligibility VA burials & memorials Text Sasha about the gaps

Insurance Therapy with Sasha is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This page provides general education, not an eligibility decision, official benefits counseling, legal advice, or a guarantee of payment. VA rules, rates, and eligibility can change. Verify current information directly with VA.