L I F E I N S U R A N C E R AT E C O M PA R I S O N
Military Benefit Association vs. VGLI Comparing monthly premiums and total cost for $50,000 and $100,000 of coverage across age bands
Prepared for informational purposes • September 2026
What Each Plan Is A medically underwritten plan vs. a guaranteed-issue federal program
M
Military Benefit Association (MBA)
Non-Profit Group Plan Supplemental life coverage administered by MBA and marketed to Active Duty and Retired service members, Reservists, National Guard members, Veterans, federal employees, Post Office employees, and their spouses. Underwritten by MetLife — subject to underwriting Approval depends on MetLife's underwriting rules and your answers to health questions — this is not a guaranteed-issue plan. Rates rise steeply with age Monthly premium for $50,000 of coverage climbs from $3.19 (age 30–34) to $50.36 (age 65–69).
$50,000 Face Amount • Illustrative Rate Comparison
V
Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI)
Federal veterans' program Administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs for Veterans and former service members converting from SGLI after leaving the military. Underwritten by Prudential — guaranteed issue No medical exam is required if you apply within 240 days of separation — coverage is guaranteed regardless of health. Rates rise steeply with age Monthly premium for $50,000 of coverage climbs from $4.00 (age 30–34) to $69.00 (age 65–69), and keeps rising past 65.
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Monthly Premium, Side by Side Published monthly premium for $50,000 of coverage, by age band Age Band
MBA Monthly Premium
VGLI Monthly Premium
Lower Cost
30–34
$3.19
$4.00
MBA
35–39
$3.41
$5.00
MBA
40–44
$4.40
$7.00
MBA
45–49
$5.50
$9.50
MBA
50–54
$9.35
$14.50
MBA
55–59
$17.05
$25.00
MBA
60–64
$26.17
$42.50
MBA
65–69
$50.36
$69.00
MBA
"Lower Cost" marks the cheaper plan in each age band based on the published monthly premiums for $50,000 of coverage.
$50,000 Face Amount • Illustrative Rate Comparison
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Monthly Premium for $50,000 of Coverage By age band — MBA vs. VGLI
$69.00
$50.36 $42.50
$25.00
$14.50
$3.19
$4.00
30–34
$3.41
$5.00
35–39
$4.40
$7.00
40–44
$9.50
$26.17
$17.05
$9.35
$5.50
45–49
50–54
MBA
55–59
60–64
65–69
VGLI
MBA is the cheaper plan at every age band shown, with the gap widening substantially at older ages. $50,000 Face Amount • Illustrative Rate Comparison
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Beyond the Policy: MBA Membership Benefits Free membership perks bundled with MBA coverage that VGLI does not include
W
Will Preparation & Estate Resolution
MetLife-insured MBA members get will drafting and estate-settlement help — including probate legal support for beneficiaries — at no additional cost, through MetLife Legal Plans.
H
Auto & Home Insurance Savings
Discounted auto and home coverage through Liberty Mutual, available simply by being an MBA member — independent of the life insurance policy itself.
L
MetLife Legal Plans Access
Broader legal help beyond estate matters — in person, by phone, or online — for everyday legal questions and issues members run into.
S
Scholarship Program & Financial Education
Free MBA membership includes a scholarship program plus financial education: seminars, market analysis, and financial calculators for members and their families.
VGLI is strictly a life insurance benefit administered by the VA — it does not bundle legal, estate-planning, or financial-education services the way MBA membership does.
$50,000 Face Amount • Illustrative Rate Comparison
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Total Premium Cost: Age 30 to 70 Summing 5-year band premiums for $50,000 of coverage held continuously from age 30 through age 69 Age Band
MBA (5-yr)
VGLI (5-yr)
MBA Total
VGLI Total
30–34
$191.40
$240.00
$191.40
$240.00
35–39
$204.60
$300.00
$396.00
$540.00
40–44
$264.00
$420.00
$660.00
$960.00
45–49
$330.00
$570.00
$990.00
$1,530.00
50–54
$561.00
$870.00
$1,551.00
$2,400.00
55–59
$1,023.00
$1,500.00
$2,574.00
$3,900.00
60–64
$1,570.20
$2,550.00
$4,144.20
$6,450.00
65–69
$3,021.60
$4,140.00
$7,165.80
$10,590.00
MBA — 40-YEAR TOTAL
$7,165.80 Age 30–69, $50,000 face amount, non-tobacco rate
VGLI — 40-YEAR TOTAL
$10,590.00 Age 30–69, $50,000 face amount
Over the full 30–70 span, MBA runs $3,424.20 cheaper in total than VGLI at $50,000 of coverage.
Assumes continuous $50,000 coverage at the published monthly rate for each 5-year band, with no lapses, rate changes, or benefit reductions. $50,000 Face Amount • Illustrative Rate Comparison
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Scaling Up: $100,000 of Coverage Same published rate factors, doubled for two $50,000 units of coverage Age Band
MBA Monthly Premium
VGLI Monthly Premium
Lower Cost
30–34
$6.38
$8.00
MBA
35–39
$6.82
$10.00
MBA
40–44
$8.80
$14.00
MBA
45–49
$11.00
$19.00
MBA
50–54
$18.70
$29.00
MBA
55–59
$34.10
$50.00
MBA
60–64
$52.34
$85.00
MBA
65–69
$100.72
$138.00
MBA
C
MBA-exclusive bonus at $100,000+: free dependent child coverage. Electing at least $100,000 on your own life qualifies MBA members for up to $12,500 of coverage per dependent child, up to age 26 — VGLI has no equivalent benefit.
$100,000 Face Amount • Illustrative Rate Comparison
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Monthly Premium for $100,000 of Coverage By age band — MBA vs. VGLI
$138.00
$100.72 $85.00
$50.00
$29.00
$6.38
$8.00
30–34
$6.82
$10.00
35–39
$8.80
$14.00
40–44
$19.00
$52.34
$34.10
$18.70
$11.00
45–49
50–54
MBA
55–59
60–64
65–69
VGLI
The same pattern holds at $100,000 of coverage — every dollar amount is exactly double the $50,000 figures. $100,000 Face Amount • Illustrative Rate Comparison
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$100,000 Coverage: Total Cost, Age 30 to 70 Summing 5-year band premiums for $100,000 of coverage held continuously from age 30 through age 69 Age Band
MBA (5-yr)
VGLI (5-yr)
MBA Total
VGLI Total
30–34
$382.80
$480.00
$382.80
$480.00
35–39
$409.20
$600.00
$792.00
$1,080.00
40–44
$528.00
$840.00
$1,320.00
$1,920.00
45–49
$660.00
$1,140.00
$1,980.00
$3,060.00
50–54
$1,122.00
$1,740.00
$3,102.00
$4,800.00
55–59
$2,046.00
$3,000.00
$5,148.00
$7,800.00
60–64
$3,140.40
$5,100.00
$8,288.40
$12,900.00
65–69
$6,043.20
$8,280.00
$14,331.60
$21,180.00
MBA — 40-YEAR TOTAL
$14,331.60 Age 30–69, $100,000 face amount, non-tobacco rate
VGLI — 40-YEAR TOTAL
$21,180.00 Age 30–69, $100,000 face amount
Over the full 30–70 span, MBA runs $6,848.40 cheaper in total than VGLI at $100,000 of coverage — exactly double the gap seen at $50,000. Assumes continuous $100,000 coverage at the published monthly rate for each 5-year band, with no lapses, rate changes, or benefit reductions. $100,000 Face Amount • Illustrative Rate Comparison
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Key Takeaways 1
MBA is cheaper than VGLI at every age band At both $50,000 and $100,000 of coverage, MBA's monthly premium is lower than VGLI's from age 30 all the way through 65–69 — there is no crossover.
2
The cost gap widens sharply with age At 30–34 the two are close ($3.19 MBA vs. $4.00 VGLI); by 65–69 the gap has grown to $50.36 vs. $69.00 — and VGLI keeps climbing past 65, reaching $215/month for $50,000 at 70–74.
3
Over 40 years, MBA saves thousands From age 30 to 70, MBA totals $7,165.80 versus VGLI's $10,590.00 at $50,000 of coverage — a $3,424.20 savings, doubling to $6,848.40 at $100,000.
4
VGLI's real advantage is guaranteed acceptance Applied within 240 days of separation, VGLI requires no medical exam — coverage is guaranteed regardless of health. MBA coverage is subject to underwriting and health questions.
5
MBA adds bundled member benefits VGLI doesn't offer Free will preparation, estate resolution, legal plan access, auto/home insurance savings, and a scholarship program come with MBA membership; VGLI is strictly a life insurance benefit.
Rates shown are illustrative, drawn from published MBA and VA/Prudential rate sheets (VGLI rates effective July 1, 2025); confirm current figures with MBA and the VA before making a coverage decision. Coverage is subject to underwriting.