38 U.S.C. § 1968 — Duration and termination of coverage; conversion

(a) Each policy must include a Secretary^*-approved provision that member^* and dependent coverage continues during active duty^*, active duty for training^*, scheduled inactive duty training^*, or qualifying Ready Reserve^* service unless the insured asks in writing to stop or reduce it, or it ends under section 1969(a)(2)(B). Coverage ends as follows:
(1) For a member on active duty or active-duty training under a call or order to duty that does not specify a period of less than 31 days: (A) normally 120 days after separation or release. If the member is totally disabled on that date under the Secretary’s criteria, coverage ends on the earlier of when the disability ends or two years after separation, but never before 120 days. (B) It also ends at the end of the 31st day of continuous absence without leave, civilian confinement under a court sentence, or military confinement under a court-martial sentence involving total forfeiture of pay and allowances. Coverage and its beneficiary designation revive automatically when the member returns to paid active duty or paid active-duty training.
(2) For active duty or active-duty training under a call or order to duty that specifies a period of less than 31 days, coverage ends at midnight local time on the last duty day. If a disability incurred or aggravated during that duty, within 120 days, causes death or makes the member uninsurable at standard rates, coverage continues until death or 120 days after that day, whichever comes first.
(3) For scheduled inactive duty training, coverage ends when the scheduled period ends. If a disability incurred or aggravated during it, within 120 days after training, causes death or makes the member uninsurable at standard rates, coverage continues until death or 120 days after training ended, whichever comes first.
(4) For a qualifying Ready Reserve member, coverage ends 120 days after separation or release from the assignment. If the member is totally disabled then, it ends at the earlier of when the disability ends or two years after separation, but not before the 120 days ends.
(5) For a dependent, coverage ends: (A) 120 days after the member’s written election to end it; or (B) at the earliest of: (i) 120 days after the member dies; (ii) 120 days after separation or release from the assignment for a qualifying Ready Reserve member, or 120 days after separation or release from the uniformed services^* for another member; or (iii) 120 days after the dependent stops being an insurable dependent.
(b)(1) A policy must provide that, except as stated below, member coverage continuing after duty or travel under sections 1967(b) or 1968(a) automatically converts the day after it would end to Veterans’ Group Life Insurance covering the member’s death only, if the initial premium is timely paid and section 1977’s terms are met. A member may instead elect an individual policy described in section 1977(e) by applying in writing to the selected participating company and paying the premiums. (2) Automatic Veterans’ Group Life Insurance conversion applies only to an otherwise eligible member separated or released from duty on or after that program becomes effective. (3)(A) A spouse^* may elect conversion to an individual policy under the section 1977(e) conditions by written application to the selected company and payment of premiums. Spouse coverage may not convert to Veterans’ Group Life Insurance. (B) Child^* coverage may not be converted under this subsection.