Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

38 U.S.C. § 1908

Premium payments

section 5301(b) of this titleThe Secretary shall, by regulations, prescribe the time and method of payment of the premiums on insurance, but payments of premiums in advance shall not be required for periods of more than one month each, and may at the election of the insured be deducted from the insured’s active-service pay or be otherwise made. An amount equal to the first premium due under a National Service Life Insurance policy may be advanced from current appropriations for active-service pay to any person in the active service in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, or Coast Guard, which amount shall constitute a lien upon any service or other pay accruing to the person for whom such advance was made and shall be collected therefrom if not otherwise paid. No disbursing or certifying officer shall be responsible for any loss incurred by reason of such advance. Any amount so advanced in excess of available service or other pay shall constitute a lien on the policy within the provisions of .

Pub. L. 85–85772 Stat. 1149Pub. L. 99–576, title VII, § 701(24)100 Stat. 3292Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(d)(1)105 Stat. 239Pub. L. 102–83105 Stat. 404–406Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title IX, § 926(e)134 Stat. 3831(, , , § 708; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 1908 and amended , §§ 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 116–2832021— inserted “Space Force,” after “Marine Corps,”.

Pub. L. 102–83section 708 of this title1991— renumbered as this section and substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 102–40 substituted “5301(b)” for “3101(b)”.

Pub. L. 99–5761986— substituted “the insured’s” for “his”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Transfer of Functions

section 542 of Title 6For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of , as modified, set out as a note under .