---
kind: "section"
citation: "38 U.S.C. § 1909"
title: "38"
title_heading: "Veterans’ Benefits"
number: "1909"
heading: "Effective date of insurance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/38/1909"
units:
  - "Part II — General Benefits"
  - "Chapter 19 — Insurance"
  - "Subchapter I — National Service Life Insurance"
---

# §1909. Effective date of insurance


[Insurance](/usc/38/1901.md?p=1) may be made effective, as specified in the application, not later than the first day of the calendar month following the date of application therefor, but the United States shall not be liable thereunder for death occurring before such effective date.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1149, § 709; renumbered § 1909, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 709 of this title as this section.