Show I Post-Korea Post Vets Now Can Renew GI Gl Insurance Thousands of World War II 11 and Post-Korea Post veterans who lost their 5 vear term GI insurance I sil since July 23 1953 because they had failed to pay either or both bothof bothof i of the last two monthly premiums prem prem- items will be given an opportunity to o reinstate their policies under a anew anew anew new law just signed by the President dent E. E R. R Benke manager of the Veterans Administration Center in Denver whose office handles the insurance policies for World War II and Korean veterans in 14 southwestern and western states and Hawaii strongly requested requested requested re re- re- re quested eligible veterans not to write pr otherwise make Inquiries inquire ies fes about their cases under this new law for at least a month His office Benke said is searchIng searchIng search search- Ing its records for those cases so It soon may send each eligible former policyholder a reinstatement reinstatement reinstate reinstate- ment application with Instructions on how to proceed Answering in inquiries inquiries in- in quirles will only delay the checking checking checking check check- ing process he added to the detriment of all veterans involve ed The law which permits these veterans to reinstate such term policies Is the Survivor Benefits Act signed by the President on August 1 I 1956 The GI insurance affected by the law are the 5 5 year term policies of National Service Life Lie Insurance both the convertible World War II 11 type and the non-convertible non Post Korea type Under the old law which became became be bee came effective July 23 1953 these term policies in a state of lapse at the end of the year 5 term period could not qualify for automatic renewal Under the new law this rei re is' is relaxed to the extent extent ex tent that the 5 year term of any policy which has lapsed because of the failure to pay either or both of the last two monthly premiums Is automatically renewed renew renew- ed for another year 5 term and the policy then may be reinstate reinstated ed by meeting certain require require- ments Benke Denke said the provision of the new law made retroactive to July 23 23 1953 and thereby affects af at any year 5 term policy pol pole icy which has lapsed 1 at the expiration expiration ex of the term since that date because either or both of the last two monthly premiums were unpaid VA estimates the number of veterans affected to b be In the thousands but stressed it will not know the exact number of policies Involved until it has com come a thorough check of the records Because of the magnitude of the checking Job and the importance import ance ence of getting It done as quickly quick quick- ly as possible for the protection of the affected veterans Benke emphasized that any delays caused caused caus caus- ed by veterans inquiries will affect af feet not only those cases of the inquiring veterans but those of all others who are equally entitled entitled en en- titled to the fastest service pos pose sible |