What Happens to Benefits After Separation
What you keep vs what you lose
You keep: VA disability compensation (if awarded), GI Bill (if earned — 15-year expiration for delimiting date post-2013 era; no expiration for Forever GI Bill recipients), VA home loan eligibility (lifetime), VA healthcare (for service-connected conditions; income-based for others), 180 days of Transitional Health Care.
You lose: base pay, BAH, BAS, active duty TRICARE Prime (after 180 days), SCRA protections, military base access (varies by ID card type), Space-A travel privileges (unless retired), commissary/exchange (unless 100% disabled, retired, or Purple Heart).
You can purchase: VGLI life insurance (must apply within 1 year + 120 days of separation — rates increase with age, generally not competitive after age 40). TRICARE Reserve Select (if joining Guard/Reserve — excellent value at ~$50/month member-only).
Often overlooked: commissary and exchange online access was expanded to all veterans with honorable discharge. You may have shopping privileges you don't know about.