# § 1949. Beneficiaries
**(a)** **Designation.—** A person who enrolls in United States Government life insurance may designate a beneficiary of the insurance policy. Subject to regulations, the insured person shall at all times have the right to change the beneficiary or beneficiaries of a United States Government life insurance policy without the consent of such beneficiary or beneficiaries.
**(b)** **Determination in Cases of Non-Designation.—** If a person enrolled in United States Government life insurance does not designate a beneficiary under subsection (a) before the insured person dies, or if a designated beneficiary predeceases the insured person, the Secretary shall determine the beneficiary in the following order:
**(1)** The surviving spouse of the insured person.
**(2)** The children of the insured person and descendants of deceased children by representation.
**(3)** The parents of the insured person or the survivors of the parents.
**(4)** The duly appointed executor or administrator of the estate of the insured person.
**(5)** Other next of kin of the insured person entitled under the laws of domicile of the insured person at the time of the death of the insured person.
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**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1160, § 749; renumbered § 1949, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; amended Pub. L. 117–313, § 3(b)(1), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4400.)
## Editorial Notes
### Amendments
2022— amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Subject to regulations, the insured shall at all times have the right to change the beneficiary or beneficiaries of a United States Government life insurance policy without the consent of such beneficiary or beneficiaries.”
1991— renumbered as this section.
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date of 2022 Amendment
Amendment by applicable with respect to the death of an insured person occurring on or after the date that is two years before , see , set out as a note under .