United States Government life insurance , except as provided in this subchapter, shall be payable in two hundred and forty equal monthly installments. When the amount of an individual monthly payment is less than $5, such amount may in the discretion of the Secretary be allowed to accumulate without interest and be disbursed annually. ( Pub. L. 85–857 , Sept. 2, 1958 , 72 Stat. 1161 , § 751; renumbered § 1951 and amended Pub. L. 102–83 , §§ 4(b)(1), (2)(E), 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991 , 105 Stat. 404–406 .) Editorial Notes Amendments 1991— Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 751 of this title as this section and substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator”.