Life Insurance
Life insurance is priced on your age and health today, which means the cheapest policy you will ever be offered is the one available right now.
- Term and permanent options compared honestly
- Coverage sized from real obligations, not a rule of thumb
- No-exam options where they make sense
Request a life insurance quote
Tell us what you need covered. A licensed agent follows up with options, usually the same business day.
What a life insurance policy actually does
-
Term life
Coverage for a set period (commonly 10, 20, or 30 years) at a level premium. The most coverage per dollar, and the right answer for most people with a mortgage and dependants.
-
Whole life
Permanent coverage with a cash value component. Substantially more expensive per dollar of death benefit, and appropriate for specific estate and long-term planning needs rather than as a default.
-
Final expense
Small permanent policies aimed at funeral and burial costs, usually with simplified underwriting and modest face amounts.
-
Riders
Waiver of premium, accelerated death benefit for terminal illness, and child riders. Small additions that materially change what the policy does in the situations people actually face.
-
Convertibility
The right to convert a term policy to permanent coverage without new medical underwriting. Worth confirming at purchase, because it becomes valuable exactly when your health has changed.
-
The contestability period
For the first two years, an insurer can investigate and rescind for material misstatements on the application. Answering accurately is not optional.
-
Suicide clause
Standard policies exclude suicide within the first two years.
Life Insurance questions
How much coverage do I need?
Start from obligations: remaining mortgage, other debt, the years of income your household would need to replace, and education costs. That total is more useful than any multiple-of-salary shortcut.
Term or whole life?
For most households with a mortgage and children at home, term does the job for a fraction of the cost. Whole life solves a narrower set of problems and should be bought for a specific reason.
Do I need a medical exam?
Not always. Accelerated and no-exam underwriting is widely available, usually at somewhat higher rates or lower face amounts. For larger amounts, an exam typically produces a better price.
Does smoking or a health condition disqualify me?
Rarely disqualifying, frequently rate-changing. Carriers vary a great deal in how they treat specific conditions, which is where shopping the market matters most.
Related coverage
-
Health Insurance
Marketplace, short-term, and supplemental plans, compared on deductible, network, and what actually happens when you use them.
-
Dental Insurance
Most medical plans exclude routine dental care. A standalone plan covers cleanings, fillings, and the work that gets expensive fast.
-
Telemedicine Plans
Flat-fee access to a licensed clinician by phone or video, usually with no per-visit charge. A membership plan, not an insurance policy.
Not sure what you need?
Tell a licensed agent what you're insuring and what you're worried about. We'll walk through the options and what each one actually costs.