Life Insurance
You can leave your loved ones a legacy — or leave them with bills. You Choose.
Expert guides & in-depth articles about life insurance coverage, costs, and planning strategies. Learn how to protect your family's future, eliminate debt, and build generational wealth with the right life insurance plan.
What is life insurance?
Life insurance is a contract where you pay premiums to a carrier in exchange for a death benefit paid to your beneficiaries when you die. It helps replace income, pay debts, cover final expenses, and protect your family's finances.
Death Benefit
Tax-free payout to your beneficiaries when you die.
Premiums
Regular payments to keep your coverage in force.
Beneficiaries
People or entities you choose to receive the death benefit.
Term vs. Permanent
Term covers a set period; permanent covers you for life.
How does life insurance work?
You apply, go through underwriting (health questions and possibly a medical exam), get approved, and pay premiums to keep coverage in force. When you die, your beneficiaries file a claim and receive the death benefit tax-free.
Types of life insurance
Life insurance comes in several forms — from simple term coverage to permanent policies with cash value. Compare all types of life insurance →
Temporary (term)
Fixed years of coverage at a level premium, then the term ends—usually the most affordable way to replace income or cover a loan.
Term life insurance
Level premiums for a fixed period—no cash value. Best for income replacement and temporary needs. Compare common term lengths below.
Learn more →5-year term life insurance
Why true 5-year term is rare today and what to use instead for short coverage windows—still low cost with more flexibility after five years.
Learn more →10-year term life insurance
A decade of protection at lower cost—good for short loans, young kids, or bridging to permanent coverage. Compare quotes and typical rates.
Learn more →20-year term life insurance
The sweet spot for many families—covers the mortgage and dependent years through school. See benefits, costs, and when it fits.
Learn more →30-year term life insurance
Longest common level term—lock in rates through early career to near retirement. Ideal when you need maximum time at term pricing.
Learn more →Permanent
Designed to last your lifetime (or pay a smaller benefit), often with cash value or simplified underwriting.
Whole life insurance
Lifetime coverage with guaranteed cash value and level premiums. Best for permanent needs.
Learn more →Universal life insurance
Flexible premiums and adjustable death benefits. Permanent coverage with adaptable premiums.
Learn more →Index universal life insurance
Permanent coverage with cash value tied to market indexes. Combines protection with growth potential.
Learn more →Burial insurance
Small whole-life policies to cover funeral and final expenses. Often no medical exam required.
Learn more →Guaranteed issue
No health questions or medical exam. Accepts anyone, typically with a two-year waiting period.
Learn more →Companies, strategies, and rates
Go deeper on carriers, how policies can be structured or financed, and typical pricing scenarios.
- Life insurance companies — rankings and senior-focused carrier guides.
- Life insurance strategies — key person coverage, cash value, loans, financing, and return of premium.
- Life insurance rates — whole life, term-by-length, age, gender, and smoker benchmarks.
- Underwriting — health classes, exams, and risk factors (including rate classes).
What does life insurance cover?
What life insurance typically does NOT cover
- Suicide within contestability period (typically first 2 years)
- Misrepresentation or fraud on the application
- Death from certain exclusions (e.g., war, hazardous activities)
- Lapsed policies (coverage ends when premiums stop)
How much does life insurance cost?
Term life often runs $20–50 per month for healthy 30-year-olds; permanent life costs more. Your premium depends on your age, health, coverage amount, term length, and policy type.
Learn more about life insurance costs →Expert Tip: Advertised rates vs. your actual price — and how to shop smart
The rates you see advertised — "$20/month for $500k" — are usually for the best health class (Preferred Plus). Only extremely healthy people qualify for Preferred Plus. Underwriting determines your real rate based on your health, build, family history, and lifestyle. One carrier might rate you Preferred while another rates you Standard; that can mean hundreds of dollars difference per year.
The best way to shop: compare quotes from multiple carriers through an independent agent. Don't fixate on the lowest advertised price — focus on getting your actual qualified rate from several companies so you can compare apples to apples.
—Brad Cummins, Insurance Geek Founder
Ways to save on life insurance
- •Healthy lifestyle — Non-smokers pay significantly less
- •Annual payment — Pay yearly instead of monthly for a discount
- •Younger age — Lock in lower rates when you're younger
- •Shorter term — 20-year term costs less than 30-year
- •Compare carriers — An independent agent can shop 30+ A-rated carriers for you
Life insurance guides
Why choose Insurance Geek for life insurance?
Rate Watch
Save more over time without re-shopping. Rate Watch notifies you every renewal if your rate increases and there are better offers — so you don't have to remember to shop again.
Insurance Geek Wallet
All your policies in one place. The Insurance Geek Wallet stores policies from any carrier in one app — so you know what you have, when it renews, and never hunt for a document again. (Coming soon)
Expert guidance
Start online, finish with a licensed agent. Get digital convenience plus human expertise before you bind — so you're confident in your choice.
What Our Customers Say
How to get life insurance
Start your quote
Use our quote widget above or click Get a Quote. Enter your basic information and we'll shop 30+ A-rated carriers for you.
Pick death benefit and product type
Choose how much coverage you need and which policy type fits you — term, whole life, or another option.
Apply and go through underwriting
Apply directly on our site. Complete health questions and any required medical exam.
Pay first premium and accept policy
Review your offer, pay your first premium online, and accept your policy to activate coverage.
Underwriting
High Risk Life Insurance
High risk life insurance covers applicants with health conditions, dangerous occupations, or risky hobbies. See what carriers accept and what rates look like.
Learn more →Life Insurance and Cancer
Life insurance after cancer depends on type, stage, and remission time. See what carriers accept, typical waiting periods, and how to get the best rate.
Learn more →Life Insurance for Diabetics
Life insurance for diabetics is available for both Type 1 and Type 2. See what carriers look for, how control affects your rate, and how to get covered.
Learn more →Life Insurance After a Heart Attack
Life insurance after a heart attack is possible—approval depends on time since the event, treatment, and current cardiac health. See what to expect.
Learn more →Life Insurance Underwriting Process
The life insurance underwriting process determines your rate class and premium. See what carriers review, how long it takes, and what affects the outcome.
Learn more →Life Insurance Rate Classes Explained
Life insurance rate classes determine your premium—from Preferred Plus to Standard and table ratings. See what each class requires and how to qualify.
Learn more →Life Insurance Drug Test
Life insurance drug tests screen blood and urine for illegal substances, prescription misuse, and nicotine. See what they test for and what it means.
Learn more →Life Insurance Height & Weight Charts
Life insurance height and weight charts show the build limits for each rate class. See male and female charts and find out how your BMI affects your rate.
Learn more →Life insurance blood and urine test
Life insurance blood and urine tests screen for health conditions that affect your rate class. See exactly what they test for and how to prepare.
Learn more →Life insurance FAQs
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