Home / Knowledge Center / Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance
Term life insurance: the complete guide
Everything you need to choose the right coverage amount, term length, and features, in plain English.
Short answer: term life insurance pays a death benefit, generally free of income tax, to your beneficiaries if you die during a set period such as 20 or 30 years. It is the lowest-cost type of life insurance, so it is the right first policy for most working families.
What term life insurance is
Term life is a contract between you and an insurance company. You pay a premium, and the insurer promises to pay a set amount, the death benefit, if you die during the term. If you outlive the term, the coverage ends and no benefit is paid.
Because most people outlive their term, insurers can price it far lower than permanent coverage. That is the trade-off: maximum protection per dollar, for a limited time.
Who needs it
- Parents of children who depend on their income or care
- Homeowners who want the mortgage paid off if they die
- Stay-at-home parents, whose childcare and household work would cost money to replace
- Single people who support parents or have co-signed loans
- Business owners protecting partners, lenders, or key employees
- Anyone relying on work coverage, which usually ends when the job does
Agent tip: If anyone would struggle financially without your income or your work at home, you likely need coverage.
How it works, step by step
- Choose a coverage amount (the death benefit).
- Choose a term length: 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years are common.
- Apply. The insurer reviews your age, health, and lifestyle (underwriting).
- Pay a level premium. It stays the same for the whole term.
- If you die during the term, your beneficiaries file a claim and receive the benefit.
- When the term ends, you can let it lapse, convert it, or renew at a much higher yearly price.
How much coverage to buy
A quick starting point is 10 to 12 times your annual income. A better method is DIME:
| Letter | Covers | Example |
|---|---|---|
| D | Debts other than the mortgage | Car loans, credit cards, personal loans |
| I | Income replacement | Your income × the years your family needs it |
| M | Mortgage | The remaining balance |
| E | Education | Expected college costs for each child |
Subtract existing coverage and savings you would want used. Try the coverage calculator or read the full guide on how much you need.
How long a term to choose
Match the term to your longest obligation.
| Your situation | Common choice |
|---|---|
| Young children | Until the youngest turns 22–25, often 20–30 years |
| New 30-year mortgage | 30 years |
| Kids in high school | 10–15 years |
| Business loan | The length of the loan |
Some people layer two policies, for example a large 20-year policy and a smaller 30-year policy, so coverage steps down as needs shrink.
What affects the price
- Age: the single biggest factor. Premiums rise with every birthday.
- Health: height and weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, conditions, and medications.
- Tobacco and nicotine: usually the most expensive factor you can control.
- Family history: early heart disease or cancer in parents or siblings.
- Lifestyle: driving record, dangerous hobbies, some travel.
- Coverage amount and term length: more and longer cost more.
- The carrier: each insurer weighs these differently, which is why comparing matters.
See how underwriting and health classes work.
Riders and features worth knowing
| Feature | What it does | Worth it for |
|---|---|---|
| Conversion option | Switch to permanent coverage without a new exam before a deadline | Almost everyone; check the deadline |
| Living benefits | Use part of the benefit early for a qualifying chronic, critical, or terminal illness | Most families; often included at no upfront cost |
| Waiver of premium | Premiums are waived if you become disabled | Workers without strong disability coverage |
| Child rider | Small coverage for all children | Families wanting low-cost child coverage |
| Return of premium | Refunds premiums if you outlive the term | People who value the refund over a lower price |
| Accidental death | Extra benefit for accidental death | Usually not needed if base coverage is adequate |
Learn more about living benefits.
Term vs. work life insurance
| Personal term | Group life at work | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | You choose | Often 1–2× salary |
| If you change jobs | Stays with you | Usually ends or gets expensive |
| Price | Locked for the term | Can change |
| Health questions | Yes, at purchase | Often none |
Work coverage is a good extra, but rarely enough on its own.
When the term ends
- Let it end if no one depends on you anymore.
- Convert some or all of it to permanent coverage, with no medical exam, before the conversion deadline.
- Renew year by year at much higher rates. Useful for short gaps only.
- Buy new coverage if you are healthy. Compare against converting.
Common mistakes
- Buying only what work provides
- Choosing a term that ends before the kids are independent
- Naming a minor child directly as beneficiary (a trust or custodian is usually better)
- Waiting until a health issue appears
- Hiding health details on the application, which can lead to a denied claim
- Canceling an old policy before the new one is approved
The claim process
Your beneficiary contacts the insurer, sends a certified death certificate and claim form, and the insurer pays, often within weeks. Policies are contestable for the first two years, meaning the insurer can review the application for misstatements. After that, claims are generally paid as written. Most policies also have a suicide exclusion during roughly the first two years.
Term Life Insurance: common questions
How much does term life insurance cost?
Price depends on age, health, tobacco use, coverage amount, and term length. Rates are lowest when you are young and healthy and rise with age, so buying earlier usually costs less over the life of the policy. Comparing several carriers matters because each prices health factors differently.
Do I need a medical exam?
Not always. Many carriers offer accelerated underwriting with no exam for qualifying applicants, using health questions and database checks instead.
Is the death benefit taxable?
Life insurance death benefits paid to a named beneficiary are generally not subject to federal income tax. Estate tax can apply to very large estates. Ask a tax professional about your situation.
Can I have more than one policy?
Yes. Many people own two or more policies, including group coverage at work. Insurers consider your total coverage when approving an application.
Can I cancel term life insurance?
Yes, at any time by stopping payments or notifying the insurer. Term policies have no cash value, so nothing is refunded except during the free-look period.
What if I miss a payment?
Policies have a grace period, often 30 or 31 days. If the premium is not paid by then, coverage lapses. Some carriers allow reinstatement with proof of good health.
Sources and further reading
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC): consumer guides to life insurance and annuities
- Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Insurance: verify an agent's license
- AM Best: insurer financial strength ratings
- IRS: tax rules for life insurance and annuities
Your price is based on your age and health today.
A free 10-minute call shows exactly where you stand. Straight answers, no obligation.