How to buy life insurance

Life insurance is a risk management tool that protects your loved ones if you die unexpectedly. The life insurance death benefit protects your beneficiaries and can pay for college, dependent care, final expenses, and other debts that your family could be responsible for if you die.

Once you decide you need life insurance it can take a little time to actually get it. After you choose a coverage amount and type of policy, you’ll still need to pick a provider and go through the application process. Here are some tips to help things go smoothly.

Calculate how much life insurance you need

Your life insurance coverage should be customized to your family’s financial needs, i.e., your income, debts, expenses, and the needs of your dependents. Policygenius experts suggest you get about 10-15 times your annual income in life insurance coverage to support these costs for your family. You can also use our calculator to tally up how much coverage you need.

While 10-15 times your income is a good starting point, your financial situation may require more coverage. Look closely at your finances to understand exactly how much life insurance you need to avoid having too little coverage. If you don't get enough, you can add more coverage later, but it will come at a cost.

Outstanding debts

Do you have student loans or a mortgage? Your death benefit should be high enough to cover what you owe, and your policy should last as long as your longest debt. If your family can’t keep up with the bills, they risk forfeiting your home and/or other assets to collections agencies.

If you’re married

When you’re shopping for life insurance with your spouse, you have to consider not only the financial support you offer your spouse right now but the adjustments they would need to make if you died. Would they need to work less to provide childcare? Or would they need to pay for additional childcare without you around? Factor those expenses into your coverage needs, too.

If you have kids

Raising a child can be expensive. You not only need to consider what you currently pay for childcare, but also account for future expenses, like your children’s college tuition. Leave enough behind to pay for your kids’ education, housing, and meals, or to fund a 529 plan for their education.

Tally up your financial obligations

Add up all these costs to get a sense of what will need to be replaced after you’re gone. Your death benefit should encompass that entire dollar amount minus any liquid assets that your family can use to make up some of the financial shortfalls. A typical breakdown looks like this:

If you have multiple life insurance policies, how much you need may look different and you should consult a financial advisor.

→ Learn more about how to determine how much life insurance you need

Decide what type of policy you need

After evaluating the amount of coverage you need, you can decide if you should buy a term or permanent life insurance policy.

Term life insurance is the best option for most people — it’s easy to manage and offers the most coverage for the lowest dollar amount. But there may be circumstances where you need a permanent life insurance policy, like if you have a lifelong dependent.

There are variations on both term and permanent life insurance, each with its own pros and cons. For example, if you want to minimize outside contacts during the pandemic, you might want a no-medical exam policy, which doesn’t require a medical exam conducted by the insurer. Or maybe you don’t want to risk waiting for your application to be approved. Then you’ll want to consider instant life insurance, which can get you coverage after one quick call.

A Policygenius adviser can help you decide on the best policy for your budget and coverage needs.

→ Find the best type of life insurance for your coverage needs

Gather information to speed up the process

You can make the application process as seamless as possible by having important information on hand before you apply for life insurance. None of the following documents are required to apply for life insurance, but may help speed up the initial phone call. These include:

• Proof of identity, citizenship, and age. A driver’s license, Social Security number, birth certificate, or a valid passport will work. Noncitizen residents can use their green card (permanent resident card) or an employment authorization card.

• Proof of income. You can use pay stubs, a letter of employment, a tax return, or an earnings statement from your bank. If you’re unemployed, an unemployment letter or monthly statement describing your unemployment benefits will work.

• Proof of residency. For renters, that could be your signed lease or a rent receipt. For homeowners, your mortgage bill or a property tax statement will suffice. Insurers will also accept a utility bill or a postmarked envelope with your return address on it.

Insurance companies do not collect any of the documents listed above, but it's a good idea to have this information ready to avoid unnecessary time on the phone call.

Shop around for a life insurance policy

Because every life insurance company evaluates each application on an individual basis, you’ll pay the most affordable premiums by shopping around with multiple insurers as opposed to working with just one. Working with an unbiased, independent broker like Policygenius helps you find a company that is favorable for your budget, coverage needs, and health profile at the most competitive price.

According to a study conducted by LIMRA, over a quarter of life insurance shoppers found that working with a life insurance agent eased the life insurance buying process and 97% of the applicants surveyed experienced satisfactory service.

→ Read reviews from customers to learn more about working with Policygenius

Compare life insurance quotes and companies

Getting a free quote and picking a life insurance policy is easy — by working with an independent insurance agent or broker, you can get quotes from many different insurers with just a few pieces of personal information, like your location, age, gender, and basic medical history. What's more, you can do all of this online.

These quotes will feature your prospective premiums and the amount of coverage you’ll receive from various insurers to help you determine the right policy for you. Most people pick the cheapest policy that has the coverage they need, but it’s important to compare other features, like what riders a company offers, their customer service record and ratings from trusted third-parties like A.M. Best, and whether they’re best for your particular health profile.

→ Learn more about the best life insurance companies

Complete the application and phone interview

An initial life insurance quote gives you a good idea of the premiums you’ll pay, but the actual application is a little more in-depth. Your application will require a phone interview, where you’ll be asked about your medical history, lifestyle, and other personal details. Life insurance companies do a thorough evaluation of your medical history and background, so if they find something you didn’t report, your actual premiums may look a little different than the initial quote you received.

Insurers will check your life insurance application history for any issues — like if you’ve ever been caught lying on an application — and confirm what you reported in your medical history against databases like the Medical Information Bureau (MIB). The insurer may also ask for your driver’s license number to see if you’ve been involved in any accidents.

Questions to expect from your insurer

You may be asked to authorize your doctor to share your health information with the life insurance company, known as an attending physician statement (APS). This information is necessary to not only get you the correct policy, but could also earn you more favorable premiums if you have a health condition but your doctor reports that you’ve responded well to treatment.

Additionally, you’ll be asked about your hobbies and financial health — including your income and net worth — as well as about other life insurance policies you have. If you’re a daredevil with a skydiving hobby, you can expect to pay more for your life insurance coverage.

Get a medical examination

If you opt for a no-medical exam life insurance policy, then the insurer will continue to look into your medical history and reach out once they’ve decided on your policy. If you decide to go the traditional route, you’ll schedule your medical exam after your phone interview. The life insurance medical exam is similar to your yearly physical, except that you also have the option of the medical examiner coming to your home or office and it comes at no cost to you.

The technician or nurse will take basic measurements like your height and weight, blood pressure, and pulse, and you’ll also provide a blood and urine sample. You can use the same results on other life insurance applications for up to six months if you need to postpone your life insurance application.

→ Learn more about how the life insurance medical exam works

Wait for the underwriting results

The hard part is over — now all you have to do is be patient. Underwriting, which encapsulates your application, phone call, and medical exam, is how the life insurance company evaluates the risk of insuring you and how much you’ll pay for your policy. Once you’ve completed your end of the underwriting process, an underwriter will cross-reference what they’ve learned about your medical history with what’s in the MIB, and check your motor vehicle report for DUI/DWIs or other traffic offenses, then determine your health classification and final premiums.

This process can take five to six weeks, but sometimes longer if they need to verify parts of your application or require any supplemental documentation.

The most common life insurance classifications, in order from the highest health rating to lowest, are:

• Preferred Plus

• Preferred

• Standard Plus

• Standard

People with complicated health histories or recent medical issues may be given a substandard rating, which is assessed via a table rating system.

→ Learn more about life insurance classifications

Sign the documents and pay for your policy

Once the underwriting process is complete, you’ll be issued a policy offer. If you agree to their terms, all that is left is for you to sign the policy documents and pay your first premium. Your policy isn’t in force until you do so — a policy offer from the insurer doesn’t mean you have coverage.

You’ll also want to take note of the nitty-gritty of your policy — you can choose between paying your premiums monthly or annually (with the latter usually offering a small discount), and this should also be indicated on the policy. You can always change the frequency of payment after the policy is in force by contacting your insurance company.

What to do with your policy documents

Depending on the insurer, your policy documents will either be electronically delivered or need to be mailed back. Make sure to keep a copy of your policy in a safe place, and let your beneficiaries know exactly how to access it. If your beneficiaries don’t know about the policy, they won’t know to claim the death benefit, and having easy access to the policy will help them receive the payout quickly.

Buying the right life insurance policy might feel overwhelming, but if you know what to expect and work with a knowledgeable broker, you can get the coverage you need quickly and efficiently.