Published October 2, 2020
The Policygenius Life Insurance Price Index uses real-time rate data from leading life insurance companies to determine pricing trends. It’s designed to help the industry gauge market conditions and consumers get life insurance right.
For more on our methodology, see below.
Life insurance prices for healthy applicants decreased slightly from September to October 2020, with average monthly premiums dropping anywhere from one cent to 98 cents for non-smokers across core demographics. Minor fluctuations in monthly prices are common, as insurers often adjust their prices to stay competitive in the market.
Conversely, life insurance prices continue to climb for older, less healthy applicants. Male smokers aged 55 and older saw the biggest jump, with average monthly premiums for this demographic rising between $6.12 and $12.56, depending on their age. The increases likely remain related to the COVID-19 pandemic, as smokers and seniors are among the most at risk of death due to the virus.
Holistically, however, COVID has yet to have a significant impact on life insurance prices and most applicants can find an affordable policy.
The chart below shows average monthly premium prices for a 20-year term life insurance policy for non-smokers in a Preferred health classification; quotes are based on the Policygenius Life Insurance Price Index Methodology.
The chart below shows average monthly premium prices for a 20-year term life insurance policy for smokers in a Preferred health classification; quotes are based on the Policygenius Life Insurance Price Index Methodology.
The prices displayed above are based on internal actuarial rate tables for eleven life insurance carriers that offer policies through the Policygenius marketplace (AIG, Banner Life, Brighthouse, Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, Pacific Life, Principal, Protective, Prudential, SBLI and TransAmerica).
The prices represent the average monthly life insurance premium for each sample customer profile (age, gender) and policy type (term, coverage amount) as of October 1, 2020. Monthly averages are based on 11 products available through Policygenius for the indicated profile; rates for those products may vary by state, and not all 11 products are available in all states. Individual rates may vary, depending on age, gender, state, health profile, and other eligibility criteria. The index is updated each month.
Life insurance prices are primarily based on life expectancy; taking into account an applicant’s age, health, hobbies, and medical history. The riskier you are to insure or the shorter your life expectancy, the higher your rates will be.
Prices are also affected by the length of a policy and the amount of coverage someone is looking to purchase. A longer policy term or higher coverage amount might increase monthly or annual premiums. Policygenius generally recommends people buy life insurance ten to 15 times their individual income with a term long enough to get them to retirement age. Since there are a lot of variables involved, we specialize in helping consumers get the right policy to fit their individual needs.
Policygenius is the nation’s leading online insurance marketplace, with headquarters in New York City and Durham, North Carolina. We’ve helped more than 30 million people shop for all types of insurance like they shop for everything else — online — and have placed over $60 billion in coverage. At Policygenius, shoppers can compare life insurance companies side-by-side in one place. We provide free quotes from the nation’s top life insurers. And, once someone formally submits an application, our licensed experts walk them through every step of the process.
Find your best life insurance prices today.