The Cost of Life Insurance (2024)

FAQs

How much does life insurance cost? ›

The average cost of a $100,000 whole life insurance policy is about $88 a month, or $1,056 a year, based on our analysis of whole life insurance quotes for a 30-year-old nonsmoker in good health. Whole life insurance offers permanent coverage, meaning it typically lasts your lifetime as long as you pay your premiums.

The average cost of a $500,000 whole life insurance policy for a healthy 30-year-old in May 2024 is $451 per month. Your personal rates depend on your age, gender, health, and hobbies, as well as how much coverage you need.

On average, a $10,000 whole life insurance policy will cost about $50-$100 per month, depending on your exact age, gender, health, state of residence, and tobacco usage (if any). For example, a 50-year-old female who does not use tobacco would pay $24.31 monthly.

According to current estimates, a $1 million term life insurance policy for a healthy 40-year-old nonsmoker costs around $80 to $100 per month. The cost of life insurance can vary based on age, health, type of policy, and other factors.

It's valuable financial protection, and is often part of a solid overall financial plan. Many people buy life insurance so that the payout will: Provide income replacement when your family no longer has your paycheck coming in. Pay down debts left behind.

The average cost for a million-dollar life insurance policy is anywhere from approximately $50 to more than $1,000 a month, depending on your age, health, annual income, policy type and other factors.

A $500,000 life insurance policy with a 10-year term costs an average of $62.99 per month for a smoker, compared to $29.26 per month for someone in poor health or $26.88 for someone with a high BMI. This compares to the same rate for a healthy individual, which would cost around $18.44 a month.

Whole life insurance may be the best type of coverage if you are looking for guaranteed support for your loved ones on any timeline.

How soon can you borrow from life insurance? ›

No, you cannot immediately borrow against life insurance. You must wait until your policy's cash value exceeds a certain threshold, and it can take several years to reach that point. The minimum cash value required for a policy loan varies by insurer.

The pros and cons of term and whole life insurance are clear: Term life insurance is simpler and more affordable but has an expiration date and doesn't include a cash value feature. Whole life insurance is more expensive and complex, but it provides lifelong coverage and builds cash value over time.

Whole life insurance can ensure that your family is financially secure after you are gone. Even if you are already at retirement age or older, there are options for you.

After the 20-year level term ends, your coverage expires. By outliving your policy, both the death benefit and two decades of premiums are lost. Terms are available in different lengths, typically from 10 to 30 years, so it's important to select one that you think will be sufficient for your financial needs.

We analyzed term life insurance quotes for policies with $500,000 in coverage and found: The average cost for a 10-year, $500,000 term life policy is $200 a year. The average cost is around $275 a year for a 20-year term—if you buy life insurance in your 30s while in good health, including being a non-smoker.

For someone, $500,000 in life insurance might be more than enough while others may benefit from having a $1 million life insurance policy instead. Asking yourself what your policy might need to do can help you narrow down what amount of coverage is appropriate.