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Term Life Insurance Rates By Age

Reviewed By: Rob Pinner

Rob Pinner Rob Pinner is the founder and CEO of Pinner Financial Services servicing all 50 states. Rob started his insurance career in 2002. Full Bio >

Checked By: Holly Mitchell

Holly Mitchell’s background in life insurance insurance goes back to 1985 when she worked for her father who was a New York Life agent. Holly has a marketing degree from Auburn University and has had a life insurance license since 2008. In addition to advising life insurance for customers all around the country, Holly is our website fact checker.

Are you wondering where to find term life insurance rates based on your age?

We have published rates for ages 30 up to 79 all in this article.

If you are younger than 30 or older than 79 you can get your life insurance rates by age by completing this quote request:

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It seems like now more than ever life insurance companies and drug companies are advertising directly to consumers.

Certainly, that’s not a bad thing, but most people will agree that these are bullet-point commercial scripts that are heavy on why you should buy life insurance and lack on what it will actually cost you.

You’ve probably heard of the “elevator pitch” and that’s pretty much what you’ll get from a television commercial. Although, and this really is a waste of time, they always put disclaimers at the bottom of the commercial in a font that is so small, practically no one can read it.

In cases where the fake insurance agent does offer rates, they will be based on preferred plus underwriting which most Americans won’t qualify for. They forget to mention the height and weight chart that you must fit into and that the rate is for a 10-year term insurance policy.

The commercial announcer will always, always provide the lowest rate possible to motivate you to call the number at the bottom of the screen or go online to apply now.

Here, we’re going to give you the truth about life insurance and it’s not going to be an elevator pitch.

Your needs are not the same as your neighbors. That is why you can purchase life insurance policies in many different amounts. 

How Your Life Insurance Rates are Calculated

In simple terms, your rates are set according to your risk. To make this clearer for you, let’s take a look at the definition of RISK according to our old friend Merriam-Webster:

Definition of risk

1: a possibility of loss or injury: peril

2: someone or something that creates or suggests a hazard

3 a: the chance of loss or the perils to the subject matter of an insurance contract; also: the degree of probability of such loss

b: a person or thing that is a specified hazard to an insurer

c: an insurance hazard from a specified cause or source – war risk

4: the chance that an investment (such as a stock or commodity) will lose value

If you’ve ever filled out a traditional life insurance application, you will certainly have an idea of how a life insurer goes about measuring your risk. Every question on the application is a building block of your risk profile. We can, however, break your risk (exposure) down into blocks:

  • Your age underwriter check list
  • Your health – this includes current and previous health (usually for last 5 or 10 years)
  • Your parents’ and siblings’’ health
  • Your lifestyle ( this typically includes questions about alcohol and drug consumption
  • Your hobbies – the insurer will ask about hobbies considered hazardous (mountain climbing, cave diving, personal aircraft, deep sea scuba diving, and skydiving
  • Your occupation – certainly there are many occupations that are hazardous (military, fireman, police officer, pilot)
  • Your travel – Many companies want to know if you are planning now or in the future to visit countries that our government has issued travel warnings for.

Your life insurance application is the most important part of the underwriting process. Other items that underwriters use like a medical exam, MIB, ScriptCheck, or MVR report will either substantiate your answers on the application or contradict them. Knowing this, applicants should be truthful and forthcoming on their life insurance application. 

Is it better to Apply for No Medical Exam Life Insurance?

life insurance medical exam There are a lot of insurance companies that offer no exam life insurance and doing so certainly makes things easier for the applicant. However, the life insurance rates by age for these non-medical life insurance policies could be priced higher than the rates for fully underwritten life insurance because, without the medical exam, you present a higher risk to the insurer.

And there’s a clause in every insurance contract called the “incontestability clause.” This clause allows the insurance company to investigate any death claim that is filed within two years of when the policy was issued. This means that if you declared you are a non-smoker and the company discovers during their investigation that you were a regular smoker, the company can deny the insurance claims.

Here’s how we can Help You Shop Term Life Insurance Rates by Age

Shopping for the best life insurance by age is one of the most important things that you will do in your lifetime. Thankfully, because of technology, getting insurance quotes is easier than ever before. Most independent agents provide “comparative raters” on their website where you can enter minimal information and receive a quote from multiple insurance companies.

These instant quotes are a starting point, however, not an offer to sell an insurance policy for the price you received. But a starting point lets you know who’s competitive and who isn’t and provides you with enough information for you to contact or email that agent to discuss your insurance needs. In most cases, after you have spoken to an agent and provided the necessary information he or she requires, you will know what your insurance will cost rather than just having a web quote.

 Let’s start with Life Insurance rates in your thirties and go from there…  

Life Insurance Rates by Age Chart in Your Thirties

Life insurance in your 30s Your life insurance coverage needs have just begun. It may be just you and your spouse right now. Once children join the household, your most important obligations will have arrived. Their well-being as they grow, attend college, and eventually leave the nest will be the most important factor in your life insurance coverage for the next couple of decades. The younger you are when you buy life insurance, the cheaper the life insurance rates.

The premiums for life insurance in your thirties are amazingly affordable. Especially if you are in excellent health, making sure your household is protected financially until your kids are on their own will be very easy on your budget. Staying healthy and staying away from tobacco will allow you to take advantage of the best life insurance rates by age.

You may have a mortgage. This is another important consideration. If you are in a small business partnership, life insurance can be a key support in the event of a partner’s unexpected death.

 

“In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” -Abraham Lincoln

 

Life Insurance Rates by Age in Your Forties

life insurance in your 40s You can still get cheap life insurance.

The demands on your income may be at a peak in your forties, your household full and your salary growing.

The expense of your children’s education will soon be a reality, or it already is. If you are building a small business, protecting your hard-earned interest in that enterprise should be a priority You might even be making serious plans for your retirement.

The level of debt you are carrying may be at a peak in your forties.

Mortgages, personal loans and credit cards are a fact of life you are proud to bear for your family. You don’t want the unexpected death of you or your spouse for that matter to place the ones you love in an unwinnable financial dilemma. 

As far as your premiums are concerned, they aren’t that much higher than for those in their thirties, especially if you are healthy. Life insurance over 40 is a smart investment for the ones you love the most that will be easy on your budget.

Even in you’re out of your thirties, life insurance over 40 is very affordable. In fact, a 45-year old male can leave a million dollars to his surviving loved ones for less than $100 per month. That is certainly enough to pay off the mortgage and other debts and have plenty left over for monthly expenses for a good many years.

Life Insurance Rates by Age Chart in Your Fifties

life insurance in your 50s Considering your life insurance needs are not as great now, life insurance is still cheap.

By your fifties, your life insurance needs may be shifting. Your children are on their own and dealing with their own life insurance needs, relieving you of some significant financial responsibility. You may be able to see your retirement on the horizon.

Your household still relies on your salary just as it did in the past. Financial obligation is still very real. Mortgages, small business-coverage, and your retirement may all remain as important life insurance considerations.

Whether you are already insured and need to update your coverage, or you are looking at life insurance for the first time, the premiums in your fifties are still very affordable. After we assess your personal risk factors we find the policy you need from among over 40 of the nation’s top life insurance companies.  And yes, you can still get life insurance with no medical exam in your 50s.

Congratulations, you made it into your fifties, check out our handy quoter on this page to get a quote and request some help.

“Whether you are already insured and need to update your coverage, or you are looking at life insurance for the first time, the premiums in your fifties are still very affordable.”

Even as you slide into your fifties, term life insurance continues to be a bargain. Typically as you age you’ll need less life insurance than you needed in your 30s and 40s. A 50-year old non-smoker in good health can still by $250,000 in life insurance for less than $100 per month. Here again, if you have an old term policy that is getting ready to expire, now is the time to convert some or all that coverage to permanent insurance that will provide insurance coverage for the rest of your life.

Life Insurance Rates by Age Chart in Your Sixties

life insurance in your 60s Life insurance in your sixties is not as expensive as you think, you can still buy cheap term life insurance.

If you have waited to buy life insurance and think it is too late for you to afford the premiums, think again. Ogletree Financial is a broker agency representing over 40 top insurers.

Our marketplace knowledge can lead you to the life insurance product that is the right choice for you and your loved ones.

Many of the reasons you would buy life insurance in your thirties and forties still exist in your sixties. Your kids may be on their own, but is the mortgage paid off?

Your income is almost certainly still an important support for your household’s day to day expenses.

If you have invested your life in a small business partnership, it would be a shame for all that hard work to slip away when a partner dies unexpectedly. Life insurance can protect your sacrifice.

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter” -Mark Twain

You can also still get life insurance in your 60s without taking a medical exam.  Maybe you are looking to retire now and your life insurance needs are not as great as they were when you were younger.

 

Life Insurance Rates by Age in Your Seventies

life insurance in your 70s Life Insurance in your seventies??

It’s true!! There are many reasons to purchase life insurance in your seventies. The number of those employed in their seventies is rising. What does your salary do for your household? Are you still building on your retirement strategy?

If you are concerned about your health, you may not need to be. A client who is seventy-three with high blood pressure, controlled with medication diet and exercise is probably less worrisome to a life insurance carrier than the same issue for a client who is thirty -seven.

You may need to go ahead and replace that old outdated policy while you can still qualify. 

Even if you decide on less coverage than you wanted, something will be there to protect your family’s financial future.

“Do not grow old, no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born.” Albert Einstein

What if I Cannot Medically Qualify for Term Insurance?

application denied

Certainly, many seniors are dealing with multiple health issues from time to time. This could be the result of putting your career before your health over the last 45 years. It happens to a lot of us. Regretfully, even seniors that have been active during their lives and have taken good care of themselves are likely to experience some illnesses when they get into their 70s.

Many insurers specialize in senior life insurance products which brings many options to the table.

The Bottom Line for Purchasing Life Insurance Rates by Age

There are many independent insurance agents that you can purchase life insurance from that are ready to take on new clients that are in perfect health. This is a quick and easy insurance sale that every agent loves to be involved in. Their client is in great health and they are likely to qualify for almost any policy the agent has available to them.

But what if you have some health issues that disqualify you from those preferred easy-issue policies? Will your independent agent stay on the line with you and make certain they have an insurance carrier that is willing to offer the coverage you need at a price you can afford?

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does term life insurance cost?

The cost varies depending on age, gender, amount and length of term. We have published our study here on every age between 30 and 80.

What is the maximum age for term life insurance?

Most companies cut off the age at 70. We have several companies that can provide term life insurance up to age 80.

What happens if my term life insurance is expiring?

You have a couple of options. Assuming you are healthy, you can purchase a new term life policy. Many term policies have conversion options that allow you to upgrade to a permanent policy.

Do I get my money back if my term expires?

In most cases, you do not get your money back. We work with several companies that offer Return of Premium term life insurance that will refund your premium after your 15, 20, 25 or 30 year term period.