How to compare life insurance quotes the sane way
Start with coverage needs, not price. Decide who relies on your income and for how long. Most families do fine with term coverage that clears the mortgage, childcare, and 5–10 years of expenses.
Get apples-to-apples quotes. Use the same term length, face amount, and riders across all insurers. If one quote includes extras and another doesn’t, the price gap is meaningless.
Disclose honestly. Underwriting will see medical records, prescription history, and motor-vehicle reports. Hidden conditions or nicotine use will surface later and change your rate class.
Understand rate classes: Preferred Plus, Preferred, Standard, and sub-standard. Small differences in BP, BMI, A1C, or recent tickets can move you between classes dramatically.
Buy while you’re healthy. Age and health trend only one way. Locking a term today often beats waiting for a ‘perfect’ checkup.
Consider laddering: a larger 10–15 year policy for high-expense years and a smaller 20–30 year tail. Total premium usually drops while coverage matches real risk.
Name a contingent beneficiary and review annually, especially after debts or dependents change.
Bottom line
Use the checklist above, keep documents handy, and compare on the same terms. When in doubt, verify with official sources.