Life Insurance Guides
Plain-English guides to life insurance: term vs. whole life, how much coverage you need, what it costs, taxes, and getting covered with a DUI or health issues.
Life insurance replaces your income for the people who depend on you if you die. Choosing a policy comes down to three questions: what type of policy fits you, how much coverage you need and what you can afford. These guides answer each one, and explain how insurers look at applicants with a DUI, a health condition or a risky record.
Life Insurance Basics
See all 4 guides →Term vs. whole life, how much coverage you need, what it costs and how life insurance is taxed.
Life Insurance Basics
Term vs. Whole Life Insurance: Which Is Right for You?
Term life covers you for a set number of years at a lower cost. Whole life lasts for life and builds cash value, but costs more. Here is how they compare and who each one fits.
Life Insurance Basics
How Much Life Insurance Do You Need? A Simple Calculation
Work out how much life insurance you need in five steps: income to replace, debts, future costs like college, existing savings and coverage, and for how long.
Life Insurance Basics
How Much Does Life Insurance Cost? Rates by Age, Amount and Term
Term life rates by age, coverage amount, term length, health class and smoking status, from October 2026 data, plus what drives the price and how to pay less.
High-Risk Applicants
See all 2 guides →How insurers treat applicants with a DUI, a risky driving record or health issues, and your options when a medical exam is a problem.
High-Risk Applicants
Can You Get Life Insurance After a DUI?
A single DUI rarely rules out life insurance, but timing matters. Here is how life insurers use your driving record, how long a DUI affects your rates and how to apply.
High-Risk Applicants
No-Medical-Exam Life Insurance: Types, Costs and Who It Fits
You can buy life insurance without a medical exam, but the trade-offs differ a lot between accelerated underwriting, simplified issue and guaranteed issue. Here is how to choose.