Term Life Insurance Policies

Term life insurance

What is it and how does it work?

Term life insurance is the most simple and affordable life insurance option. It provides coverage for a set period of time or “term” (typically 10–30 years), and is designed to protect your dependents during that term. If you pass away during the term period, your beneficiaries receive a cash payment referred to as the “death benefit” to cover expenses or income loss related to your passing.

Term life insurance with Ethos might be right for you if:

You need to replace your income over a specified period of time (like raising children or paying off a mortgage)
You need to cover short-term financial responsibilities such as a loan or credit card debt
You need additional coverage temporarily, such as during child-raising years or starting a business
You want the most affordable coverage
You want a more streamlined and straightforward process

What’s the difference between term and whole life insurance?

The main differentiating factor of whole life insurance is that it lasts for your entire life and can be used as an investment vehicle—unlike term policies, which expire after your chosen length and have no investment component. Some insurers invest your whole life premium payments and the interest earned on those investments goes back into your policy as accrued cash value. For these reasons, whole life insurance policies typically cost 5-15x more than term policies for the same amount of coverage.

Whole life insurance is a good option for those with complex financial situations, or someone seeking the security of coverage for the remainder of their life. Term life is a good fit for those who want the most affordable coverage or who need to replace their income over a certain period, for example until their children are no longer dependent or the mortgage is paid off.

Coverage you can trust

Our policies are backed by established life insurance companies like Legal & General America, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., AAA Life, Principal, and TruStage®. By combining our streamlined application with their coverage, we’ve been able to shrink the application process down to minutes, compared to weeks with traditional applications. You get the dependability of major insurers and the convenience of a modern technology company.

Why purchase with Ethos?

Expert advice

You don’t have to talk to an agent if you don’t want to. But if you do, our team of licensed agents are standing by, happy to answer any questions you have. They aren’t paid on commissions, so you won’t be upsold. They’re here to help find the right life insurance policy for you.

Flexible coverage

Get anywhere from $20,000 to $1.5 million in term life insurance protection. Choose between 10, 15, 20, and 30-year terms.

Fast process (no medical exams for most)

Our 100% online and hassle-free process makes it easy to apply. What traditionally took weeks can now be done in minutes, so you can focus on what matters. Most applicants don't even need a medical exam.

Free-look, money-back guarantee

If you’re not happy with your policy in the first 30 days for any reason, we’ll refund your payment in full. After that, you are also free to cancel your policy at any time if it doesn't work for you, with no cancellation fees.

Simplified issue vs. fully underwritten

Ethos offers term life insurance policies with various levels of underwriting. Here’s a quick look at the differences between each, and what that means for you:

Simplified issue:

Most of our term policies are simplified issue, which means the application process is simplified. The underwriting decision is instant, and based solely on third-party data pulls and the applicant’s responses to some health questions within the application. No medical exams necessary.

This type of underwriting may be right for you, particularly if:

You need life insurance, but you aren’t sure you’d qualify for a traditionally underwritten policy
You want a simple process without medical exams or lab tests
You thought you couldn’t get life insurance because of your age or health

Fully underwritten:

Some of our term policies are fully underwritten. Traditionally, most fully underwritten policies require applicants to fill out a full application and have a medical exam. However, we don’t require a medical exam from most applicants (just a few health questions are asked within the application).

This type of underwriting may be right for you, particularly if:

You’re in good health
You’re looking for life insurance with a higher death benefit
You don’t mind a longer application process

FAQs

What does a policy cover?

It’s ultimately up to your beneficiaries to decide how to use the payout. People often use it to help cover things like:

Home mortgages or rent
Lost income
Loans & debt
Children’s education
Living expenses
Funeral costs

How do policy claims and payouts work?

In general, it’s simple for your beneficiaries to file a claim and receive the payout. If you pass away while your coverage is in force, your beneficiary can file a claim with your insurance carrier, and the carrier will work with them to issue the death benefit payout. Your insurance carrier will be identified on your policy documents. Assuming there are no unusual complications, your beneficiary will receive an untaxed, lump-sum payment for the value of the policy (the death benefit). For example, if you purchase $1 million in coverage, your beneficiary will receive a tax-free $1 million lump-sum payout.

Is there a chance the payout won’t be paid?

A claim may not be paid out if underwriting finds that parts of the application were answered untruthfully or if the claim is the result of death by suicide within the first two years of the policy being in force.

What happens when my term ends?

If you do not pass away during your term, you have a few options when your term ends:

You can apply to extend your term to ensure you always have coverage.
You can apply for a new policy with a longer or shorter term, with the same, or more, or less coverage.
You can elect to not get another policy if you determine you no longer need the financial protection.

Have more questions?

Search for answers on our full FAQ page.

How to purchase a policy

Choose coverage

Choose a policy that’s right for you. Ethos offers a range of coverage and term length options, so you can personalize your coverage to fit your needs.

Apply online

After you choose your plan, complete our online application. It’s simple, straightforward, and it only takes about 10 minutes.

Activate your coverage

Once your application is submitted, we’ll process the information to provide you a quick (sometimes instant) decision on coverage eligibility and your rate. If approved, you can activate your coverage immediately.