Best Questions to Ask Before Choosing Life Insurance Coverage

You don’t buy life insurance every week. Most people choose a policy a few times in a lifetime, which means small mistakes can hang around for decades. I’m a licensed life insurance agent, and my goal is to hand you a simple playbook: the questions that get honest answers, expose fluff, and lead to a policy you can keep with confidence.

Copy these into your notes. Ask them on a call, in chat, or by email. A good agent welcomes them.

1) “What job is this policy built to do for me?”

Coverage should match a purpose: income protection, mortgage payoff, final expenses, legacy, business needs, or care for a lifelong dependent. Ask your agent to connect the policy to your goal in plain language.

Green flag: “Your priority is income protection while the kids are at home, so a 25–30 year level term covers that entire stretch. We can add a small permanent layer for final expenses that never go away.”

2) “Why this carrier for my profile?”

Every company prices health, build, medications, nicotine or vaping, family history, and hobbies a bit differently. The right match can shave real dollars and avoid delays.

Green flag: “You’re a runner on a statin with stable labs—Carrier A prices that well. Carrier B would charge more for the same profile.”

3) “What health class did you use for this quote—and what class do you expect after underwriting?”

Most online forms assume a top class. That looks pretty on a screen and then changes later. You want a realistic range based on your answers.

Ask for: a quick pre-screen covering height/weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, prescriptions, nicotine or vaping, driving history, and any activities carriers care about. Five minutes here saves weeks later.

4) “Term, permanent, or a blend—and why?”

Term life buys the most coverage per dollar for a set period like 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 years. Great for income protection, a mortgage, or kids at home.
Permanent life (whole life or certain guaranteed UL designs) lasts for life and can build cash value. Useful for final expenses, legacy goals, business buy-sell needs, or lifelong dependent care.

Plenty of families blend both: a large term policy for the heavy years and a small permanent policy that never expires.

Ask for: two or three options with clear trade-offs in dollars, not buzzwords.

5) “How did you size my coverage amount?”

A fast framework:

• Income replacement for 7–10 years, or 10–15× gross income for a quick estimate
• Debts to clear: mortgage, student loans, auto, credit cards
• Kid funding or college help
• A buffer for final expenses
• Subtract savings and any coverage that will truly remain in force

If the “perfect” number feels heavy, set a monthly budget and buy the most protection you can keep comfortably. A steady policy beats a big policy that lapses.

6) “Why this term length?”

Tie the term to your timeline:

• Mortgage payoff date
• Youngest child’s age plus years to finish school
• Years until retirement or a planned downsizing

Laddering can fit real life even better: for example, $750k for 10 years + $500k for 20 years + $250k for 30 years. Big protection early, then it steps down as debts shrink and kids grow up.

Ask for: a simple table showing monthly cost for two term lengths and a laddered option.

7) “Can I qualify without a medical exam—and is that my best price?”

Modern underwriting approves many applicants without labs. Fast, simple, convenient. Some healthy people still save money with a brief exam, since strong vitals and labs can earn a top class. If a “no-exam” case triggers extra checks, the timeline can stretch anyway.

Ask for: side-by-side pricing and timing for both paths, then pick the winner for your profile.

8) “What riders add real value for me—and what do they cost?”

Riders are add-ons. Buy intent, not buzzwords.

• Accelerated benefits / living benefits: access part of the death benefit after a qualifying chronic, critical, or terminal event. Many policies include a basic version at no charge; upgraded versions vary by company.
• Waiver of premium: if you meet the policy’s disability definition, the insurer pays your premium. A lifesaver for single-income homes.
• Child rider: low-cost coverage for kids with a future conversion option.
• Return of premium (term): higher price now, base premiums back if you outlive the term. Sometimes the math wins, sometimes not—run both versions.

Ask for: one-page rider math in dollars per month. If the payoff isn’t clear, skip it.

9) “Show me the fee lines and billing math.”

Even simple policies have small levers that move the total.

• Policy fee and modal load: monthly billing can cost more than annual. EFT can narrow the gap.
• Table ratings and flat extras: health or avocation risks can add a percentage or a dollar amount per $1,000 of coverage.
• Admin charges and COI (for UL/IUL/VUL): visible on the expense pages.

Ask for: the expense pages and a monthly-vs-annual comparison. If yearly saves a chunk, plan for it.

10) “For term: what are the conversion rules?”

Conversion lets you move term coverage to a permanent policy during a window with no new medical questions. This option helps if health changes later or if you want a small lifetime layer without a fresh exam.

Ask for: the conversion window, the permanent products available, and a simple example of what it costs to convert a slice of coverage.

11) “If my health improves, can we ask for a better rate?”

Many carriers allow reconsideration after certain changes—weight loss, improved labs, a clean period after nicotine. You keep the same policy and ask for a class review.

Ask for: the timeline and the steps to submit new info.

12) “How are claims handled and who helps my family?”

This is the moment coverage proves its worth. You want a clear path for your spouse or partner.

Ask for: the claims checklist, average timelines, required documents, and a direct phone number or email for support.

13) “Who handles service after issue?”

Beneficiary updates, address changes, billing fixes, conversion guidance, and a check-in each year. That’s real service.

Ask for: a short service promise in writing—how to reach your agent and what to expect.

14) “Can you stress-test this policy?”

For permanent plans, request:

• The full illustration with guaranteed and current columns side by side
• Expense pages (policy fee, admin fee, per-$1,000 charges, premium load)
• For IUL: cap, participation, and spread assumptions plus a modest stress test (for example, 4%–5% crediting)
• For whole life: base premium vs. paid-up additions and any PUA load
• For loans: rate type and how loans affect crediting or dividends

If the plan only works under rosy assumptions, you’ve learned something valuable.

15) “What are the exclusions, grace period, and reinstatement rules?”

Know the contours:

• Two-year contestability period and suicide clause language
• High-risk activities, foreign travel, or aviation limits
• Grace period length and how to reinstate if a payment is missed
• Auto-draft options and reminders to prevent lapses

Ask for exact wording or page numbers so you can mark them.

Red flags that deserve a pause

• One carrier on every quote with no comparison
• Teaser rates that assume perfect health without a pre-screen
• A permanent policy shown only with optimistic projections, no stress test
• Riders added by default with no dollar breakdown
• “This policy pays for itself” with no pages to back it up
• Vague answers on conversion rules or a tiny conversion window

A trusted agent answers with numbers, not slogans.

A 10-minute script you can use today

Send this in a single message and you’ll get straight answers fast:

1. “What health class did you use for my quote, and what class do you expect after underwriting?”
2. “Give me two term lengths tied to my timeline and show monthly cost for each.”
3. “Price no-exam vs. a short exam for me—same coverage.”
4. “List riders that fit my case and the cost per month for each.”
5. “Share the expense pages and the difference between monthly EFT and annual pay.”
6. “What’s my term conversion window and product menu?”
7. “If my labs improve or I quit nicotine for 12 months, when can we request new rates?”
8. “Send the claims checklist my spouse would use.”

That one note cuts through the fog.

How I guide clients from quote to policy

1. Quick chat or text. Goals, budget, and a few health basics.
2. Targeted shopping. I run multiple carriers that like your profile, not a one-size list.
3. Clear choices. Term vs. permanent, term length, ladder ideas, and riders—with plain-English trade-offs and the monthly number for each.
4. Easy application. E-signatures. If a brief exam helps the price, I set it up at home or work.
5. Updates from me. You’ll know where things stand at every step.
6. After-issue care. Annual check-ins, beneficiary help, conversion guidance, and rate reviews if health improves.

No mystery math. No pressure. Just a plan that fits your life.

Ready to build your shortlist?

Send your age, state, coverage goal (income, mortgage, kids, final expenses), monthly budget, and any health notes you want me to factor in. I’ll reply with real numbers, plain-English pros and cons, and the fastest path to approval.

Your family gets protection that actually fits. You get clarity and a steady guide when you need one.