10 Year Term Life Insurance: Top 5 Companies
Free Life Insurance Comparison
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Leslie Kasperowicz
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Leslie Kasperowicz holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Winnipeg. She spent several years as a Farmers Insurance CSR, gaining a solid understanding of insurance products including home, life, auto, and commercial and working directly with insurance customers to understand their needs. She has since used that knowledge in her more than ten years as a writer, largely in the insur...
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
UPDATED: Feb 18, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right life insurance coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident life insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one life insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different life insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about life insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything life insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by life insurance experts.
UPDATED: Feb 18, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right life insurance coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident life insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one life insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider.
Our insurance industry partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different life insurance companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
“A 10 year term life insurance policy provides ten years worth of level premium death benefit protection.”
Are you looking for a life insurance policy that is both affordable and that can provide the financial protection your family would need if you were to pass away unexpectedly?
A 10 year term life insurance policy may be the perfect solution. It’s a short-term policy that offers the lowest premiums on just about every type of life insurance policy available.
With a 10 year term life insurance policy, you can ensure that immediate financial obligations can be covered, such as debts, monthly mortgage payments, college education expenses, and most importantly, replacement of a deceased spouse’s income.
However, a 10 year term insurance policy is only one of several types of life insurance, and it may not meet everyone’s insurance needs.
Our guide will provide everything you need to know about a 10 year term life insurance policy as well as some of the other available options you may want to consider before making a final decision on life insurance coverage.
Looking to compare life insurance policies? We can help. Enter your ZIP code to get free quotes from multiple insurers.
Best Companies for 10 Year Term Life Insurance Policies
| Company | AM Best Rating | Type of Coverage | Eligible Ages | Coverage Amounts | Policy Features | Additional Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIG | A | 10 Year Term Insurance | 20-80 | $100,000 - $1,000,000+ | Competitive Smoker Rates | Learn More |
| Banner | A+ | 10 Year Term Insurance | 20-75 | $100,000 - $1,000,000+ | Low Rates | Learn More |
| Lincoln Financial | A+ | 10 Year Term Insurance | 18-80 | $100,000 - $1,000,000+ | No Exam Required | Learn More |
| Protective | A+ | 10 Year Term & Universal Blend | 18-75 | $1,00,000 - $1,000,000+ | Decreasing Death Benefit Option | Learn More |
| Transamerica | A+ | Term Insurance | 18-80 | $25,000 - $1,000,000+ | Living Benefits | Learn More |
Your one-stop online guide for life insurance quotes. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
How Does a 10 Year Term Life Insurance Contract Length Work?
Term insurance is the most affordable form of life insurance. It’s more affordable than both universal life and whole life by 4 to 10x the cost. The main reason why term insurance is so much more affordable is that it’s temporary life insurance, whereas the other two options are permanent life insurance options.
Term insurance is designed to last for a specific amount of years, which is known as contract lengths. Ideally, you want to choose a contract length that is long enough to provide your family with financial protection until there is no longer a significant need.
The 10 year term length is just one of the available term lengths you have to choose from. It is the lowest and most affordable traditional term contract length that is offered by most insurance companies that offer term life insurance policies.
Some companies offer a one-year term, commonly called an annual renewable term (ART) or yearly renewable term (YRT). You can also find few five-year term options, but both the one-year and five-year term options are not nearly as standard as 10 year policies or some of the longer contract lengths.
Other term life insurance lengths include 15, 20, and 30 years. There are even a few companies that have also begun to offer both a 35 as well as a 40 year option, but again, these lengths are not as standard as the 10, 15, 20, or 30 lengths.
Regardless of the plan you choose, whether it be a 10 year term length or a 30 year term length, your premium payments are locked in throughout the entire duration of the contract.
Who Should Consider Getting a 10 Year Term Life Policy?
A 10 year term life policy is best suited for those with short-term life insurance needs. Keep in mind that with a 10 year plan, your rates are only locked in for the first 10 years and then will increase annually should you decide to keep your plan.
Most people who purchase a 10 year contract will often do it because of its affordability. As mentioned, term insurance is significantly cheaper than permanent life insurance options. However, cost also comes into play between the different term lengths.
A longer duration of term coverage such as a 15, 20, or 30 year policy will cost more than a 10 year policy. A contract longer in length will result in higher odds of the insurance company having to pay out a potential death claim.
Although cost tends to be the main reason as to why people, especially young families, choose to get a 10 year policy but it’s not the only reason. A 10 year term plan can come in handy when it involves the need to have multiple life insurance policies.
A multiple policy plan can work in one of two ways:
Example One:
It’s not uncommon to have existing life insurance, such as an employer-provided plan or even an individually owned policy. Your current life insurance may have been enough coverage at the time, but as life goes on, insurance needs may change, often resulting in the need for additional coverage.
Rather than canceling your existing life insurance, it may make financial sense to keep your current coverage and simply increase your life insurance coverage with a new 10 year term policy.
The reason behind this is that life insurance rates increase as you age. In most cases, it would be cheaper to keep the existing amount of coverage and add only the difference in what is needed with another policy.
Example Two:
Another benefit to a 10 year term life insurance policy is through the use of laddering life insurance. The method works best for younger families looking to achieve the ultimate life insurance planning structure.
The plan works by purchasing one longer-term length, such as a 30 year term as a base coverage. The 30 year plan will focus on covering long term life insurance needs such as mortgage or replacement of lost income to a spouse. From there, you can add additional term insurance coverage such a 10 year term policy to cover shorter life insurance needs like debts or provide funds for a child’s college expenses.
By structuring your life insurance in a way that uses multiple policies, as your coverage needs lessen, so should your term policies leaving you just one plan that will take you into your elderly years.
In most cases, structuring life insurance policies in this way can be more affordable than if you were to buy one large 30 or 40 year term life insurance policy.
A 10 year term life insurance policy can also be helpful in many business planning needs. A lot of times, when a business needs a loan, lenders will require the company to take out a life insurance policy that is equivalent to the amount of loan.
This is known as a collateral assignment and benefits the lender should the business owner pass away with an outstanding loan balance.
If this were to happen, the lender would receive the payout in the amount of the outstanding balance, and the remaining portion paid out to the named beneficiary on the life insurance policy.
Additional business planning includes key person coverage as well as a buy-sell plan.
Read more: What is the Best Life Insurance Coverage?
Does a 10 Year Term Life Insurance Policy Require a Medical Exam?
Several life insurance companies offer 10 year term life insurance with no medical exam.
Medical exams are often part of the overall application process when applying for life insurance coverage. The only time when it’s 100% not needed is if you are applying for a guaranteed acceptance policy.
The life insurance medical exam is a helpful resource used by the insurance companies underwriters to assess your overall risk and eligibility for life insurance coverage.
Medical exams are provided to you free of cost. They are generally completed at your home with a licensed examiner who has been hired by the insurance company. The average medical exam takes about 30-45 minutes to complete.
It consists of questions about your overall health history as well as blood pressure readings, height and weight, and a blood and urine sample.
As mentioned, the medical exam helps the underwriter determine if your application for coverage can be accepted, but for some applicants, it may not be required.
Several insurance companies can offer a 10 year term life insurance with no medical exam requirements. With advancements in technology, underwriting can be done quickly and without the need for an applicant needing to go through an exam.
Utilizing underwriting tools such as prescription checks, medical background checks, and other public data is often enough to verify the accuracy of responses to both personal and medical questions on the application.
No medical exam life insurance can be a great option for those who need coverage fast or have a fear of needles. Coverage is subject to approval with no medical exam life insurance.
Every one of our no medical exam term life insurance companies offers a 10 year term life insurance option.
No exam life insurance does have its limitations. For starters, those with high-risk health conditions will not likely qualify and will often be required to take a medical exam.
No exam underwriting is also often limited to an age group of 18 to 65 unless you are applying for a final expense or burial insurance policy.
Your one-stop online guide for life insurance quotes. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What Happens at the End of the 10 Year Term?
There are a few different options that can be taken once a 10 year term insurance policy has expired. Options include:
- Annually renew the policy
- Convert the policy to permanent coverage
- Apply for new coverage
- Allow the policy to lapse and terminate
Annual Renewable Term (ART)
Shortly before a term policy is about to expire, you will generally receive a letter in the mail letting you know that your level premium is coming to an end. In most cases, a letter will notify you that you have the option to continue coverage under the same policy but at an annual renewable rate.
If you choose to continue the coverage, you will not need to do anything other than pay the premium that is being requested. Just note that the cost to continue coverage on an expired term policy can be quite expensive and will only become even more expensive each year.
Converting a 10 Year Term Life Insurance Policy into Permanent Coverage
Most term insurance policies offer what is called a conversion option. It allows you to switch your existing term insurance policy to a permanent policy such as universal life or whole life insurance. If you choose to convert your policy to permanent coverage, it will not require you to medically re-qualify through underwriting.
The conversion option can be an excellent option to have, especially if you have experienced a change in your health that would disqualify you from getting new coverage. Just keep in mind that when switching from term to permanent insurance, the premium will be more expensive.
Most conversion options need to be requested before a specified age, such as age 70 or 75. The conversion options must also be requested before the end of the level premium contract expires as well. It’s best to find out the conversion rules before purchasing your term coverage with any one particular company.
Apply for New Coverage
If you have a 10 year term life insurance policy that will soon expire, the most affordable option will be to re-evaluate your life insurance needs and decide if you still need life insurance coverage.
Applying for new coverage will require you to re-qualify with new underwriting but is likely to be the most affordable option. It will also lock your rates in for another 10 years or longer, depending on the term length you choose.
Lapse & Terminate
If there is no longer a need for life insurance, many people choose to let the policy lapse. After 60 days the policy will terminate and coverage will have officially ended. After the policy lapses and terminates you will not get any money back from the premiums that you paid. Term insurance does not accumulate any cash growth.
Average Age Cutoff for a 10 Year Term Life Insurance Policy
The average age cutoff to apply for a new 10 year term life insurance policy is generally age 80 with most companies. A 10 year term policy purchased at age 80 would provide a guaranteed fixed premium to age 90.
Note that with most term insurance policies, after the age of 70 (75 for those who qualified for preferred plus health class), you may not be able to convert your term coverage to permanent coverage.
However, many insurers will allow you to renew the policy annually after it expires up to the age of 90 or 95.
How Affordable is a 10 Year Term Life Insurance Policy?
Affordability depends on several factors. If purely speaking about affordability compared to other life insurance options or different term lengths, then yes, a 10 year policy is the most affordable option.
Choosing a longer term length or a permanent plan increases the risk of the insurance company having to pay out a death claim. Therefore insurance companies offset this risk with higher premiums for policies that are longer in duration.
How affordable your own individual life insurance policy will be is based on a variety of factors. The three most significant factors will be your age at the time of the application, the amount of coverage being requested, and what your approved health classification will be.
Every life insurance company utilizes what is known as health classifications to determine your overall risk. There are four primary health classifications ranging from preferred plus down to standard. The health classification that you qualify for will be determined once underwriting has been fully completed.
Companies set life insurance rates to correspond with each health classification. A higher health classification such as preferred plus will result in the lowest rates as that class is reserved for the healthiest applicants.
Average Cost of a 10 Year Term Life Policy
The average cost of a 10 year term life insurance policy varies. Insurance companies use various factors to calculate premium rates based on a health classification. Primary factors include:
- Age
- Tobacco use
- Overall health
- Family health history
- Height and weight
- Driving history
- Alcohol use
- Drug use
- Hazardous activities or employment
Use the below rate chart for an example of the average monthly costs for various health classes and age groups.
10 Year Term Life Insurance Rates
Average cost of a 10 year term life insurance policy.
Preferred Plus (Non-Smoker)
| Male Age | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | $7.30 | $9.68 | $13.33 | $18.92 |
| 40 | $8.25 | $11.83 | $17.20 | $23.22 |
| 50 | $14.24 | $23.46 | $39.01 | $68.26 |
| 60 | $29.14 | $55.34 | $102.51 | $194.16 |
| 70 | $86.60 | $169.06 | $317.01 | $598.81 |
| 80 | $388.03 | $750.66 | $1,455.46 | $2,841.46 |
Standard (Non-Smoker)
| Male Age | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | $9.92 | $16.56 | $26.23 | $44.45 |
| 40 | $12.03 | $18.61 | $31.10 | $56.07 |
| 50 | $24.17 | $44.76 | $82.24 | $155.61 |
| 60 | $51.17 | $104.99 | $194.46 | $376.91 |
| 70 | $148.44 | $309.80 | $596.95 | $1,112.38 |
| 80 | $606.47 | $1,290.00 | $2,507.76 | $5,009.50 |
Preferred Plus (Non-Smoker)
| Female Age | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | $6.79 | $8.60 | $11.44 | $14.62 |
| 40 | $7.91 | $10.62 | $10.62 | $21.50 |
| 50 | $12.56 | $19.76 | $32.51 | $21.50 |
| 60 | $23.85 | $39.61 | $70.26 | $127.16 |
| 70 | $59.29 | $106.00 | $197.20 | $366.75 |
| 80 | $291.58 | $581.79 | $1,066.63 | $2,070.69 |
Standard (Non-Smoker)
| Female Age | $100,000 | $250,000 | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | $9.49 | $13.98 | $21.75 | $36.98 |
| 40 | $11.72 | $16.97 | $27.81 | $49.06 |
| 50 | $20.24 | $34.97 | $62.09 | $115.66 |
| 60 | $37.82 | $69.51 | $130.45 | $251.28 |
| 70 | $95.96 | $194.14 | $373.14 | $691.45 |
| 80 | $443.76 | $864.09 | $1,698.07 | $3,370.34 |
Your one-stop online guide for life insurance quotes. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Which Companies Offer a 10 Year Term Life Insurance Policy?
Most life insurance companies that offer term life insurance will offer a 10 year term life insurance contract length. It’s the lowest and common term length available.
With a variety of companies to choose from, it’s important to compare rates to get the best value. You should also learn more about the companies that you compare. Look at their ratings and reviews to ensure that you select an insurance product from a reliable company.
Best 10 Year Term Life Insurance Companies
Top Quote Life Insurance represents over two dozen top-rated life insurance companies and all of them can offer affordable 10 year term life insurance rates. Below is a chart of
Top Life Insurance Companies That Offer 10 Year Term Life Insurance
| Companies | AM Best Rating | Policy Name | Ages | Exam | Conversion | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIG | A | Select A Term 10 | 20-80 | Yes | Yes | Get Quote |
| ANICO | A | Signature Term 10 | 18-70 | No | Yes | Get Quote |
| Assurity | A- | Term Life Insurance 10 | 18-75 | No | Yes | Get Quote |
| Banner Life | A+ | OPTerm 10 | 20-75 | No | Yes | Get Quote |
| Cincinnati Life | A+ | Termsetter 10 | 0-75 | No | Yes | Get Quote |
| John Hancock | A+ | Vitality Term 10 | 18-80 | No | Yes | Get Quote |
| Lincoln Financial | A+ | TermAccel 2019 (10) | 18-80 | No | Yes | Get Quote |
| Lincoln Financial | A+ | LifeElements 2019 (10) | 18-80 | Yes | Yes | Get Quote |
| MassMutual | A++ | Vantage Term 10 | 18-75 | Yes | Yes | Get Quote |
| Minnesota Life | A+ | Advantage Elite Select 10 | 16-80 | No | Yes | Get Quote |
| Mutual of Omaha | A+ | Term Life Answers 10 | 18-65 | Yes | Yes | Get Quote |
| Nationwide | A+ | YourLife GLT 10 | 18-70 | Yes | Yes | Get Quote |
| North American | A+ | ADDvantage Term Gen 9 (10) | 18-75 | No | Yes | Get Quote |
| North American | A+ | Classic Term 10 | 18-75 | No | No | Get Quote |
| Pacific Life | A+ | PL Promise Term 10 | 18-80 | Yes | Yes | Get Quote |
| Principal Life | A+ | Term Insurance 10 | 20-80 | No | Yes | Get Quote |
| Protective Life | A+ | Classic Choice Term 10 | 18-75 | No | Yes | Get Quote |
| Protective Life | A+ | Custom Choice UL 10 | 18-75 | Yes | Yes | Get Quote |
| Prudential Financial | A+ | Term Essential | 18-75 | No | Yes | Get Quote |
| Sagicor Life | A- | Sage Term 10 | 18-75 | No | Yes | Get Quote |
| SBLI | A | Level Term 10 | 18-74 | No | Yes | Get Quote |
| Symetra | A | Term 4.0 (10) | 20-80 | Yes | Yes | Get Quote |
| Transamerica Life | A | Trendsetter LB 10 | 18-80 | Yes | Yes | Get Quote |
| Transamerica Life | A | Trendsetter Super 10 | 18-80 | Yes | Yes | Get Quote |
The following 5 life insurance companies are consistently coming up number one for the most affordable rates when selecting a 10 year term life insurance quote.
Top 5 Companies for 10 Year Term Life Insurance
- AIG
- Banner Life
- Lincoln Financial
- Protective Life
- Transamerica
AIG
- Policy Name: Select-A-Term 10
- Type of Policy: Term Life Insurance
- Term Duration: 10 Years
- Issue Age: 20-80
- Minimum Coverage Amount: $100,000
- Maximum Coverage Amount: $10,000,000+
- Policy Riders: Accidental Death Benefit, Child Rider, Terminal Illness Rider, Waiver of Premium Rider, Select Income Rider
- Guaranteed Conversion Option: Yes
- Financial Stability Rating: A.M. Best (A)
Your one-stop online guide for life insurance quotes. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Banner Life Insurance
- Policy Name: OPTerm 10
- Type of Policy: Term Life Insurance
- Term Duration: 10 Years
- Issue Age: 20-75
- Minimum Coverage Amount: $100,000
- Maximum Coverage Amount: $10,000,000+
- Policy Riders: Waiver of Premium Rider, Term Rider, Children’s Rider
- Guaranteed Conversion Option: Yes
- Financial Stability Rating: A.M. Best (A+)
Lincoln Financial
- Policy Name: TermAccel 10
- Type of Policy: Term Life Insurance
- Term Duration: 10 Years
- Issue Age: 18-60
- Minimum Coverage Amount: $100,000
- Maximum Coverage Amount: $1,000,000
- Policy Riders: Accelerated Benefits Rider, Children’s Term Insurance Rider, Waiver of Premium Rider
- Guaranteed Conversion Option: Yes
- Financial Stability Rating: A.M. Best (A+)
Protective Life Insurance
- Policy Name: Custom Choice UL 10 Year
- Type of Policy: Term Life Insurance
- Term Duration: 10 Years
- Issue Age: 18-75
- Minimum Coverage Amount: $100,000
- Maximum Coverage Amount: $10,000,000+
- Policy Riders: Accidental Death Benefit Rider, Children’s Term Life Insurance Rider, Disability Benefit Rider, ExtendCare Rider, Income Provider Option, Accelerated Death Benefit
- Guaranteed Conversion Option: Yes
- Financial Stability Rating: A.M. Best (A+)
Your one-stop online guide for life insurance quotes. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Transamerica Life Insurance
- Policy Name: TrendSetter Super 10 Year
- Type of Policy: Term Life Insurance
- Issue Age: 18 80
- Minimum Coverage Amount: $25,000
- Maximum Coverage Amount: $10,000,000+
- Policy Riders: Waiver of Premium, Children’s Insurance Rider, Accident Indemnity, Income Protection Rider
- Guaranteed Conversion Option: Yes
- Financial Stability Rating: A.M. Best (A)
What’s the Best Way to Compare Rates for a 10 Year Term Life Policy?
Using an online life insurance quote tool is the most convenient and fastest way to compare life insurance rates. You simply enter a few details such as your age, gender, tobacco use, and the coverage amount and rates will instantly appear based on the information you provide.
It’s important to keep in mind that although online rates are 100% accurate, they are based on the health class selected, you still need to qualify for the health classification which requires underwriting.
Online quotes are great to get an idea on what you could potentially pay for a 10 year term life insurance policy or any other contract length. However, the online quote tool cannot predict what health classification you will end up qualifying for.
If you’re looking for a close to accurate life insurance quote prior to going through underwriting, the best option is to work with an experienced licensed agent. A good life insurance agent will be able to discuss your life insurance needs with you as well as get to know your health background and make recommendations based on that information.
How Does an Online Quote Tool Work?
Using an online life insurance quote tool provides a range of possible rates based on the information that you provide. Most online quote tools tend to require the same information to display possible rates. Be prepared to enter the following details:
- Age
- Gender
- Tobacco use
- Zipcode
- Term length
- Coverage amount
- Health Classification (Depending on the quoter)
Once you have entered the following, a list of companies will appear, each displaying their monthly rates for the coverage and health classification you have selected.
Key Factors About Life Insurance Rates
- Life insurance rates increase based on age.
- Tobacco users often pay double or more than non-smokers.
- If you wait a year to get coverage, you’ll likely pay a little more.
- Men also tend to pay more compared to women because their life expectancy has been proven to be shorter than women.
- Coverage amount and term length have the most direct impact on your monthly premiums. Choosing a higher coverage amount and lengthier term results in larger monthly payments.
What’s the Difference Between 10 Year Term Life and Whole Life?
| 10 Year Term | Whole Life Insurance |
|---|---|
| Most Affordable | Can Be Expensive |
| Temporary Coverage | Permanent Coverage |
| Premiums Fixed for 10 Years | Premiums Fixed for Life |
| Does Not Accumulate Cash | Can Accumulate Cash Growth |
| Not Eligible for Dividends | Can Be Eligible for Dividends |
| Can Offer Optional Policy Riders | Can Offer Optional Policy Riders |
Term life insurance and whole life insurance are two completely different types of life insurance. A term life insurance policy is classified as temporary insurance. It will provide guaranteed protection only for a specific period, such as 10 years.
Whole life insurance policies remain in place until your death as they are considered permanent plans. As long as you continue with premium payments, a whole life insurance policy guarantees a payout to your beneficiaries.
With term life insurance, the insurer only pays the death benefit if you die before the term contract ends. If you outlive the policy and choose not to renew coverage, there is no death benefit payout.
Term insurance does not accumulate any cash values. Once your policy ends, that is it. No money is returned. Whole life insurance however, offers guaranteed cash value growth. Some whole life insurance policies can also pay out dividends, which can increase your cash value and death benefit amount.
10 Pay Policy or 10 Year Term Life Policy: What’s the Difference?
A 10 pay policy is only available on whole life insurance. It’s referred to as a limited payment option that allows you to pay for the cost of the complete coverage in 10 annual payments. A 10 term life insurance policy or any other term length typically does not have a limited pay option.
On some occasions, you may be able to pay off your term insurance with one single payment, but it’s not too common. Paying your insurance off in a shorter timeframe than scheduled will be very expensive.
Your one-stop online guide for life insurance quotes. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Does a 10 Year Term Include Living Benefits and Other Policy Riders?
Policy riders are add-ons that can be added to your life insurance policy to provide additional benefits. Some policy riders will cost a fee while others are included at no additional costs. There is a wide range of different policy riders available all being able to provide their own unique benefit.
A free policy rider commonly found with most 10 year term life insurance policies is the accelerated death benefit. This is also referred to as a living benefit as it allows you to take from your overall death benefit should you become sick with a terminal illness.
Other common policy riders include:
- Accidental death and dismemberment rider (AD&D)
- Children’s term rider
- Term conversion rider
- Waiver of premium rider
Can You Get a 10 Year Return of Premium Rider?
No insurance company offers a return of premium with a 10 year term life insurance policy. The return of premium life insurance typically only available on the 15, 20, and 30-year term lengths.
With an ROP rider, you get 100% of every premium payment every made return back to you once the policy has ended. The return of premium rider has become an extinct life insurance option over the last few years.
There are currently just a few companies that offer the rider, so we do recommend that if you’re interested in the coverage, do not hesitate as it may not be available.
Should You Use a 10 Year Term Life Policy to Cover Funeral Costs?
A term life policy may not be the best choice for planning your final expenses. The average cost of a funeral is $7000 to $12,000. Many term life policies include a minimum death benefit of $25,000. While this should cover the cost of the funeral and other smaller final expenses, you may end up outliving the policy as term insurance will eventually expire.
A senior wanting coverage for funeral costs may outlive the policy. If term insurance expires after age 80, his or her advanced age would prevent them from renewing the plan due to the age cutoff term insurance has.
Another potential concern is health. If a senior was planning on using term insurance to fund funeral costs and the term insurance expires changes in health could prevent them from qualifying for new coverage. If they are outside the conversion age limits they would also not be able to convert their term to permanent protection.
Burial insurance is a better solution for seniors. Also called a final expense policy, it is a smaller type of whole life policy designed for seniors. Coverage comes with lower death benefits and no medical exams. It also includes coverage for life, ensuring that your loved ones receive a death benefit.
Available Coverage Amounts for a 10 Year Term Life Insurance Policy
Life insurance companies set minimum and maximum death benefits. The average range of available coverage is $25,000 to $10,000,000.
How Much Coverage Should You Get with a 10 Year Policy?
It’s not a good idea to pick a random number when choosing your coverage amount. A $10,000,000 policy will leave your loved ones in good shape but unless it makes financial justification, the insurance company will not allow it.
A general rule of thumb is to multiply your annual income by 10. This should provide a comfortable payout to your beneficiaries.
Along with replacing your income, you may want the death benefit to cover other expenses such as funeral costs, a mortgage, and your children’s education. An online term life insurance cost calculator can help you include these factors to determine how much coverage you need.
Use a Life Insurance Needs Calculator for Help
Choosing what the right amount of life insurance coverage to have can be tricky. To ensure that your family is protected, you may want to select a coverage amount that covers the following:
- Liabilities
- Income
- Education
- Final expenses
Through a series of questions and answers, a life insurance needs calculator can help figure these costs for you and calculate an adequate amount of life insurance coverage to have.
Your one-stop online guide for life insurance quotes. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Pros of a 10 Year Term Life Insurance Policy
- Is one of the most affordable life insurance options
- Multiple companies offer it making shopping
- Helps provide coverage for financial obligations within the next ten years
- May include a variety of add-on riders to customize your policy
Cons of a 10 Year Term Life Insurance Policy
- It only covers a short period
- You will not get back any money if you outlive the policy
- Renewing the policy after 10 year increases the premiums
- A health issue could prevent new coverage one the 10 years is up
- Age 80 is the cutoff to apply
- The lowest death benefit amount is $25,000
How to Apply for a 10 Year Term Life Insurance Policy
An online quote tool can provide an excellent idea of what 10 year term life insurance rates could cost. But remember that it’s only a quote until you have gone through underwriting and have been approved.
Most online quote tools will not only display potential rates but also provide you with the option to request an application.
Applications can often be completed online or by submitting a paper application. In most cases, you’ll need to speak with an agent even when applying online.
However, this is a plus as the life insurance agent can make sure you’re applying with the best life insurance company based on your lifestyle and health history.
No matter if you apply online or mail papers to the insurer, you’ll need to provide a variety of personal information such as:
- Social Security number
- Driver’s license number
- Beneficiary information
- Doctor’s contact information
- Health history
- Family health history
- Criminal record
The standard application process can take anywhere from two weeks to thirty days.
Your one-stop online guide for life insurance quotes. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
How to get a 10 Year Term Life Insurance Quote
If you’re interested in a 10 year term life insurance quote, please feel free to use the online quote form located here on this page.
Our online quote form will provide you with instant life insurance rates from all the top-rated term life insurance companies.
For immediate assistance or questions regarding coverage or underwriting please feel free to call or contact us.
Ready to Compare Life Insurance Rates?
It’s free, fast and super simple.
Looking to compare life insurance policies? We can help. Enter your ZIP code to get free quotes from multiple insurers.
Your one-stop online guide for life insurance quotes. Get free quotes now!
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Leslie Kasperowicz
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Leslie Kasperowicz holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Winnipeg. She spent several years as a Farmers Insurance CSR, gaining a solid understanding of insurance products including home, life, auto, and commercial and working directly with insurance customers to understand their needs. She has since used that knowledge in her more than ten years as a writer, largely in the insur...
Farmers CSR for 4 Years
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about life insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything life insurance-related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by life insurance experts.