What does a $500,000 life insurance policy cost? (2024)

Figuring out how much $500,000 in life insurance costs can be a difficult task. Many factors play into the cost of life insurance, such as age, health, insurance company, and policy details. We break down the cost of $500,000 in coverage and the factors that determine your premium.

Life insurance is underwritten by insurance companies, each with their own set rates based on several factors explored below. When shopping for $500,000 in life insurance coverage, whether whole life or term life, you should explore a few different insurance companies to ensure you are getting the most competitive quotes.

When looking at $500,000 in coverage for a 20-year term, which is the most common term, the difference in cost is drastic. Transamerica charges an average of $18.28 a month, whereas Prudential charges $34.82 a month.

It is important to note, however, that just because one company’s posted rates are lower than another does not mean they are the best choice. Factors such as age, length of term, health, and smoking status, will determine insurability and which companies will offer quotes.

How does term length affect the average cost of a $500,000 term life insurance policy?

One of the primary deciding factors for the cost of life insurance is the length of time the policy is active. The most common term is 20 years. However, 10, 15, and 30 years are also available. The term dictates how long the coverage is in place – therefore, how long you pay a premium and have a death benefit. A longer-term generally will come with a higher premium per month.

A 40-year-old shopping for $500,000 in term life insurance will see a significant jump in monthly cost between a 10-year term and a 30-year term. The rate goes from $24.80 a month for 10 years to $61.75 a month for 30 years.

When buying life insurance, you should make sure that you buy a term appropriate for your risk level – older individuals may want a shorter term to line up with life expectancy versus longer terms for younger applicants.

Keep in mind that rates for life insurance can vary based on different factors, so it’s important to compare rates from different companies to get a better idea of your options.

How do age and gender affect the average cost of a $500,000 life insurance policy?

A life insurance policy is rated by an insurance company based on the applicant’s age, gender, health status, policy length, and amount of coverage. Generally, older individuals will have a higher premium than younger individuals due to a shorter life expectancy.

For example, a 30-year-old shopping for $500,000 of coverage and a 10-year term will pay $18.44 a month on average, whereas a 40-year-old would pay $24.80. These premiums increase significantly the older you are, with a 70-year-old paying $397.84 for the same coverage.

Gender also plays into the monthly cost of life insurance. Males will find that their premium is higher than that of comparable females because males generally have a lower life expectancy. The difference varies by age, but younger and older men will see a significant difference, whereas middle-aged men and women will have similar premiums.

Looking at $500,000 of coverage, a man in their 30s can expect to pay around $18 a month, whereas a woman would pay about $15 a month. This difference in monthly premiums increases drastically for 60-year-old applicants, where men can expect to pay around $137 a month versus $79 a month for women. Clearly, men can expect their rates to be higher, but many factors go into determining premiums other than age and gender, such as lifestyle, health, and term length.

It is important to note that other factors will play a greater impact on rates besides gender, such as health and status as a smoker.

How does smoking or poor health affect the average cost of a $500,000 term life insurance policy?

Besides age and term, your health status and whether you smoke will be critical pieces of underwriting data that will directly affect your life insurance rate. An applicant for life insurance that is in poor health will receive a higher rate compared to an applicant in good health. This is because, generally speaking, poor health correlates to earlier death, which means an earlier payout of the death benefit on your life insurance.

Your health can be determined in a few ways by the insurance company. Many insurance companies will have blood work done and ask you about your medical history to determine insurability. While not all insurance companies will require blood work (more on this below), many do and can offer more competitive rates to those that do not have any major health issues.

Even without blood work, the insurance company will ask for medical history and determine your body mass index (BMI). Your BMI is a calculation of weight and height to determine if someone is overweight, average, or underweight compared to others in their age group. A higher BMI correlates to more health issues and earlier death, so insurance companies use this calculation in determining the rate to charge an individual applicant. Learn more on how to get life insurance with a high body mass index (BMI).

Smoking is the other major health hazard insurance companies ask for when shopping for term life insurance. A smoker will have a higher rate than a non-smoker due to the plethora of associated health issues and increased chance of early death. Smokers can always count on a higher monthly rate. In fact, smoking is the highest driver of premium when it comes to health issues.

A $500,000 life insurance policy with a 10-year term costs an average of $62.99 per month for a smoker, compared to $29.26 per month for someone in poor health or $26.88 for someone with a high BMI. This compares to the same rate for a healthy individual, which would cost around $18.44 a month.

As you can see, health and BMI are very important, but nothing drives up the rate as much as smoking. Find out more about life insurance for smokers.

Average Cost of a $500,000 Permanent Life Insurance Policy

Life insurance comes in many forms, but there are three main types of life insurance: whole, universal, and term. Whole and universal life insurance are often called permanent life insurance because they are ongoing rather than for a set term. These products offer benefits beyond the basic death benefit offered by term life insurance, such as retirement savings and investment income.

While there is a benefit to having these more complex policies, it comes at a cost, as whole life insurance can often be twenty times higher. If you are in the market for life insurance, you should determine if term life or permanent life insurance is correct for your situation.

Looking at the cost of a whole life insurance policy for a 40-year-old non-smoking male can give us insight into the drastic difference between term and permanent life insurance costs. For this individual to purchase $500,000 in coverage, a term policy would cost $50 a month on average for a 20-year term, whereas a whole-life policy could cost $400 a month. This is due to the benefits outside of the death benefit offered by the whole-life policy.

A term life insurance policy generally only pays out a death benefit without any other supplementary features. This accounts for the lower cost and easier underwriting that goes into these policies and is perfect for consumers looking to provide a safety net to their loved ones after their death.

Because there are many types of term life insurance, it is important to understand the differences before you make a decision.

Whole life insurance is far more expensive, but it offers many benefits that term insurance will not cover.

$500,000 Life Insurance with No Medical Exam

Some insurance companies have begun to offer life insurance without medical exams (or no-medical exam life insurance). With these companies, you can enter some information on their website to get a quote issued immediately or sent over after review. These instant life insurance companies will look to collect normal personal information, as well as medical history, lifestyle choices, prescription medications, and possibly driving history.

The cost of this insurance is frequently the same as comparable life insurance policies that do require a medical exam. The key difference is that instant life insurance is more selective in who they will underwrite and insure – focusing on specific health groups and setting parameters on lifestyle and habits (for example, the insurer may not take any smokers). For individuals that fall into the target demographics, however, instant life insurance can be a quick and easy way to get a policy without taking extra steps.

With similar costs and terms as other more in-depth insurance companies, the emergence of instant life insurance has given consumers a convenient way to shop for their life insurance needs. Some of the main companies that offer instant life insurance are Ethos, Jenny Life, and Haven Life. (For more information, read our “What is an instant life insurance policy?“).

Read more: Ethos Life Insurance Review

Is a $500,000 life insurance policy right for you?

Determining the right amount of coverage is the first step in purchasing life insurance. There are several factors to consider, such as cost of living expenses for your beneficiary, debts that will be passed on, and expenses they will incur. Other factors that may go into your decision are future expenses, such as tuition costs, assisted living, medical expenses, and home repairs. (For more information, read our “Is Tuition Insurance Worth It?“).

Utilizing a calculator to determine the right amount of coverage. For example, the term life insurance Calculator can help you make an educated decision. A good rule of thumb is to purchase 10x to 12x your current annual salary.

This should just be used as a general guide, as your personal family situation, dependents, and finances will all come into play in determining the right amount of coverage. You can also always buy more coverage in the future if your situation changes. However, rates will increase as you get older, so planning ahead is a cost-effective strategy.

Case Studies: What does a $500,000 life insurance policy cost?

Scenario 1: Sarah, a 35-year-old non-smoker

Sarah is a 35-year-old woman who leads a healthy lifestyle. She exercises regularly, maintains a balanced diet, and has no pre-existing health conditions. She is looking to purchase a $500,000 term life insurance policy to protect her family financially.

Sarah is considering a 20-year term to align with her long-term financial goals. Based on her age, gender, and excellent health, Sarah receives several quotes from different insurance companies. After comparing the options, she finds a suitable policy with a monthly premium of $20.

Scenario 2: Mark, a 45-year-old smoker

Mark is a 45-year-old man who has been a smoker for the past 20 years. Despite his smoking habit, Mark is in good overall health and has no significant health issues. He realizes the importance of life insurance and wants to provide financial security for his family.

Mark decides to apply for a $500,000 term life insurance policy with a 15-year term. Due to his smoking habit, he receives higher quotes compared to non-smokers. After exploring different insurance providers, Mark finds a policy with a monthly premium of $70 that suits his needs.

Scenario 3: Michael, a 55-year-old with pre-existing health conditions

Michael is a 55-year-old man who has pre-existing health conditions, including high blood pressure and diabetes. He takes regular medication and manages his conditions through a healthy lifestyle and regular medical check-ups.

Despite his health challenges, Michael understands the importance of life insurance and wants to secure financial protection for his loved ones. He decides to explore options for a $500,000 permanent life insurance policy.

Given his age and health conditions, Michael receives quotes with higher monthly premiums compared to individuals without pre-existing conditions. After careful consideration, Michael finds a suitable whole life insurance policy with a monthly premium of $300 that offers additional benefits and coverage.

Life Insurance Costs: The Bottom Line

The cost of life insurance varies based on several factors, such as age, gender, health, smoking, lifestyle, and type of coverage purchased.

For $500,000 of coverage, rates can vary between men and women and different age groups, but generally, younger non-smokers with good habits will have lower premiums. Term life insurance is less expensive than whole life, but it offers fewer policy features.