Interested in life insurance but don't know where to start?

Find out all you need to know.

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Do I need life insurance?
70% of American families would be bankrupt in months if they lost the primary breadwinner.

If something happens to you, your loved ones don’t just lose you—they also lose your income, on top of everything else you provide. If you provide financial or caregiving support to someone, it’s essential to make sure they would be taken care of if they lost you.

Even if you have employer-sponsored life insurance, you may want to consider additional coverage. Employer-sponsored policies typically offer coverage that is about 1-2X your annual salary. However, financial experts recommend having coverage that is about 10X your salary. That can result in a large gap in protection if you’re solely relying on your policy through work.

A life insurance policy can help your family maintain the lifestyle they've grown to love and provide long-lasting financial security.

What type of life insurance is best for me?
There are several different types of life insurance, but just two broad categories you really need to understand: term life and permanent life.
What is permanent life insurance?

Permanent insurance is more complex than term, and it offers different benefits. Whole life is the most well-known and simplest form of permanent life insurance. While term life insurance lasts for a specified term, whole life insurance lasts for the rest of your life. A payout is guaranteed at the time of death for your policy’s beneficiaries, and some of the money paid into the policy (your premium) is set aside to build “cash value” which can increase the death benefit or be accessed on a tax-free basis with a policy loan. Advocates for whole life policies say this is a more conservative, long-term strategy over buying term insurance. These features are why whole life policies can cost up to 20X more than term policies. (Financial Mentor)

What is term life insurance?

Term life insurance is the most simple and affordable 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.

Ethos offers term life insurance and recommends it particularly if:

  1. You need to replace your income over a specified period of time (for example raising children or paying off a mortgage).
  2. You want the most affordable coverage.
  3. You want a more streamlined and straightforward process.
Personalized coverage options
With several term lengths and a wide range of coverage to choose from, your life insurance policy is on your terms. Every policy issued by Ethos includes level premiums, meaning your monthly payment will never increase during your term.
Several term lengths
  • Choose between 10, 15, 20, and 30-year terms.
Flexible coverage
  • Get anywhere from $100,000 to $1.5 million in protection.
Who can apply?
  • Any U.S. citizen age 20 – 65 are welcome to apply.
Bonus
  • All policies issued by Ethos include an accelerated death benefit rider.
Coverage starting at $1 a day
Get an instant online quote.
How to choose the right coverage
There are several factors that can affect how much coverage you need, and how long you need it for. The two variables to adjust based on your unique situation are coverage amount and term length.
Coverage amount

There are a few ways to think about your coverage amount. A simple way to calculate this is by multiplying your annual salary by 10. Or, you can use the tools below to get a more detailed estimate. Alternatively, you can use the DIME method to add up what you need.

Total coverage = Debt + Income + Mortgage + Education costs

Term length

Determining the right term length can depend on several factors. Consider a term that would cover your family for the number of years they would depend on you, financially or otherwise. You may want a term that lasts until:

  • You retire
  • Your children are grown and are no longer dependents
  • Your mortgage is paid off
  • You reach your savings goals
Calculate your coverage needs
Use our free online tool to calculate how much coverage you may need.
How much can I expect it to cost?

The cost of your policy can vary based on several factors, including the term length and amount of coverage, in addition to your gender, age, health, and lifestyle.

With Ethos, you can customize your policy by choosing 10-30 year term lengths and $100,000- $1,000,000 in coverage. Your monthly rates stay the same throughout the entire duration of your term.

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Why Ethos?
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Fast and easy process
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.
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Honest advice, non-pushy agents
You don’t need to talk to an agent – unless you want to. Our agents are experts in finding you the coverage that best suits your family’s needs.
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Trusted by thousands
We have an ‘Excellent’ rating from Trustpilot with 4.8 stars and an A+ rating from the Better Business with zero customer complaints. That’s why thousands of Americans choose Ethos.
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Industry-leading partners
We work with Legal & General America, RGAX, and Munich Re to offer you the best life insurance plan.
Insure your life. In 3 simple steps.
Ethos makes it easy to apply for a plan that protects the people you care about most.
1
See your options
Before you apply, get an instant, personalized quote with multiple coverage plans to choose from.
2
Apply in minutes
After you choose your plan, complete our online application. It’s simple, straightforward, and it only takes about 5 minutes.
3
Get covered
Our underwriters will review your application and present your options. It’s that simple.
Why thousands of Americans choose Ethos
via Trustpilot
These guys are great
These guys are great! They really made purchasing a life insurance policy easy!! Any questions we had they were right there to help us through it.. highly recommend Ethos!
Jesicah
via Trustpilot
Simple and quick life insurance application
My experience with Ethos was great. Hassle free. I have bought several term life policies over the years and the Ethos process was the simplest that I have experienced. Communication was great and the Ethos team kept me informed as my application went through processing.
Texasaggie1
via Trustpilot
The application process was seamless
The application process was seamless. The turnaround time was great. And the monthly premium is more than reasonable. Also the follow-up from direct live agents was a plus.
Bobby
via Trustpilot
These guys are great
These guys are great! They really made purchasing a life insurance policy easy!! Any questions we had they were right there to help us through it.. highly recommend Ethos!
Jesicah
via Trustpilot
Simple and quick life insurance application
My experience with Ethos was great. Hassle free. I have bought several term life policies over the years and the Ethos process was the simplest that I have experienced. Communication was great and the Ethos team kept me informed as my application went through processing.
Texasaggie1
via Trustpilot
The application process was seamless
The application process was seamless. The turnaround time was great. And the monthly premium is more than reasonable. Also the follow-up from direct live agents was a plus.
Bobby
via Trustpilot
I absolutely LOVED working with ETHOS…
I absolutely LOVED working with ETHOS and this team. Most of my inquiries were responded to very quickly, and the answers were clear. Thanks Ethos. Having life insurance I can afford has definitely brought some peace of mind.
Konnie
Need help getting started?

Our team of licensed agents is happy to help you with any questions you may have. We’re dedicated to finding the right coverage to protect your loved ones.

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