Updated: August 12, 2025
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MoneyGeek's analysis shows that the costs for $100,000 of term life insurance range from $10 to $50 per month, depending on gender and term length.
Rates increase with age, with a 70-year-old man paying $210 more per month than a 40-year-old man, and a 70-year-old woman paying $152 more per month than a 40-year-old woman.
Life insurance rates are higher for smokers, those in poor health, and those who are overweight, averaging $36, $15 and $18 per month, respectively, for a $100,000 10-year term policy.
The cost of a life insurance policy varies based on term length, age, health history, and lifestyle. MoneyGeek analyzed $100,000 life insurance policies to find the average premiums for different profiles.
For 40-year-olds, a 10-year term plan costs $11 monthly for men and $10 for women.
Term life insurance offers coverage for a set duration, usually between 10 and 30 years. Some companies also offer 40-year terms. Most renewable life insurance policies can be extended for an additional term or until the policyholder reaches a specific age. This flexibility lets policy owners adapt their coverage as their life circumstances change.
Monthly premiums for a $100,000 life insurance policy by term length:
| 10 years | $11 | $131 |
| 15 years | $14 | $167 |
| 20 years | $18 | $206 |
| 25 years | $23 | $281 |
| 30 years | $29 | $337 |
| 35 years | $35 | $415 |
| 40 years | $50 | $607 |
*Rates are based on averages for 40-year-old nonsmokers with average health.
As you age, the risk that an insurer will need to pay out on your insurance increases, so premiums rise. People usually buy life insurance for the first time around age 30. Prices continue to increase as you age, with life insurance rates for 65-year-olds being over 16 times higher than those for 30-year-olds.
Average monthly cost of a $100,000 policy by age and term length:
| 10 years | $8 | $90 |
| 15 years | $9 | $113 |
| 20 years | $12 | $140 |
| 25 years | $15 | $182 |
| 30 years | $19 | $230 |
| 35 years | $22 | $266 |
| 40 years | $33 | $396 |
Life insurance rates vary by insurer. Companies calculate premiums and weigh factors differently.
Average $100,000 policy rates by company:
| Lincoln Financial | $5 | $61 |
| Foresters Financial | $5 | $62 |
| Cincinnati Life | $6 | $74 |
| Assurity | $6 | $76 |
| North American | $7 | $76 |
| Midland National | $7 | $76 |
| AAA | $6 | $77 |
| Prudential | $6 | $77 |
| CoreBridge | $7 | $82 |
| TransAmerica | $7 | $84 |
| SBLI | $7 | $86 |
| Columbus Life | $8 | $87 |
| Mutual of Omaha | $7 | $87 |
| Life Insurance Co of The South West | $7 | $90 |
| National Life Group | $7 | $90 |
| Pacific Life | $8 | $91 |
| Ameritas | $8 | $97 |
| Fidelity Life | $8 | $97 |
| John Hancock | $9 | $115 |
| Nationwide | $10 | $120 |
| Gerber Life (Fabric) | $11 | $135 |
Smoking puts you at risk for multiple health problems and increases your insurance risk. Even the cheapest life insurance policies for smokers cost significantly more.
Average monthly and annual rates for a $100,000 policy for smokers:
| 10 years | $23 | $282 |
| 15 years | $29 | $346 |
| 20 years | $35 | $429 |
| 25 years | $59 | $717 |
| 30 years | $59 | $710 |
| 35 years | $81 | $961 |
People with a poor health history are considered more likely to file an insurance claim, and insurers classify them as high-risk policyholders. A history of serious illnesses like heart disease or cancer will almost certainly increase your premiums.
Average rates for a $100,000 policy for those with poor health:
| 10 years | $10 | $116 |
| 15 years | $12 | $142 |
| 20 years | $15 | $177 |
| 25 years | $22 | $268 |
| 30 years | $24 | $292 |
| 35 years | $29 | $343 |
People who are overweight pay slightly higher life insurance rates than those of average weight.
Average monthly and annual costs for $100,000 policies if you're overweight:
| 10 years | $12 | $141 |
| 15 years | $14 | $175 |
| 20 years | $18 | $217 |
| 25 years | $27 | $322 |
| 30 years | $30 | $356 |
| 35 years | $40 | $479 |
Your location affects the cost of a $100,000 life insurance policy. Below are specific costs for your state.
Depending on your health status and the insurer's criteria, you may qualify for $100,000 life insurance that doesn't require a medical exam, which speeds up the application process.
Average $100,000 no-exam life insurance costs by age and term length:
| 10 years | $6 | $71 |
| 15 years | $7 | $89 |
| 20 years | $9 | $110 |
| 25 years | $15 | $179 |
| 30 years | $15 | $184 |
Permanent life insurance refers to policies that never expire, no matter when the insured dies. Whole and universal life are the two most common types of permanent life policies that insurance companies offer. They can cost up to 20 times more than term life insurance.
Whole life insurance offers permanent death benefit coverage with fixed premiums for the insured's entire life. It also includes a savings component known as cash value, which earns interest you can receive as payouts or dividends.
Universal life insurance provides both a death benefit and investment savings with flexible premiums or a minimum amount to retain the policy.
To calculate permanent life insurance cash value, consider interest accumulation based on your insurer's predetermined fixed or market-linked rate. Premium payments contribute to tax-deferred growth, and exact values are available through annual statements or online tools.
Your $100,000 life insurance policy with cash value grows based on a rate set by the insurer when you buy the policy, linked to market indices or at a fixed rate specified in the policy. Premium payments contribute to this cash value, which grows tax-deferred. Check your policy's annual statement for the exact cash value or use your insurer's online tools to estimate future values.
Getting cheap life insurance is easier than you think. Use these strategies to get $100,000 life insurance without breaking the bank:
Compare rates from multiple insurers to find the best deal on a $100,000 life insurance policy. Prices vary between companies, so it's wise to look at several options.
If you need coverage for a specific period, consider a $100,000 term life insurance plan, which costs less than $100,000 whole life insurance.
$100,000 no-exam life insurance may offer competitive rates, especially if you're healthy.
Living a healthy lifestyle can reduce your premiums. Nonsmokers and those without serious health issues often qualify for better rates.
Changing the coverage amount or policy term can lower costs. For instance, [10-year term life insurance](10-year term life insurance) costs less than longer terms.
These strategies help you minimize the cost of a $100,000 life insurance policy, making it more affordable.
A $100,000 life insurance policy balances affordability and essential coverage. To find the best life insurance company, compare personalized quotes from multiple insurers. Use our life insurance calculator below to get quick estimates.
We’ll give you a suggested amount of cover to buy in just 3 easy steps. — it's free, no personal information required, no spam.
Rates updated:
Aug 12, 2025
Choosing the right amount of life insurance coverage can feel confusing. A good rule of thumb is getting coverage 10 to 12 times your annual income. A $100,000 policy works well if you:
A $100,000 policy also makes sense if you're financially secure, don't have dependents, have few financial obligations or little debt. It can cover final expenses or leave a legacy to loved ones. If you already have life insurance and want to add coverage or extend your term, consider a $100,000 term policy.
For example, a $100,000, 10-year term policy may cover your daughter's college tuition. However, don't expect this amount to cover major costs, such as your mortgage.
If you buy a $100,000 life insurance policy and die while coverage is active, your beneficiaries will receive the full $100,000 death benefit, assuming all premiums are current and no policy violations occurred. You choose how your death benefit gets distributed. Most insurance policies offer a lump sum as the default payout option.
Some policies have an installment payment option where the money and accrued interest are paid out regularly over the beneficiary's life. Certain insurers provide checkbooks to recipients of large insurance policies instead of lump-sum or installment payouts.
However, a $100,000 life insurance policy typically works best if you're financially stable, have no ongoing financial obligations, have minimal liabilities or are debt-free.
Your insurance company may not require a medical exam if you're young and healthy. In these cases, you could get a $100,000 life insurance policy in minutes.
Guaranteed-issue life insurance doesn't require a medical exam or health questions, making it accessible for many people, especially those with health concerns. However, coverage amounts for guaranteed-issue policies are usually lower due to the increased risk insurers take on. Most insurers cap coverage well below $100,000, often around $25,000.
You may need to explore other policy types for $100,000 coverage.
Unlike traditional life insurance, which can take weeks for approval, instant life insurance doesn't require a medical exam and offers fast, convenient applications. It's only available to people in specific age groups who meet certain health criteria. A $100,000 instant life insurance policy costs the same as a traditional policy with identical coverage.
You may pay more if you apply for instant life insurance using simplified issue underwriting instead of accelerated underwriting, which costs the same as policies requiring medical exams. Instant life insurance policies are available from insurers such as Brighthouse SimplySelect, Ethos and Jenny Life.
The key difference: guaranteed-issue insurance requires no exam or health questions, while instant life insurance may ask a few health questions. Guaranteed-issue insurance costs more. Instant life insurance with accelerated underwriting requires many health questions, while simplified issue underwriting asks only a few.
Choosing the right amount of life insurance coverage requires evaluating your financial responsibilities and future goals. Here's how to determine appropriate coverage:
Review your debts, monthly living expenses and future obligations, such as college tuition or retirement savings for a spouse. This evaluation helps you choose coverage that protects your family.
Consider how much income your dependents would need if you died. A general rule is getting coverage of at least 10 times your annual income to cover immediate and future financial needs.
Factor in end-of-life costs, such as final medical bills and funeral expenses. Covering these costs can relieve your family of financial stress during a difficult time.
Think about your family's long-term financial goals. Whether it's paying off a mortgage or funding a child's education, your life insurance should support these goals without leaving a financial burden.
Life insurance policies come in many terms and amounts. $100,000 coverage is among the most common and affordable options most insurers offer.
Depending on your situation, different $100,000 policies and providers offer better value for your needs. The cost of $100,000 life insurance varies based on age, health status, smoking habits and policy type. Term policies provide cheaper temporary coverage, while whole life offers permanent protection with cash value. Compare quotes from multiple insurers to find coverage that fits your budget and protection needs.
Commonly asked questions about $100,000 life insurance policies:
The average monthly cost of a $100,000 life insurance policy for 40-year-olds is $11 monthly for men and $10 for women for a 10-year term policy. Age, gender, smoking habits and medical history affect your life insurance premiums.
If you die while your policy is active and premiums are current, the insurance company will pay your beneficiary $100,000, typically as a lump sum or through installment payments based on your chosen payout option. You can choose the term length to suit your family's needs.
It depends. A $100,000 term life insurance policy works if you already have adequate savings, have few financial obligations or owe little debt. It's also adequate if you're only looking for coverage for funeral or other specific expenses.
Yes, seniors can get $100,000 life insurance. This coverage may cost more than rates for younger buyers. Shop around for the best rates.
Yes, $100,000 no-exam policies are available through simplified issue life insurance options. These plans skip the medical exam process, making approval faster and more convenient. However, premiums are usually higher than traditional policies that require medical evaluation.
The lowest life insurance payout varies by policy type. Simplified or guaranteed issue policies may offer minimum coverage amounts as low as $5,000 to $10,000, mainly to cover funeral expenses and minor debts. Term and permanent life insurance policies usually start around $25,000.
Yes, gender impacts life insurance premiums. Men's life insurance rates are usually higher than women's due to shorter life expectancies and higher health risks. Insurers use statistical data to calculate premiums based on longevity and risk factors.
Some states prohibit gender-based pricing for life insurance. Check your state's regulations for specific requirements.
A $100,000 policy is rarely enough for a family of four. Experts suggest 10 to 12 times annual income to cover expenses like mortgage payments, childcare, education and final costs. Most families need $500,000 to $1 million for adequate financial protection.
Yes, you can increase coverage using options like guaranteed insurability riders, policy conversion, buying an additional policy or replacing your existing policy. Availability and costs depend on the insurer and your health status when requesting changes.
A $100,000 term policy lasts 10 to 30 years and costs $11 to $15 monthly, but it has no cash value. A $100,000 whole life policy costs $85 to $120 monthly, lasts a lifetime and builds cash value for savings or loans.
Life insurance costs vary by age, health, and coverage amount. We built our approach to mirror how shoppers compare term coverage in the real world (by age, health, tobacco use, term length and more) so the results translate into practical decisions.
What We Did
We collected and averaged term life insurance quotes from leading insurers.
Every quote used $100,000 in coverage to ensure direct comparisons.
We identified trends in the dataset and projected pricing patterns where additional data was needed.
Sample Profile
Our baseline quotes used a standard profile:
How We Expanded the Analysis
We modified the profile to examine how pricing changes with:
Why This Matters
Using a $100,000 baseline highlights how specific factors like health or tobacco use impact rates.
Trend-based projections fill gaps where insurers don't publish direct quotes, giving a more complete view of potential pricing.
This approach provides reliable cost benchmarks for those considering $100,000 term life coverage.
About Mark Fitzpatrick
Mark Fitzpatrick, a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Producer, is MoneyGeek's resident Personal Finance Expert. With over five years of experience analyzing the insurance market, he conducts original research and creates tailored content for all types of buyers. His insights have been featured in publications like CNBC, NBC News and Mashable.
Fitzpatrick holds a master’s degree in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University and a bachelor’s degree from Boston College. He's also a five-time Jeopardy champion!
Passionate about economics and insurance, he aims to promote transparency in financial topics and empower others to make confident money decisions.
