15-Year Term Life Insurance Cost Guide (2025 Rates)


The average cost of a 15-year term life insurance policy for 40-year-olds is $46 per month for $500,000 coverage. Rates depend on age, health and coverage.

Find out if you're overpaying for life insurance below.

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Key Takeaways
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Policy rates vary based on age and gender. According to MoneyGeek's 2025 survey of major insurers, the average monthly cost of 15-year term life insurance for an 18-year-old woman with $500,000 coverage is $23, while the same policy costs an average of $633 for a 70-year-old man.

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Health and lifestyle affect life insurance costs. A 15-year term policy with $500,000 costs an average of $57 per month for those in poor health, $74 for overweight people, and $144 for smokers.

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Lincoln Financial, SBLI and Protective Insurance are among the most affordable providers of 15-year term policies. They offer competitive rates for a wide range of applicants.

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A 15-year term life insurance policy offers fixed premiums and guaranteed coverage for 15 years, making it a good fit for mid-term financial needs like mortgage payments, education costs or debt payoff.

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What Is a 15-Year Term Life Insurance Policy?

A 15-year term life insurance policy covers you for 15 years. This policy works well when you need affordable coverage for a specific period, like while your kids are young or you're paying down your mortgage, without paying for lifelong insurance.

When you purchase a 15-year term policy, you agree to pay monthly or annual premiums to keep the policy active for the entire term. The premiums remain level throughout the 15-year term.

If you die within that period, your chosen beneficiaries will receive the policy’s death benefit, which they can use to cover funeral costs, living expenses, mortgage payments, outstanding debts, or educational needs. After 15 years, the policy expires and no benefit is paid if you outlive the term, unless you convert it or renew it.

How Much Does a 15-Year Term Life Policy Cost?

The average cost of life insurance depends on term length, coverage amount and individualized factors.

For our base profile, a 40-year-old male who doesn't smoke, has average health and has a $500,000 coverage amount, the average rate is $46 per month or $551 per year.

Average premiums for different ages and coverage amounts:

Data filtered by:
Select
Female
$100,000$8$94
$250,000$13$159
$500,000$23$272
$750,000$32$387
$1,000,000$41$492
$1,500,000$60$729
$2,000,000$80$965
$2,500,000$99$1,192
$3,000,000$117$1,420

Rates shown are estimates for nonsmokers with average weight and health ratings. Actual rates vary based on health, lifestyle and insurer underwriting guidelines. Get personalized quotes for accurate pricing.

15-Year Term Life Insurance Cost for High-Risk Applicants

Since people who smoke or have poor overall health are more likely to develop serious medical conditions, insurance companies consider them risky to cover and charge higher premiums. The cost of term life insurance is also slightly higher for people who are overweight.

Filter the table below to see the average 15-year term life insurance costs by age, gender and coverage level.

Data filtered by:
Select
Female
Overweight
$100,000$11$137
$250,000$19$232
$500,000$33$397
$750,000$47$563
$1,000,000$59$717
$1,500,000$88$1,062
$2,000,000$116$1,405
$2,500,000$144$1,736
$3,000,000$171$2,069

Rates are based on MoneyGeek's 2025 survey of major life insurance carriers for a 40-year-old male nonsmoker with average health and weight. These may not reflect your actual premium.

Average Cost of 15-Year Term Life Insurance by Company

MoneyGeek analyzed the cost of a term life insurance policy by company and coverage amount to help you save time and money. Our analysis shows that Lincoln Financial offers the most affordable life insurance policies with 15-year term lengths for a $100,000 coverage amount.

Data filtered by:
$1,000,000
Lincoln Financial$58$686
Protective Insurance$63$755
North American$63$754
Midland National$63$754
SBLI$66$796
CoreBridge$67$803
Legal & General$68$821
Pacific Life$68$821
Guardian Life$70$844
Transamerica$71$848
Principal National$71$850
Cincinnati Life$73$882
Royal Neighbors of America$76$913
Gerber Life (Fabric)$77$932
Columbus Life$80$950
Prudential$81$981
Assurity$83$1,003
AAA$84$1,011
Securian$84$1,006
Ameritas$84$1,010
Foresters Financial$85$1,011
Equitable Life$86$1,034
Mutual of Omaha$87$1,046
John Hancock$88$1,066
Life Insurance Co of The South West$92$1,106
National Life Group$92$1,106
Nationwide$99$1,201
Ethos$228$2,741

Rates are based on averages for a 40-year-old male nonsmoker with average health.

What Factors Impact Your 15-Year Policy Cost?

MoneyGeek’s research shows that your premium depends on several factors, such as your age, health, lifestyle and the coverage amount you choose. Knowing how each of these affects your rate can help you find the right policy for your needs.

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    Age

    Younger people get more affordable life insurance quotes because insurers consider them less risky. Insurance companies use actuarial tables that show statistical life expectancy based on age, making it much cheaper for younger applicants to be insured.

    For example, a healthy 25-year-old will pay substantially less than a healthy 45-year-old for the same coverage amount.

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    Gender

    Statistically, females have a longer lifespan than men. So, they pose less risk and pay less for a term life insurance policy, though some states prohibit using gender as a pricing factor.

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    Health Status

    Insurance companies consider your height and weight, medical records and your family's medical history to determine if you have or may develop a health condition that can shorten your life. Insurers assess your Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and family history of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other hereditary conditions to determine your premium rates.

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    Lifestyle

    Lifestyle factors like your smoking habits and criminal record play a significant role in determining your policy's cost. Tobacco use can double or triple your premiums, while criminal history, dangerous occupations, risky hobbies like skydiving, and poor driving records with DUI/DWI convictions can increase rates or lead to coverage exclusions.

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CALCULATE YOUR COVERAGE NEEDS AND GET QUOTES

Estimate how much life insurance you’ll need. A common rule of thumb is to multiply your annual income by 10 to 12. For instance, someone earning $50,000 might look at $500,000 to $600,000 in coverage. 

Be sure to include debts, mortgage balance, education costs and long-term financial goals when refining your estimate.

Then, compare quotes from several insurers to find the best life insurance companies.

15-Year Term Life Insurance Quote

Getting quotes based on your age, health and coverage amount helps you find the most affordable 15-year term life insurance options. Use the life insurance calculator below to compare rates and see what fits you best.

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Nov 07, 2025

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15-Year Term Life Insurance: Bottom Line

A 15-year term life insurance policy is a practical and affordable option for those with short- to mid-term financial responsibilities. It’s especially useful for parents, homeowners and anyone nearing retirement who wants to protect loved ones from debt or income loss.

With competitive rates from top providers like Lincoln Financial (averaging $11 per month for a healthy 40-year-old with $100,000 worth of coverage) and flexible coverage options, a 15-year policy offers solid financial protection without long-term commitment.

Compare Life Insurance Rates

Ensure you are getting the best rate for your insurance. Compare quotes from the top insurance companies.

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15-Year Life Insurance Cost: FAQ

You can make an informed decision about purchasing 15-year term life insurance with answers to these frequently asked questions.

How does a 15-year term life policy work?

Who should buy a 15-year term life insurance policy?

What happens when my 15-year term life insurance expires?

Our Ratings Methodology

Finding the right 15-year term life insurance means balancing cost with reliable coverage. We researched which companies offer the best rates, financial stability and customer service for this coverage length.

We collected quotes from insurers with national coverage and online quoting tools. Instead of using advertised rates, we gathered real quotes using standardized profiles for accurate comparisons.

Sample Customer Profile

We used this standard profile to collect quotes:

  • 40-year-old male
  • Nonsmoker
  • 5'9" and 160 pounds
  • Average health rating

We adjusted age, gender, health status and tobacco-use to compare rates across different customer types. This strategy showed pricing patterns for many demographics.

Why This Matters

Fifteen-year term insurance covers specific financial obligations like mortgage payments or children's education costs that end within this timeframe. Our methodology identifies insurers that excel at this mid-length coverage period, where you need reliable protection without paying for longer coverage you don't need.

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About Mark Fitzpatrick


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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!

He writes about economics and insurance, breaking down complex topics so people know what they're buying.


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