How to Get Life Insurance
Jason Stolz CLTC, CRPC
At Diversified Insurance Brokers, we make getting life insurance clear, strategic, and built around real-world financial planning. As an independent agency with access to more than 75 top-rated carriers, we help individuals and families compare policies side by side, understand underwriting differences, and secure coverage that aligns with both immediate responsibilities and long-term objectives. Whether you are protecting your household income, covering a mortgage, funding a buy-sell agreement, or planning for wealth transfer, our process is designed to prioritize transparency, flexibility, and measurable value. Unlike captive agents who represent only one carrier, we evaluate multiple underwriting departments, pricing structures, and policy designs to determine where your profile is most likely to receive the most favorable offer. That independence frequently results in lower premiums, stronger contract provisions, or access to underwriting niches that single-carrier agents simply cannot offer. If you are just beginning your research, our guide on how to buy life insurance walks through the fundamentals, but when you are ready to evaluate live pricing, the real advantage comes from comparing multiple carriers at once.
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Modern underwriting has evolved significantly over the past decade. Many applicants can now receive instant or accelerated decisions using digital health records, prescription databases, motor vehicle reports, and third-party analytics — often eliminating the need for a traditional paramedical exam. That does not mean exams have disappeared entirely. In fact, for certain applicants in excellent health, completing a life insurance medical exam can actually produce better long-term pricing by allowing full underwriting credits. The key is knowing when speed is more valuable than marginal pricing improvements, and when a fully underwritten policy may deliver stronger cost efficiency over 20 or 30 years. We walk clients through those tradeoffs before any application is submitted. Our live marketplace quoting tools provide real-time premium ranges, but pricing alone does not determine value. Carrier financial strength, conversion privileges, chronic illness riders, and contractual flexibility all play meaningful roles in determining whether a policy truly fits your planning strategy. If you have previously been declined or rated, the approach must be even more deliberate. Our structured high-risk life insurance process evaluates underwriting guidelines before submitting formal applications, helping reduce unnecessary inquiries and positioning your case with carriers most aligned to your health profile.
Choosing the correct type of coverage is equally important. Term life insurance remains one of the most efficient tools for temporary income protection, business obligations, or debt coverage during peak earning years. Many families layer 10-, 20-, or 30-year terms to match mortgage amortization schedules, dependent timelines, or projected retirement milestones. For those comparing durations, our breakdown of 10 vs 20 vs 30 year term life insurance explains how cost structures shift across time horizons. However, term coverage is not designed to last forever. Permanent insurance — including whole life, guaranteed universal life, indexed universal life, and other structures — can address estate liquidity, legacy planning, and long-term financial flexibility. Some policies accumulate cash value that may be accessed through loans or withdrawals under certain conditions. Others focus primarily on guaranteed lifetime death benefit protection with minimal volatility. Many of our clients ultimately use a blended strategy, combining term coverage for income protection with permanent coverage for legacy or tax-advantaged accumulation planning. Evaluating how those components work together — and how carriers price each structure — is where independence delivers measurable value.
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Underwriting remains the most misunderstood aspect of life insurance. Age, medical history, prescription use, build, blood pressure, cholesterol ratios, family history, avocations, and even driving records can affect classification. Two carriers may assess identical information differently based on internal actuarial experience. For example, one insurer may offer more favorable consideration for controlled hypertension, while another may be more competitive for applicants with past tobacco use or specific occupational exposures. Applicants with complex medical histories often benefit from informal underwriting inquiries before formal submission. This pre-screening allows us to present anonymized case details to underwriting departments to gauge likely outcomes. It is particularly valuable for individuals seeking life insurance after a prior decline, as strategic placement can significantly improve approval probability and pricing class. Even minor details — such as the timing of a medication adjustment or updated lab work — can influence results. By structuring submissions intentionally, we help minimize surprises and optimize underwriting pathways.
Cost considerations naturally play a central role in decision-making. Premiums are determined by mortality risk, policy structure, and carrier pricing models. Younger applicants in strong health often secure lower long-term costs, but that does not mean older applicants lack viable options. In fact, we frequently assist individuals in their 50s, 60s, and beyond who are evaluating coverage for estate planning, final expense considerations, or asset protection. For those navigating coverage later in life, our educational overview on life insurance for seniors outlines available structures and underwriting expectations. Policy riders also influence cost. Accelerated death benefit provisions, waiver of premium riders, child riders, and conversion privileges each add functional value depending on circumstances. Rather than defaulting to standardized packages, we tailor rider selection to align with actual planning objectives. In many cases, simplifying a policy can reduce unnecessary expense without sacrificing core protection.
Beyond individual household protection, life insurance plays a critical role in business continuity planning. Buy-sell agreements, key person protection, and executive compensation strategies frequently rely on properly structured coverage. In these cases, ownership, beneficiary designation, and premium funding arrangements must be carefully coordinated with legal and tax advisors. Independent brokerage access is especially important in business planning scenarios because face amounts can be substantial and underwriting scrutiny may be heightened. Our team collaborates with CPAs, attorneys, and financial planners to ensure policy design aligns with broader strategic objectives rather than operating in isolation. When policies are structured correctly from inception, they can provide predictable liquidity at precisely the moment it is needed most.
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Life insurance should not exist in a vacuum. It interacts with retirement accounts, taxable investment portfolios, real estate holdings, and long-term financial projections. Beneficiary designations must be reviewed periodically to ensure alignment with estate planning documents. Policy performance — particularly in flexible premium or indexed structures — should be evaluated over time to confirm assumptions remain reasonable. Even term policies warrant review prior to expiration to determine whether conversion options, extensions, or replacement strategies make sense. Our advisory process extends beyond initial placement. We encourage ongoing review so that coverage evolves alongside life events such as marriage, business formation, home purchases, or retirement transitions. When policies are integrated thoughtfully within a comprehensive financial framework, they provide clarity and stability rather than confusion or redundancy.
Ultimately, the difference between purchasing a policy and implementing a strategy lies in process. Online rate tables may show a starting premium, but they rarely account for underwriting nuance or contractual detail. Captive representatives may offer strong service, but their recommendations are inherently limited to one product shelf. Independent brokerage access opens the full marketplace, allowing pricing, underwriting philosophy, and product structure to be evaluated objectively. For applicants with straightforward health profiles, that may mean confirming competitive rates quickly. For applicants with more complex considerations, it may mean identifying specialized carriers before any formal paperwork is submitted. In either case, clarity reduces friction, and informed positioning improves outcomes.
Diversified Insurance Brokers has served families and businesses for more than four decades, maintaining a consistent focus on transparency, education, and disciplined underwriting strategy. Our role is not simply to generate quotes, but to help you understand how those quotes fit into your broader financial picture. Whether your priority is income protection, debt coverage, estate liquidity, business continuity, or long-term accumulation planning, life insurance can serve as a flexible and reliable component when structured appropriately. The first step is comparison — not just of price, but of design, underwriting alignment, and long-term adaptability. When you are ready to move forward, we are prepared to help you evaluate options with clarity and confidence.
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FAQs: How to Get Life Insurance
What’s the first step to getting life insurance?
The first step is deciding what the policy is supposed to do—replace income, pay off a mortgage, cover business obligations, or protect a spouse and children. Once you know the “job” of the coverage, you can estimate an amount and compare pricing across multiple carriers. Many people start by running instant quotes, then refine the coverage amount after they see what different term lengths and face amounts cost.
How much coverage should I get?
A quick rule is 10–15× income, but a needs approach is more accurate. Add income protection for the years your family depends on you, then add debts like a mortgage and any major goals such as college funding. Finally, subtract savings and existing coverage. If you’re uncertain, compare a range (for example, $500k, $750k, and $1M) across 20- and 30-year terms to see what fits your budget.
Which type should I choose—term or permanent?
Term life is usually the most affordable way to buy a large death benefit for a specific period (often 10–30 years) and is commonly used for income protection and mortgages. Permanent life (whole life or universal life) is designed to last for life and can be useful for lifetime needs like final expenses, legacy planning, or long-term obligations. Many families start with term, then consider a permanent solution later if a lifelong need becomes clear.
Do I need a medical exam to get covered?
Not always. Some carriers offer accelerated underwriting that uses health databases, prescription history, and identity verification to approve without an exam. Other cases—especially larger face amounts or more complex histories—may still require a paramed exam with basic vitals and labs. Even when an exam is required, it’s typically quick and can lead to better pricing for healthier applicants.
How long does the process take?
Some simplified or instant-decision applications can be approved quickly, sometimes the same day. Many fully underwritten policies take longer because the carrier may request medical records, lab results, or additional clarification, especially if you have ongoing conditions or specialist care. A good strategy is to be ready with your doctors’ names, medications, and recent test history so underwriting doesn’t stall.
What affects my premium the most?
Age and health class are the biggest drivers, followed by the term length and coverage amount you choose. Nicotine use, build, blood pressure, cholesterol, family history, and prescription history can influence your rate class. Lifestyle factors like driving history, hazardous hobbies, and certain occupations can also matter. Applying sooner typically locks in lower pricing for the full term.
Can I get life insurance if I have health issues?
Often, yes. Many managed conditions can still qualify for traditional coverage, especially with consistent follow-up care and stable labs. When underwriting is more challenging, carrier selection becomes even more important because companies treat the same condition differently. In tougher cases, simplified-issue or guaranteed-issue options may exist, though coverage amounts and pricing can be more limited.
Who should I list as beneficiary?
Most people name a primary beneficiary (often a spouse) and a contingent beneficiary (for example, children). It’s important to keep beneficiaries updated after major life events. If you want to protect minor children, it’s usually better to name an appropriate trust or custodian structure so proceeds can be managed properly until the child is older.
What riders are worth considering?
Common riders include an accelerated death benefit (which may allow access to part of the benefit for qualifying illness), waiver of premium for disability, child riders, and term conversion options. The “best” riders are the ones that match your goals and are reasonably priced for your situation. We typically keep it simple and add riders only when they solve a real need.
Is employer life insurance enough?
Employer coverage is a helpful start, but it’s often limited (such as 1–2× salary) and may not follow you if you change jobs. A personal policy can lock in pricing and stay with you long-term. Many families use group coverage as a base layer and add an individual policy for the bulk of income and mortgage protection.
About the Author:
Jason Stolz, CLTC, CRPC and Chief Underwriter at Diversified Insurance Brokers, is a senior insurance and retirement professional with more than two decades of real-world experience helping individuals, families, and business owners protect their income, assets, and long-term financial stability. As a long-time partner of the nationally licensed independent agency Diversified Insurance Brokers, Jason provides trusted guidance across multiple specialties—including fixed and indexed annuities, long-term care planning, personal and business disability insurance, life insurance solutions, and short-term health coverage. Diversified Insurance Brokers maintains active contracts with over 100 highly rated insurance carriers, ensuring clients have access to a broad and competitive marketplace.
His practical, education-first approach has earned recognition in publications such as VoyageATL, highlighting his commitment to financial clarity and client-focused planning. Drawing on deep product knowledge and years of hands-on field experience, Jason helps clients evaluate carriers, compare strategies, and build retirement and protection plans that are both secure and cost-efficient.
