Most organizations sell the five basic types of term life insurance. Keep in mind that whole life insurance should be purchased from an established and reliable corporations because you pay in the present and expect protection long into the future.

Stock whole life insurance firms

Stock term life insurance organizations are profit-making firms owned by stockholders who are not necessarily insurance policyholders. plan s are usually sold as "nonparticipating" term life insurance, meaning they do not earn policy dividends for insurance policyholders.

Mutual companies

Mutual companies are owned by the insurance policyholders. Mutual firms sell "participating" policy which means that dividends may be paid to the insurance policyholder. These dividends are a result of organizations charging too high a premium rate for a particular year. Investment earnings of firms may be higher than expected or companies expenses could be less than planned. Dividends may be taken as cash, applied to the following year's premium, used to purchase paid-up additions to the plan , or left to accumulate interest to add to the cash value of the policy .

Professional, Fraternal and Religious firms

Professional, fraternal and religious firms operate in a different state from which you live. Usually all business is done through the mail without the services of a local agent. Costs may seem low but the counseling advice from the agent is missing. It is wise to write for a specimen contract of the plan and examine it carefully before purchase.

Check with the State Insurance Commissioner's office to see if the companies is licensed in your state.

variable life insurance may be purchased as an individual insurance purchase from a corporations agent or through a group plan where you are a member of that group.

Individual variable life insurance

Individual variable life insurance sold as an individual purchase from a companies agent offers term, whole life, limited payment and endowment type policies. Medical examinations are usually required before coverage is issued. A certificate called a policy is given to the individual as proof of being insured.

Group life insurance

Group term life insurance is generally offered as insurance through the group from an term life insurance firms and requires no medical examination. Premium costs are lower in a group plan because there are fewer operating expenses. As the employee leaves the job or retires, the protection ends. It is sometimes possible to convert the term group policy to a permanent form of term life insurance, if done within 30 days of leaving the group.