A $1 million life insurance policy might initially seem like too much coverage at first, but once you account for long-term costs like raising children and paying off a mortgage, you may discover your loved ones would need that much financial support in the event of your death, if not more.
A $1 million life insurance policy is more affordable than you might think, especially if you’re young and in good health.
Key takeaways
A common rule of thumb is to purchase life insurance coverage at least 10 to 15 times your income. If you make $100,000 annually, that’s $1 million.
When calculating your coverage needs, make sure to include any additional financial obligations, like shared debts.
There are no restrictions on how your loved ones can spend a $1 million life insurance payout.
Average monthly rates for a $1 million term life policy
The longer your term life insurance policy is, the higher your premiums will be. A 30-year-old non-smoking male in good health can expect to pay $31 per month for a $1 million term life insurance policy with a 10-year term, or $48 for a 20-year term. That same adult would pay $71 for a policy with the same coverage amount with a 30-year term.
Age | Gender | 10-year term | 20-year term | 30-year term |
20 | Female | $23.91 | $33.63 | $49.32 |
Male | $33.76 | $47.51 | $66.57 | |
30 | Female | $24.85 | $36.90 | $57.04 |
Male | $31.59 | $48.89 | $71.88 | |
40 | Female | $37.81 | $60.65 | $97.32 |
Male | $46.80 | $75.24 | $122.41 | |
50 | Female | $89.17 | $139.50 | $232.24 |
Male | $111.38 | $188.29 | $315.50 | |
60 | Female | $190.71 | $354.51 | N/A |
Male | $259.24 | $499.98 | N/A |
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Methodology: Average monthly rates are calculated for male and female non-smokers in a Preferred health classification obtaining 10-year, 20-year, and 30-year $1 million life insurance policies. Life insurance averages are based on a composite of policies offered by Policygenius from Legal & General America, Brighthouse Financial, Corebridge Financial, Foresters Financial, Lincoln Financial, Mutual of Omaha, Pacific Life, Protective, Prudential, Symetra, and Transamerica. Rates may vary by insurer, term, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 01/01/2024.
Learn more about term life insurance rates
Sample monthly rates for a $1 million whole life insurance policy
Whole life insurance doesn’t expire, so the amount of coverage you choose will be a key factor in the cost of the policy. A 30-year-old non-smoking male in good health can expect to pay around $954 per month for a $1 million whole life insurance policy. Whole life is many times more expensive than term life.
Age | Gender | $1 million coverage amount |
20 | Female | $558.50 |
Male | $670.50 | |
30 | Female | $814 |
Male | $954.50 | |
40 | Female | $1,195 |
Male | $1,433 | |
50 | Female | $1,899 |
Male | $2,222 | |
60 | Female | $3,179.50 |
Male | $3,769 |
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Methodology: Approximate monthly rates are calculated for non-smokers in a Preferred health classification, obtaining a $1 million whole life insurance policy paid up at age 100 through MassMutual. Rates may vary by insurer, coverage amount, health class, and state. Not all policies available in all states. Rate illustration valid as of 01/01/2024.
Learn more about whole life insurance rates
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What factors influence the cost of a $1 million life insurance policy?
Life insurance companies determine how much you’ll pay for your policy based on your application and health details. Below are a few of the main factors they consider.
Your age. The younger you are, the less you’ll have to pay for life insurance because we all become riskier to insure as we age. The average cost of life insurance increases by 4.5% to 9% every year you delay buying a policy.
Your gender. On average, men pay 24% more for life insurance than women. Men have a shorter life expectancy than women, so insurers consider them riskier to insure. [1]
Your health. Generally, the fewer health conditions you have, the lower the chances that you die while the policy is active will be. This means that the healthier you are, the lower your rates will be.
Lifestyle activities. Lifestyle activities that increase your risk of dying can raise your rates — whether that’s smoking or skydiving.
Who needs a million-dollar life insurance policy?
Anyone who’s making $100,000 or more per year likely needs a million-dollar policy. Many financial advisors recommend buying coverage that’s 10 to 15 times your annual income.
The best way to determine whether you need that much coverage is to calculate your current expenses and future financial obligations.
For example, say you:
Make $100,000 per year
Have $200,000 remaining on your mortgage, and
Plan to have a child before your policy expires
To cover your remaining mortgage and the cost of raising a child to age 18 (approximately $310,605, according to the Brookings Institution and data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture), [2] your loved ones would need over $500,000.
If you’d like to leave them enough on top of that to replicate just five years of your $100,000 salary, you would need another $500,000.
In total, you’d need at least $1 million in coverage. If you have additional debt or want to cover the cost of your future child’s college education, you might need even more.
Do you have greater coverage needs?
If you’re a high-net-worth-individual, consider shopping for a $5 million or $10 million life insurance policy instead.
Who can buy a $1 million life insurance policy?
When you apply for life insurance, insurers want to make sure you get approved for a coverage amount you can afford. They have guidelines in place to make sure this amount is proportional to your financial responsibilities.
They’ll look into factors like your age, income, net worth, overall financial stability, and any life insurance coverage you may already have to determine the payout amount they think is appropriate for your situation.
Age and income
Each insurer sets a maximum amount of coverage people in each age group can purchase. Here are common ranges based on Policygenius’ partner insurance companies:
Under age 40: 25 to 30 times your yearly income
Ages 40 to 60: 10 to 25 times your yearly income
Ages 60 to 70: 5 to 10 times your yearly income
Based on these ranges, you’d need to make at least $34,000 under age 40 to qualify for a million-dollar policy. By the time you reach age 60, you’d need to make$100,000 to $200,000 to qualify.
This is because when you’re young, you have more working years ahead of you and higher potential for financial growth. As you get older, you’re closer to retirement and likely have fewer financial responsibilities, so you need less coverage.
Read more about the best life insurance for seniors
Net worth
Let’s say you’re a retiree in your 60s with a high net worth, who earns $30,000 in yearly dividends. You might need $300,000 in coverage, but an insurer could approve you for more coverage based on your total assets. The insurer will view you as low-risk from a financial standpoint because you’ll be able to maintain your premium payments.
Existing life insurance coverage
If you already have some life insurance and apply for another policy, your existing coverage counts toward your total coverage limit.
For example, let’s say you qualify for a $1 million policy based on your income and you submit an application for that coverage amount. If you already have an active life insurance policy worth $500,000, the insurer may only approve $500,000 in additional coverage. The company will count your existing coverage toward your maximum approved coverage amount.
If you’re unsure about how much life insurance you need, we can help.
Use our calculator to get a sense of how much coverage is right for you.
Then connect with a Policygenius agent to discuss your options and get started on your application.
At Policygenius, our experts are licensed in all 50 states and can walk you through the entire life insurance buying process while offering transparent, unbiased advice.
Learn more about the best life insurance companies
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How to buy a $1 million life insurance policy
Buy now to get the cheapest rates.The longer you wait to buy life insurance, the more you’ll have to pay for the same coverage because we all get riskier to insure every year.
Compare multiple life insurance quotes and companies.Insurance rates are regulated by law, which means no company, broker, or agent can offer you a discount on a policy. But because each insurer will look at your profile differently, you can find the cheapest rates by shopping around with multiple insurers as opposed to working with just one.
Work with an independent broker.Independent brokers like Policygeniusoffer more impartial advice, because they’re not tied to one particular insurance company. Policygenius experts work for you — not the insurers — and can help you find the best type of coverage for your needs.
Frequently asked questions
Where can you buy a million-dollar life insurance policy?
Most major life insurance companies can sell you $1 million worth of life insurance, as long as it makes sense based on your income and assets.
How much does a million-dollar life insurance policy cost?
A 30-year-old might pay between $36 and $48 per month for a 20-year, $1 million life insurance policy. A 40-year-old might pay between $60 and $75 per month, and a 50-year-old might pay between $139 and $188 per month for the same coverage.
Is a million-dollar life insurance policy enough coverage for me?
The amount of life insurance you need depends on your circ*mstances. A recent college graduate likely doesn’t need $1 million in coverage. On the other hand, $1 million might not be enough for a family of five.To get an estimate of how much life insurance you need, add up your income, expenses, debts, and any future expenses you anticipate, like a mortgage or college tuition. Our life insurance calculator can help you do the math — and a Policygenius expert can help give you a more personalized recommendation.
How can you spend a $1 million life insurance payout?
There are no restrictions on how the death benefit is spent. Your loved ones can use the life insurance proceeds to cover costs like childcare, college tuition, funeral costs, monthly bills, medical expenses, or outstanding debts.
