Skip to Content
A man and woman laugh with their two children on a couch.
Shield with Person

Term life insurance

Term life insurance offers affordable, straightforward coverage designed to help protect your loved ones and provide financial security during life's unexpected events. It covers a set period — typically 10 to 40 years — making it a practical solution for long-term planning. See how affordable life insurance can be. Get your fast, free quote now!
Get a term life quote
What is term life insurance?

Term life insurance provides affordable, temporary coverage, usually 10 to 40 years, to help support a family or cover debts. It pays a tax-free death benefit if the policyholder dies during the term. Unlike permanent insurance, it doesn't build cash value but has lower premiums that stay fixed during the term. After it ends, premiums increase, so planning ahead is key.

A man and a woman care for their two young children in their home.

Benefits of a term life insurance policy

Simple to get and manage
With fixed, level premiums, term life insurance is simple to understand, easy to obtain and manage and features a straightforward claims process.
Affordable life insurance rates
Protective offers term life insurance at highly competitive rates, as low as $25 a month.¹ It’s a cost-effective way to get dependable coverage. Explore term life insurance rates.
Choose your term and coverage
Term life insurance provides coverage for a set period, typically 10 to 40 years, offering financial protection during key life stages. You can tailor the term and benefit to fit your needs.
Guaranteed death benefit
Term life insurance guarantees a death benefit to beneficiaries if the policyholder dies during the policy term, offering financial protection as long as premiums are paid.
No taxes for your beneficiaries
Life insurance death benefits are generally not subject to federal income tax, allowing beneficiaries to receive the full amount without reduction due to tax obligations.
Flexible and convertible coverage
Many term life insurance policies let you convert to permanent coverage or renew your term when it expires. Learn how to convert or renew your policy.

Term life insurance from Protective

Young mother holding son.

Protective® Classic Choice term is designed to be affordable today with options for the future.

  • Term periods from 10 to 40 years
  • Coverage amounts from $100,000 to $50,000,000
  • Options to convert to a permanent policy without a medical exam if your needs change.*
  • Guaranteed, level premiums
  • Income tax-free death benefit to your beneficiaries

See how affordable life insurance can be.

Get a quote

* Conversion options will vary based on term length and product availability and pricing for your new policy is subject to change, though you will retain your original risk class

Customize your policy with life insurance riders

A rider is an optional add-on to a life insurance policy that provides additional benefits or coverage tailored to specific needs. Common life insurance riders include:
Terminal illness rider: Allows the policyholder to access a portion of the death benefit early if diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) rider: Pays an additional benefit if the insured dies or suffers serious injury, such as loss of limbs or eyesight, due to an accident.
Long-term care rider: Offers access to funds from the death benefit to help cover the cost of long-term care services if the insured becomes chronically ill.
Guaranteed insurability rider: Allows policyholder to purchase additional coverage at specified times without undergoing a medical exam.
Return of premium rider: Refunds the premiums paid if the insured outlives the term of the policy.

Get coverage for as little as $25/month

Protective® Classic Choice term offers affordable life insurance coverage, with rates significantly lower than you might expect. For example, a 30-year-old individual in good health can secure $250,000 of coverage for 30 years for $25 per month.²

Types of term life insurance

There are several different types of term life insurance policies available, each designed to meet specific coverage needs and financial goals, including:

  • Level term life insurance: Fixed death benefit and level premium throughout the term.
  • Decreasing term life insurance: Death benefit declines over time, often used to cover shrinking debts like a mortgage.
  • Renewable term life insurance: Can be renewed without a medical exam, though premiums typically rise with age.
  • Convertible term life insurance: Can be switched to permanent coverage without a new medical exam.

To explore more options and better understand your choices, visit our guide on types of life insurance.

A man and a woman sit at a computer to review different types of term coverage.

What can a term life insurance policy provide?

Term life can help loved ones cover critical living expenses, outstanding debts, mortgage payments and other financial obligations, ensuring stability during a difficult time. To learn more about how term life insurance can support your family’s financial future, explore the various uses of term life.
Income replacement
Policy proceeds can provide a few years of income replacement for families in their prime earning years.
Children's education
Term life can provide a safety net should something happen to you while you're saving for your child's college education.
Divorce settlement
Policy proceeds can be used to satisfy requirements related to divorce, ensuring that alimony and child support can be maintained.
Mortgage payoff
Policy proceeds can be used to cover an outstanding mortgage balance or other debt.
Student loan
Policy proceeds can prevent your family from being burdened with covering student loans.
Term life quote
See how affordable life insurance can be.
Get started

How to apply online

Applying for term life insurance online is quick and easy.
1
Calculate needs
Use our tool to calculate how much life insurance you need.
2
Get quote
Request a quote to help you find a plan that aligns with your financial and coverage needs.
3
Submit application
Complete a formal application that includes personal, health, and lifestyle information.
4
Complete medical exam
A medical exam is used to evaluate your current health status and determine your final premium rate.
5
Application review and acceptance
We'll review your application and exam results to determine eligibility and pricing.

Get a term life quote

For more information on life insurance options, give us a call at 1-844-733-5433 and talk with a Protective representative, or fill out the form to get a free online quote for the Protective® Classic Choice term life policy right now.

Select the option that best refers to your health conditions.

I am in superior health.My cholesterol and blood pressure are normal. My parents, my siblings and I have never had any medical conditions.

Overall, I am generally healthy and above average in the population. I take prescription medication for minor medical conditions other than cholesterol and blood pressure. My parents or siblings don't/didn't have any medical conditions.

I am in pretty good health, however I have some minor health issues like high blood pressure or cholesterol. My parents or siblings may have had some history of medical conditions.

My health could be better. My blood pressure or cholesterol levels are high, and I have a history of medical conditions.

See more factors

The information collected in this form by Protective will be used to offer you services that meet your needs and for other business purposes. Please visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our information practices, including information about your privacy choices.

Common questions about term life insurance

1
How does term life insurance work?

Term life insurance works by providing a fixed death benefit if the insured dies during the policy period, typically 10-40 years. The limited timeframe for payout makes term life less expensive than permanent life insurance.

What is the difference between term and whole life insurance?

While term life policies provide coverage for a limited timeframe, i.e., 20 years, whole life policies feature a guaranteed lifetime death benefit (when required premiums are maintained) and can build cash value that can be borrowed against. These additional whole life benefits make it more expensive than term life.

How much term life insurance do I need?

The amount of term life insurance needed varies by individual and often includes funding to replace income, pay off a mortgage and other debts, and/or cover specific expenses, like a child's education. Here's a tool to help with that calculation.

Does term life insurance have cash value?
Term life insurance does not have cash value like a permanent life insurance policy.
Can you borrow from term life insurance?
While you cannot borrow from a term life insurance policy since it does not accumulate cash value, living benefit riders allow you to access the death benefit early if you are chronically or terminally ill.
What happens at the end of term life insurance?
Options when your policy expires include buying a new life insurance policy, combining policy types, or converting your policy.
Can you sell a term life insurance policy?
You can sell a term life insurance policy through a life settlement, which involves selling it to a third party for a lump sum. Unlike surrendering, you're not canceling with the insurer, but selling to someone else.
Young woman takes can donation while packing box.
Why choose term life insurance from Protective?

While you can save significantly with a Protective Classic Choice term life insurance policy, affordability is just one reason to choose Protective. We've remained committed to helping protect families and support the communities where we live and work since our founding in 1907.

 

Our financial strength is reflected in consistently strong ratings from major independent rating agencies, demonstrating our ability to meet long-term obligations to policyholders.

Helpful resources for you

The Learning Center can help you on your path to affordable coverage
Calculate needs
Take a minute and we'll help you calculate your insurance needs.
Life insurance calculator
Life insurance basics
Why get life insurance? How much is life insurance? Get the basics.
Learn more about life insurance
Policy finder
Not sure what you need? Our policy finder can help in 3 easy steps.
Life insurance policy finder
¹, ² The product quoted is the Protective® Classic Choice term (ICC16-TL21 / TL-21) a term life insurance policy issued by Protective Life Insurance Company, Omaha, NE. Policy quoted is for a 30-year term, male, age 30, preferred non-tobacco, $250,000 death benefit. Premiums increase annually after the initial guaranteed premium period. Not available in New York. Policy form numbers, product features and availability may vary by state. Consult policy for benefits, riders, limitations, and exclusions. There are no cash values. Up to a two-year contestable and suicide period. Benefits adjusted for misstatements of age or sex. Any quote that is present is only an estimate and the actual premium and rate class will be determined after the underwriting process is completed. Neither Protective Life nor its representatives offer legal or tax advice. You should consult your attorney or tax advisor regarding your individual situation. The Company cannot increase the premium scale. All payments and all guarantees are subject to the claims paying ability of Protective Life Insurance Company.

³ Not all term policies include this option. Check with your agent or company representative for specifics regarding your policy's terms and conditions.

WEB.1135.05.25